Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics
Shift and asymmetry of the saturated absorption resonance in the field of counterpropagating elliptically polarized waves
Denis V. Brazhnikov, А. В. Тайченачев, Anatolii M Tumaikin, Valeriy I. Yudin, Vladimir L Velichansky, Sergei A. Zibrov
Abstract
The saturated absorption resonance in an atomic gas in the field of counterpropagating light waves with an arbitrary elliptical polarization is investigated. A conclusion about the peculiarities of the resonance shape is drawn from a general analysis of the symmetry of the problem. In particular, a new effect has been found: the polarization parameters of the light waves can lead to an asymmetry and shift of the resonance. These conclusions are corroborated by an approximate analytical solution for the F g = 1 → F e = 2 transition and by numerical calculations. Apart from their fundamental importance, the results obtained can have important applications in metrology (frequency and time standards).