We present results showing narrow resonant behavior in a collisionless four-wave mixing interaction in atomic sodium. In a two-level system the excited state radiatively decays to the ground state at rate ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{sp}}$, and the two states decay to the reservoir at ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{2}$. If ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{2}$ equal the transit time, the resonance width is determined by the total decay rate out of state 2. In the presence of additional excited-state decay to another state, a narrow resonance with width ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ is oberved as a result of the effect of the additional excited-state decay on the magnitude of the ground-state probability amplitude.We present results showing narrow resonant behavior in a collisionless four-wave mixing interaction in atomic sodium. In a two-level system the excited state radiatively decays to the ground state at rate ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{sp}}$, and the two states decay to the reservoir at ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{2}$. If ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{2}$ equal the transit time, the resonance width is determined by the total decay rate out of state 2. In the presence of additional excited-state decay to another state, a narrow resonance with width ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ is oberved as a result of the effect of the additional excited-state decay on the magnitude of the ground-state probability amplitude.

Physical Review LettersAug 17, 19878 citations

Coherence and interference in resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing in atomic hydrogen

R. I. Thompson, Boris Peter Stoicheff

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceMay 2, 19930 citations

New component in degenerate four-wave mixing of optical pulses in sodium vapor

Salim N. Jabr, L. K. Lam, R. W. Hellwarth

We have observed a new component in the signals produced by degenerate four-wave mixing of 5-nsec optical pulses by the $D$ -line resonances of sodium vapor. This component is comparable in intensity to that previously observed from a grating pattern of excited sodium atoms, but arises rather from a grating of coherently aligned (but not optically pumped) ground-state atoms. This component exists when there are no spatial intensity beats between input waves.We have observed a new component in the signals produced by degenerate four-wave mixing of 5-nsec optical pulses by the $D$-line resonances of sodium vapor. This component is comparable in intensity to that previously observed from a grating pattern of excited sodium atoms, but arises rather from a grating of coherently aligned (but not optically pumped) ground-state atoms. This component exists when there are no spatial intensity beats between input waves.

Physical Review ADec 1, 198126 citations

Nonlinear optical studies of rydberg atoms using degenerate four-wave mixing

Jenny Lam, R. A. McFarlane, Duncan G. Steel

The spectral behavior of the third order nonlinear optical response of atomic sodium was studied. As a result, new kinds of frequency domain spectroscopy techniques were developed: nearly degenerate four-wave mixing, polarization nearly degenerate four-wave mixing, frequency domain three-state spectroscopy, and nonlinear Hanle effect in degenerate four-wave mixing. These techniques have provided new information on several areas of collision physics including: dephasing collisions (spectral broadening and frequency shift), velocity changing collisions, state changing collisions, and spin-flip collisions. (Author)The spectral behavior of the third order nonlinear optical response of atomic sodium was studied. As a result, new kinds of frequency domain spectroscopy techniques were developed: nearly degenerate four-wave mixing, polarization nearly degenerate four-wave mixing, frequency domain three-state spectroscopy, and nonlinear Hanle effect in degenerate four-wave mixing. These techniques have provided new information on several areas of collision physics including: dephasing collisions (spectral broadening and frequency shift), velocity changing collisions, state changing collisions, and spin-flip collisions. (Author)

Final ReportAug 1, 19840 citations

We have observed a new component in the signals produced by degenerate four-wave mixing of 5-nsec optical pulses by the

D

-line resonances of sodium vapor. This component is comparable in intensity to that previously observed from a grating pattern of excited sodium atoms, but arises rather from a grating of coherently aligned (but not optically pumped) ground-state atoms. This component exists when there are no spatial intensity beats between input waves.