Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
Stimulated emissions and quantum interference in potassium atom laser interaction
Nikolaos Merlemis, M. Katharakis, E. Koudoumas, Thomas Efthimiopoulos
Abstract
The interaction of a laser with potassium atoms is investigated by monitoring the radiation of the 5P-4S transition under the two-photon 4S(1/2)-6S(1/2) excitation. For low number density and laser intensity the observed radiation is parametric axial or conical, depending on the laser detuning from the two-photon resonance, the number density and the laser intensity. With increasing laser intensities and number densities, an additional delayed component is observed corresponding to a two-step four-wave mixing with the participation of internally generated photons. A two-photon quantum interference effect is observed for the total (axial and conical) parametric four-wave mixing emission. A deviation from the proposed model under certain experimental parameters is attributed to a two-step four-wave mixing and the phase mismatch of the parametric processes.