The theory of interaction of intense bichromatic field of laser radiation with multilevel atomic system in the external magnetic field is considered. The magnitudes of interaction are much larger than the width of atomic levels. The vector-potential of radiation field consisting of two monochromatic components with the frequencies resonant to adjacent transitions is taken in electric dipole approximation. The eigenvalues and eigenstates of the Hamiltonian, including spin-orbit interaction and interactions with laser radiation and external magnetic fields, are found without perturbation theory using resonant approximation. When the effects of resonantly excited radiation are considered the Hamiltonian of interaction with the weak field of scattered radiation is included also. Its eigenfunctions are found with the help of perturbation theory. We consider tow types of effects: polarization effects and effects of resonantly excited radiation. As the atomic system is multilevel we use the numerical methods. The influence of the magnetic field on coherent population trapping effect for multilevel systems is considered. Some of our theoretical results coincide with known experimental ones.
The theory and method of computer simulations created formerly permits to investigate the interaction of high power laser radiation up to gigawatt on centimeter to the second power with the atoms as well as with small so with large fine structure interval in the external magnetic field. The modifications of the energies and populations of atomic levels due to such interaction lead to the new nonlinear effects. Among them besides the modifications in Raman effect and new effects of rotation of plane of polarization and circular dichroism investigated before there are such new effects as the modifications of the number, intensities, polarizations of the lines at the excitation spectra and the scattering spectra of resonant fluorescence. The real atom is multilevel system. Usually the theoretical investigations of nonlinear resonant magnetooptical effects are limited by two- or three-level approximations or by using the perturbation theory. This is justified for considering the effects in the weak magnetic fields but not sufficient for revealing and investigation the characteristics of the new nonlinear magnetooptical effects taking place in the intense radiation and magnetic fields. Such effects are related to modifications of electronic structure of atoms (level shifts and splittings, populations modifications). As the considered media is atomic gas one can reach for power density up to gigawatt on centimeter to the second power. As the considered concentrations are small it is possible to neglect the collisional relaxation. For real atom the considered system is multilevel so only numerical solution is appropriated. The simulations permit to find some new effects in the excitation spectra of Raman effect and resonant fluorescence.
The effect of a dc magnetic field on the rate at which a ground-level, Zeeman-degenerate atom is photoionized via a short-lived autoionizing level is calculated. We consider single-step as well as two-step photoionization; in the latter case we allow the light to be either resonant or far from resonance with an intermediate level. In all cases we find that the magnetic field may raise the fraction of the atoms available for photoionization and consequently increase the photoion fraction produced by a light pulse of given fluence. In the resonant case we find that if the magnetic-field Zeeman splitting of the ground and intermediate level is much larger than the rate at which population enters or leaves that level then the Zeeman-state populations are decoupled from one another and there exist simple conditions under which they obey rate equations. In the nonresonant case an additional condition for two-photon rate equations is that the optical Stark shift of the ground state be much smaller than the magnetic Zeeman splitting. These results apply specifically to excitation by lasers whose spectral widths are narrow compared to the homogeneous linewidths of the corresponding atomic transitions, but appear to be generalizable to the opposite limit, in which the laser spectral widths are much broader than the homogeneous linewidths.
In this article, we review three areas of study in which the resonant interaction between atoms and laser radiation plays a central role. Firstly, coherent optical transients are discussed in which the direct observation of this interaction can be studied via the detection of the Rabi frequency in optical nutations. Secondly, the response of atoms to resonant radiation in an optical cavity leading to optical bistability and other effects is described. Finally, the new field of atom manipulation by resonant laser fields is introduced, in particular, the deflection of atomic beams. The underlying theoretical framework for the experiments performed is discussed, ranging from full quantum electrodynamic to semiclassical models.
In a previous paper, I have presented a general theory of the optical pumping of atoms by a polarized multimode-laser beam, in the presence of a magnetic field. Equations of motion, valid at arbitrary laser intensities for the density matrix of the atomic system, have been obtained. In this paper, these equations are exactly solved for a linearly $\ensuremath{\sigma}$-polarized laser and levels having small angular momenta. More precisely, I consider the laser transitions ${J}_{b}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{a}=0$, ${J}_{b}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{a}=1$, and ${J}_{b}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{a}=2$. Two particular results are emphasized: (i) For $J=1\ensuremath{-}J=0$ and $J=1\ensuremath{-}J=1$ transitions and for the
J=2 level of a $J=1\ensuremath{-}J=2$ transition, the laser-induced Hanle effects keep a Lorentzian shape, independent of the laser intensity. For the $J=1\ensuremath{-}J=1$ transition, it is shown that the depolarizing relaxation processes play a leading part in the coupling induced by the laser between the transverse alignments of the two levels. On the other hand, the power broadenings of the Hanle effects are shown to be similar. For the
J=1 level of a $J=1\ensuremath{-}J=2$ transition, the Hanle-effect shape presents a departure from the Lorentzian one, owing to a coupling with the laser-induced hexadecapole moment in the
J=2 level. (ii) The populations of the levels exhibit a "zero-field saturation resonance" which is due to the coupling with the Zeeman coherences. These resonances, which reproduce the Hanle effects of the transition, can be observed on the $\ensuremath{\pi}$-polarized fluorescence from the levels. In general, these resonances appear as a saturation effect, i.e., they reduce the laser-induced fluorescence of the levels in zero magnetic field. However, for the ${J}_{b}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{a}=2$ transition, the ${J}_{a}=2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{f}=2 \ensuremath{\pi}$ fluorescence presents an anomalous behavior; the saturation resonance increases the zero-field laser-induced fluorescence. The theoretical study shows the prominent part played by the value of the
Jb=1 level lifetime in the interpretation of this anomaly. Other results, such as the laser-induced depolarization of the fluorescence, are also obtained. All the theoretical predictions have been experimentally checked and will be presented in forthcoming papers.
Coherent population trapping effect is widely studied for simple three-level systems of different types ((Xi) 2, (Lambda) , V)1,2. For real atoms the situation is more complicated. Atomic levels are degenerated one and in the presence of external fields coupling of magnetic sublevels appears due to radiation, so magnetic fields leading to the systems of levels of the higher order. Our theory and method of calculation for interaction of multilevel atoms, with intense radiation fields in the presence of external magnetic fields have been applied for considering coherent population trapping effect for such systems. In the absence of magnetic field for considering sets of parameters, we can see the behavior of populations in function of time, detunings for both systems of coupled sublevels inherent to the coherent population trapping effect. In the presence of magnetic field, we can see novel features in the populations for the systems of coupled magnetic sublevels.