Nonexponential resonance fluorescence. The role of the exciting light

Alan Corney, George William Series

When resonance fluorescence is excited in atoms whose excited states have Zeeman or hyperfine structure, it is to be expected that the character of the fluorescent light will be affected if the intensity of the exiciting light is modulated or pulsed. An earlier theory of resonance fluorescence is developed to take account of such variations of the intensity of the exciting light. Resonance effects are predicted if the light is modulated at a frequency which coincides with a characteristic frequency of the atoms. A particular case, which has been studied experimentally, is worked out in detail. If the exciting light is pulsed, the prediction is that the fluorescent light will be modulated, in addition to being damped at the ordinary rate for spontaneous emission.

Boris Kryzhanovsky, A. O. Melikyan

K. E. Lassila, Vesa Ruuskanen

Atomic resonance fluorescence is examined as a scattering problem, and Goldberger-Watson double poles are found to occur in situations producible in the laboratory. Systematic study of this effect and associated nonexponential decay thus appears possible.

Thomas J. Mcilrath, Thomas J. McGee

George William Series

Analyses of the level-crossing effect have usually been given for broad-band excitation of resonance fluorescence. The fluorescence excited by monochromatic light from an assembly of static atoms would be expected to show a modified form of level-crossing effect, but, when motion of the atoms is taken into account, the same result is obtained as for broad-band excitation.

Miguel Orszag