We have measured the emission spectrum of two-level-like Ba atoms driven by two strong, equal-amplitude fields with frequency separation 2\ensuremath{\delta}. The spectrum consists of a series of peaks with an essentially constant spacing \ensuremath{\delta} and alternating linewidths. These features differ qualitatively from the characteristic triplet spectrum observed in the case of strong monochromatic excitation. Certain features of the observed spectrum such as its comblike structure can be motivated in terms of the energy spectrum of atom--bichromatic-field product states. Other features, such as the alternating linewidths, require more subtle analysis.
We have measured the emission spectrum of two-level-like Ba atoms driven by two strong, equal-amplitude fields with frequency separation 2\ensuremath{\delta}. The spectrum consists of a series of peaks with an essentially constant spacing \ensuremath{\delta} and alternating linewidths. These features differ qualitatively from the characteristic triplet spectrum observed in the case of strong monochromatic excitation. Certain features of the observed spectrum such as its comblike structure can be motivated in terms of the energy spectrum of atom--bichromatic-field product states. Other features, such as the alternating linewidths, require more subtle analysis.
We examine the radiative properties of a two-level atom driven by a strong bichromatic field with frequencies ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$-${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$+${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{2}$, which can be asymmetrically placed about the atomic transition frequency ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$ and can have different Rabi frequencies ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{2}$. Applying the optical Bloch equations for the bichromatic excitation, we derive an infinite set of equations of motion for the time evolution of the atomic variables. The equations are solved numerically by matrix inversion and Laplace transforms. Using the quantum regression theorem, we then solve for the steady-state total fluorescence intensity, and the resonance-fluorescence and absorption spectra. The spectra are found to depend on the frequency difference 2\ensuremath{\delta}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{1}$+${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}_{2}$, the average detuning \ensuremath{\Delta}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$-1/2(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$+${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$), and the Rabi frequencies of the driving fields. For ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{2}$=\ensuremath{\Omega}, the total fluorescent intensity displays a series of maxima for \ensuremath{\Delta}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}n\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\mp}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}^{2}$/4\ensuremath{\delta}, where the n are the odd integers. The intensity-dependent shift from the resonances n\ensuremath{\delta} is explained as an analog of the generalized Bloch-Siegert shift. The resonance-fluorescence spectrum for \ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\ne}0 appears to contain more peaks than that for \ensuremath{\Delta}=0.This is due to the splitting of the central peak and the even sidebands into doublets. The absorption spectrum of a weak-probe beam for \ensuremath{\Delta}=0 and equal Rabi frequencies consists of a symmetric series of dispersionlike sidebands separated from ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$ by integer multiples of \ensuremath{\delta}, together with a central absorption peak at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$, whose amplitude oscillates with \ensuremath{\Omega}. For \ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\ne}0 and/or ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$\ensuremath{\ne}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{2}$, the odd sidebands remain dispersionlike, while the central peak and the even sidebands split into absorption-emission doublets. A simple physical interpretation of the spectral features is given in terms of the dressed-atom model.
We have measured the emission spectrum of two-level-like Ba atoms driven by a continuous-wave bichromatic field containing a strong resonant component and a weaker component detuned from atomic resonance by the strong-field Rabi frequency. With the specified detuning, the weak field resonantly drives a transition of the atom--strong-field dressed states. Observed spectra show that each peak of the normal (single-driving-field) resonance fluorescence triplet is split into three subpeaks separated by one-half the weak-field Rabi frequency. Also seen is another triplet of peaks displaced from the atomic resonance by twice the strong-field Rabi frequency. Splitting of the normal triplet peaks can be explained through weak-field dressing of the strong-field dressed states. The origin of the additional triplet is less transparent. Comparison with theory is made.
An experiment was performed recently [Y. Zhu, A. Lezama, Q. Wu, and T. W. Mossberg (unpublished)] in which a two-level atom of transition frequency \ensuremath{\Omega} was placed in a bichromatic laser field with frequencies \ensuremath{\Omega}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\ensuremath{\delta}, of sufficient intensity to produce dynamic Stark splitting. The observed fluorescence spectrum differed qualitatively in almost all its details from the well-known Mollow triplet [B. R. Mollow, Phys. Rev. 188, 1969 (1969)]. In this article, we use a dressed-atom model to explain the observed results.
The steady-state populations, the fluorescent intensity-intensity correlation function, and the resonance fluorescence and absorption spectra of a two-level atom bichromatically driven by a strong, coherent field and a weak, stochastic field with tunable carrier frequency and wide bandwidth are investigated analytically. Surprisingly, the population is inverted if the stochastic field is appropriately detuned from the coherent field, which is assumed resonant with the atomic transition. The resonance fluorescence spectrum still displays a three-peaked structure, but with linewidths and heights that depend upon the frequency and bandwidth of the stochastic field as well as the intensities of both fields. Asymmetric fluorescence spectra are found when the coherent field is detuned from the atomic resonance frequency. The intensity-intensity correlation function varies dramatically with the carrier frequency of the stochastic field. For appropriate choices of the parameters, the fluorescent emission of the atom is antibunched for all time. The absorption spectral features also deviate significantly from those of the monochromatically driven atom. By appropriately tuning the stochastic field, one finds that a sharp peak (absorption) or hole (gain) can occur at line center and the probe beam can be amplified at either the lower-frequency Rabi sideband or the higher-frequency sideband and the inversionless gain can be enhanced.
We analyze the fluorescence and absorption spectra of a two-level atom driven by a bichromatic field with frequencies ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$, separated by ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$-${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$=2\ensuremath{\delta}, and Rabi frequencies (at resonance) 2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$ and 2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{2}$ such that their ratio \ensuremath{\alpha}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{2}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$1. We focus on the case of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ close to the atomic frequency ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$ near the Rabi sideband frequency ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$+2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$; the detunings are denoted by ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{1}$=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{0}$-${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$+2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$-${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{2}$. We find that the spectra depend critically on the detuning ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$: For large ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$, the fluorescence spectrum consists of the well known Mollow triplet, centered at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$; for smaller (but nonzero) ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$, the spectrum is composed of a triplet at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ together with doublets near the sideband frequencies ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$. However, when ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$=0 (and \ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\ll}1), the spectrum consists of a doublet centered at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ and triplets at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$: there is then no fluorescence at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$. As \ensuremath{\alpha} increases, additional triplet structures appear in the spectrum at frequencies ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2n${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$ with intensities proportional to ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}^{2(\mathit{n}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1)}$, n\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1, and a line reappears at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$, with intensity proportional to ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}^{4}$. The absorption by the system of a weak probe beam is also strongly dependent on the detuning, and the spectrum is composed of emission-dispersion-absorption features located near ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{1}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2n${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{1}$. An analysis in the dressed-atom picture is presented which explains the physical origin of all these features, in both fluorescence and absorption. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The steady-state resonance fluorescence spectrum of a two-level atom driven by a bichromatic field in a broadband squeezed vacuum is studied. When the carrier frequency of the squeezed vacuum is tuned to the frequency of the central spectral line, anomalous spectral features, such as hole burning and dispersive profiles, can occur at the central line. We show that these features appear for wider, and experimentally more convenient, ranges of the parameters than in the case of monochromatic excitation. The absence of a coherent spectral component at the central line makes any experimental attempt to observe these features much easier. We also discuss the general features of the spectrum. When the carrier frequency of the squeezed vacuum is tuned to the first odd or even sidebands, the spectrum is asymmetric and only the sidebands are sensitive to phase. For appropriate choices of the phase the linewidths of only the odd or even sidebands can be reduced. A dressed-state interpretation is provided.