Design calculations are given for image contrast amplifiers in which the saturation of an absorption line of a substance is used. Expressions are obtained for the optimal parameters of such amplifiers.
We present the experimental production and characterization of a dense cold atomic cloud of 88Sr atoms, optimized for the future studies of light transport in highly dense regimes. Using narrow-line molasses on the 689 nm transition, combined with a far off-resonant optical dipole trap, we achieve spatial densities as high as 7.9×1013atoms/cm3 and optical depths up to 64. This approach stands out from previous methods by integrating narrow-line molasses with an optical dipole trap, enabling high-density samples without relying on evaporative cooling. Unlike traditional absorption imaging, which becomes inaccurate in such dense regimes, we demonstrate that phase-contrast imaging (PCI) can reliably reconstruct the in-situ density profile even for highly spatially and optically dense samples. The use of a spatial light modulator instead of a fixed phase plate in the PCI setup provides enhanced flexibility and control of imaging parameters, making this imaging technique robust against imaging artifacts and adaptable to varying experimental conditions. Moreover, we derive theoretical conditions for reliable PCI operation in dense regimes and validate these experimentally, showing excellent agreement with time-of-flight measurements even at the highest densities. Our results establish a robust method for producing and characterizing dense atomic clouds.
Only for optically thin layers and plane waves may the intensity of a light wave be unambiguously expressed in terms of the nonlinear susceptibility of the medium. In aperture limited light beams the saturation parameter and the Stark shifts are local variables, while the output intensity of the pump and probe beams is an integral characteristic of the transmission process. The output spectrum is affected by diffraction, nonlinear refraction, and saturated absorption. The nonlinear refraction is a cause of a spectral line asymmetry which is well- known in saturation spectroscopy. In addition to usual line broadening, the saturated absorption causes specific beam effects, related to the formation of a self-induced transparency channel. The diffraction of the beam due to this self-induced aperture may result in the enhancement of the on-axis intensity, which is not a result of the self-induced lens effects. All these factors are taken into account by the mathematical model suggested in the present work. The propagation of the near-resonance saturating pump and non-saturating probe beams of various initial profiles through a homogeneously broadened two-level gas is simulated numerically. The calculations carried out make it possible to analyze the contribution of the propagation phenomena, mentioned above, to the output spectra of the beams.
Broadband low-coherence light has been applied in many fields such as optical imaging, atmospheric optical communication and laser inertial confinement fusion(ICF). It’s meaningful to investigate the temporal shaping technology of broadband low-coherence light. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a scheme of achieving all-optical arbitrary temporal shaping of broadband low-coherence light based on saturable absorption effect. Compared to traditional temporal shaping schemes such as electro-optic modulation(EOM) shaping or acousto-optic modulation(AOM) shaping, the modulation on the shaped pulse profile is much smaller, reduced from 14% (by acousto-optic modulator) to 3%(close to the ASE noise). Furthermore, we explore the evolution of shaped pulse contrast (intensity ratio between front edge and end edge) with the pump energy and contrast changing. The contrast of shaped pulse can be adjusted from 1:1.32 to 1:1.02 when pump contrast is 1:2, and from 1:2.25 to 1:1.90 when pump contrast is 1:3. And the maximum contrast of shaped pulse can reach 1:17 within the measurement accuracy. By changing the energy and contrast of pump, the contrast of the shaped pulse can be controlled flexibly. It’s useful to achieve all-optical arbitrary temporal shaping and pre-compensation during pulse amplification.