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Journal of Applied Physics

Laser-induced dichroism and birefringence in two- and three-level systems of neon

Christian Delsart, J. Keller

Published Jul 1, 1978• 20 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have observed the Doppler-free dichroism and birefringence induced by a linearly polarized laser beam (pump beam) by monitoring the polarization and amplitude changes of a weak probe beam through an analyzer. The effects have been observed in two-level systems and also in three-level systems of Ne I. At rather low pump power, a typical refractive-index anisotropy of 10−8 has been measured. We have shown that, when the normal resonance curve exhibits a broad background due to collisions, our method allows the elimination of this background. In addition, using a rotating analyzer, we have obtained simultaneously the dichroism and birefringence curves, i.e., the imaginary and real part of the anisotropic-induced susceptibility.

DOI
10.1063/1.325417

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We have observed the Doppler-free dichroism and birefringence induced by a linearly polarized laser beam (pump beam) by monitoring the polarization and amplitude changes of a weak probe beam through an analyzer. The effects have been observed in two-level systems and also in three-level systems of Ne I. At rather low pump power, a typical refractive-index anisotropy of 10−8 has been measured. We have shown that, when the normal resonance curve exhibits a broad background due to collisions, our method allows the elimination of this background. In addition, using a rotating analyzer, we have obtained simultaneously the dichroism and birefringence curves, i.e., the imaginary and real part of the anisotropic-induced susceptibility.
Dichroism and birefringence are studied for the case of a strong saturating laser and a linearly polarized weak probe laser interacting with a dilute gas. For linearly or circularly polarized saturating laser fields the optical analog of the Kerr or Faraday effect are obtained respectively. Two photon, Doppler-free polarization effects are studied for two and three level systems (J = 0 → J = 1 and J = 0 → J = 1 → J = 0). The transition from the Autler-Townes effect conditions to those of the Lamb-dip is examined as a function of the system Doppler width.
Birefringence and dichroism in atomic systems are active areas of research. Circular dichroism is typically observed in chiral atoms, molecules (such as DNA), and optically asymmetric materials. These phenomena enable polarization-based selectivity and high-precision measurements with applications in optical systems, biomedical diagnostics, and advanced photonics. Meanwhile, negative-refractive-index materials offer exotic applications in optics and photonics, including superresolution imaging, invisibility cloaking, and subwavelength imaging. Here we identify a route to achieving birefringence and dichroism in a left-handed system. We investigate the optical activity of an atomic left-handed medium, analyzing the interaction of left- and right-circularly polarized light with different atomic states while incorporating local field corrections. Notably, our results demonstrate simultaneous left-handedness for both polarization states. Furthermore, we find that electric birefringence and dichroism are significantly enhanced with increasing control field strength, while magnetic birefringence and dichroism can be fully controlled via strong laser coupling. These findings have promising implications in fields at the interface of left-handedness and dichroism.
A change in the polarization state of a 50-μW single-mode 633-nm He–Ne-laser beam is induced with a 12–24-mW single-mode 609.6-nm dye-laser beam. The polarization change is induced in the interaction with the cascade 1s4(J = 1) → 2p4 (J = 2) → 3s2 (J = 1) systems in a 20Ne 6-mA dc discharge. The linearly polarized He–Ne-laser beam becomes elliptically polarized, and the ellipse major semiaxis is rotated from the original direction of the linear polarization. The copropagating dye-laser beam is circularly polarized. Experimental details are presented. Measured results for the polarization ellipse are compared with those predicted by a semiclassical calculation for a J = 0 → J = 1 → J = 0 model. In the Ne gas pressure range 40–150 Pa (0.30–1.13 Torr), good agreement is obtained.
A theoretical calculation of the polarization changes of a weak probe laser beam as it traverses a strongly pumped gaseous atomic medium is presented. The medium is chosen to be a three-level cascade (J = 0–J = 1–J = 0) system. The polarization of the probe changes from linear to elliptical owing to the asymmetrical population transfer induced by a strong, circularly polarized pumping laser beam. We study this phenomenon as a function of laser intensities, laser detunings, and the relaxation parameters of the medium. We compare the predictions of the theory with results obtained from experimental studies of the neon 1s4(J = 1)–2p4(J = 2)–3s2(J = 1) system.
We present an experimental study of laser-induced continuum structure in cesium, performed by observing the birefringence and dichroism induced in the atomic medium by a circularly polarized laser embedding the 8s 2^{2}2S1/2{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}S1/2​ state into the ionization continuum. The optimization of the sensitivity for the detection of the polarization rotation has allowed a high-accuracy measurement of the resonance profile. A quantitative comparison with theoretical predictions, taking into account the hyperfine structure of atomic levels, shows a clear evidence of a line-broadening effect due to cesium resonant collisions.