Self-induced transparency at 10 µm in a simple molecular absorber

W. Krieger, Gerhard Gaida, P. E. Toschek

W. Krieger, P. E. Toschek

W. Krieger, P. E. Toschek

Self-induced transparency in an absorbing neon discharge has been observed on the nonresonance transition $2{s}_{2}(J=1)\ensuremath{-}2{p}_{4}(J=2)$. Since linearly polarized light pulses excite two dipole moments differing by only 18%, the absorber is virtually nondegenerate and superior in simplicity to molecular absorbers. Light pulses, generated from the output of a cw single-frequency 1.15-\ensuremath{\mu}m He-Ne laser oscillator by a pulsed Ne laser amplifier, were transmitted through the absorber. Comparison of the oscilloscope traces of input and output pulses indicated the occurrence of pulse retardation, peak amplification, and pulse breakup. Complete pulse reshaping to the predicted hyperbolic-secant envelope has been observed. The periodicity of transmission versus pulse power, which provides direct evidence of optical nutation, is in agreement with the results of a pulse-area-pulse-energy model.

C. David, W. M. Clark

Self-induced transparency effects, namely pulse delay and nonlinear transmission, are observed at two CO2 laser line and Stark-tuned NH3 absorber transition resonances; these are the P(32) CO2 laser line and the asQ(5, 3, 5) NH3 transition with a Stark field of 12.3 kV/cm at 10.7 μm and the R(6) CO2 laser line and the saQ(5, 5, 5) NH3 tuned with a 14.6-kV/cm field at 10.3 μm.

J.-C. Diels

Angelos Lazoudis