The simultaneous action of a RF perturbation between the Zeeman sublevels of an atomic transition, which is also sustaining laser oscillations, is given further consideration. General equations are derived that describe the phenomena in a rotating effective magnetic field basis. These are valid for any level of the RF perturbation, being then solved by iteration to third order in the laser electric field and integrated exactly over the atomic velocity distribution. Results are given for single-π-mode laser operation on aJ = 1 \rightarrow 0transition and for single-mode operation on each of the well-resolved σ components of the Zeeman splitting. The extension to more complex transitions, such as aJ = 1 \rightarrow 2, is then given. A dominant resonance peak in the laser intensity occurs when the RF equals the Zeeman splitting of either the upper or lower states of the transition. Population differences amongst the upper sublevels are more effective than those between the lower sublevels and give the smallest resonance widths. For operation on the σ modes, the main effect is a reduction in the saturation coefficient β, together with smaller changes in the coupling coefficients θ between the oscillations. Such changes will affect the general behavior near the singular points of the nonlinear equations, and will change the shape of the curves of mode intensities as functions of cavity detuning and magnetic field.
The simultaneous action of a rf perturbation between the Zeeman sublevels of an atomic transition, which is also producing laser oscillation, is considered. The complete Hamiltonian of the system is made time-independent by appropriate unitary transformations, and the corresponding steady-state solutions of the density matrix are deduced using appropriate rate constants. Results for stationary atoms indicate a dependence of the threshold for oscillation on the rf perturbation, together with rf resonance effects which increase the laser intensity some two or three times for suitable transitions. The increase in intensity is greatest for rf perturbations between the upper Zeeman levels, which also have the smaller resonance width, because of the longer lifetimes involved. Such effects will be small unless there is a reasonable difference in the populations of the Zeeman levels in the absence of the rf perturbation. Appropriate laser transitions, cavity tuning, and polarization characteristics must thus be used to obtain maximum effect, and examples are given. The atomic motion is included in the theory in an approximate way, and similar conclusions are derived as regards the variations of laser intensity. However, no dependence of the threshold on the rf perturbation is then indicated, the former being determined by the relatively large Doppler width. Finally, some consideration is given to cases where more than one laser transition occurs between the Zeeman levels.
The theory of double-resonance phenomena, or the simultaneous action of optical transitions and rf perturbations between the Zeeman sublevels of an atom, is extended to the induced emission and absorption processes effected by the monochromatic radiation and the discrete resonances involved in the gas laser. Expressions for the probability amplitudes of the Zeeman sublevels under such conditions are derived from time-dependent perturbation theory, the lifetimes of the states being introduced in a phenomenological way. Zeeman splittings of both upper and lower states involved in the laser transition are considered, and an effective term diagram used to discuss the results. Small signal approximations are applied to consider some specific cases, which show that the light beats seen in spontaneous emission when the rf frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ equals the Larmor frequency, and in other instances, do not occur in induced emission unless such frequencies coincide with axial resonances of the laser cavity. Variations in the intensity and resonance effects are indicated at Zeeman splittings corresponding to ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$, with similar variations in the amplitude of any beat frequencies due to multiple axial resonances. Additional coherence effects occur where levels cross, which will give rise to changes in the intensity and polarization of the induced emission at the corresponding frequency.
The fluorescence light emitted by atoms (Ne) optically pumped with a multimode laser beam exhibits a resonance each time the Zeeman splitting is equal to the frequency difference between two modes. The experimental study shows that these resonances are very sensitive to the relative phase of modes and that their width is approximately equal to the Hanle effect width. A theoretical interpretation is given with the help of a perturbation calculation. Two phenomena produce resonances : 1) A Population Effect (PE) which is resonant when the σ + component of one mode and the σ- component of another interact with atoms of same velocity (hole crossing). The width of these resonances is 2 Γ'ab (natural width broadened by collisions). 2) A Zeeman Coherence Effect (ZCE) : the action of a pair of modes (ν, σ +) and (μ, σ-) produces (at 2nd order) transverse alignment modulated at the beat frequency ων — ω μ and resonant when the Zeeman splitting is equal to that frequency ; by interaction with a second pair of modes (λ, σ-) and (κ, σ+) (ων —ω μ + ωλ — ωκ = 0), this alignment produces unmodulated longitudinal quantities (4th order) which exhibit, as the magnetic field is scanned, a resonance whose width is close to that of the Hanle curve (Γ b(2)). In our experimental conditions (close modes : Γ'ab≳ Δω > Γ b(2)), the resonances of the first kind are not resolved and the observed resonances are only of the second type's which arevery sensitive to the phases of modes. We also discuss the possibility of using these resonances to measure Landé g factors.
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.
Theoretical and experimental studies of a gas laser amplifier are presented, assuming the amplifier is operating with a saturating optical frequency signal. The analysis is primarily concerned with the effects of the gas pressure and the presence of an axial magnetic field on the characteristics of the amplifying medium. Semiclassical radiation theory is used, along with a density matrix description of the atomic medium which relates the motion of single atoms to the macroscopic observables. A two-level description of the atom, using phenomenological source rates and decay rates, forms the basis of our analysis of the gas laser medium. Pressure effects are taken into account to a large extent through suitable choices of decay rate parameters. Two methods for calculating the induced polarization of the atomic medium are used. The first method utilizes a perturbation expansion which is valid for signal intensities which barely reach saturation strength, and it is quite general in applicability. The second method is valid for arbitrarily strong signals, but it yields tractable solutions only for zero magnetic field or for axial magnetic fields large enough such that the Zeeman splitting is much larger than the power broadened homogeneous linewidth of the laser transition. The effects of pressure broadening of the homogeneous spectral linewidth are included in both the weak-signal and strong-signal theories; however the effects of Zeeman sublevel-mixing collisions are taken into account only in the weak-signal theory. The behavior of a He-Ne gas laser amplifier in the presence of an axial magnetic field has been studied experimentally by measuring gain and Faraday rotation of linearly polarized resonant laser signals for various values of input signal intensity, and by measuring nonlinearity - induced anisotropy for elliptically polarized resonant laser signals of various input intensities. Two high-gain transitions in the 3.39-μ region were used for study: a J = 1 to J = 2 (3s2 → 3p4) transition and a J = 1 to J = 1 (3s2 → 3p2) transition. The input signals were tuned to the centers of their respective resonant gain lines. The experimental results agree quite well with corresponding theoretical expressions which have been developed to include the nonlinear effects of saturation strength signals. The experimental results clearly show saturation of Faraday rotation, and for the J = 1 t o J = 1 transition a Faraday rotation reversal and a traveling wave gain dip are seen for small values of axial magnetic field. The nonlinearity induced anisotropy shows a marked dependence on the gas pressure in the amplifier tube for the J = 1 to J = 2 transition; this dependence agrees with the predictions of the general perturbational or weak signal theory when allowances are made for the effects of Zeeman sublevel-mixing collisions. The results provide a method for measuring the upper (neon 3s2) level quadrupole moment decay rate, the dipole moment decay rates for the 3s2 → 3p4 and 3s2 → 3p2 transitions, and the effects of various types of collision processes on these decay rates.
A theoretical analysis is made of the resonant interaction between a traveling monochromatic light wave of arbitrary intensity and polarization and the 1/21/2 and 10 transitions in gas atoms in a magnetic field. An analysis is made of the influence of atomic collisions and coherence of the Zeeman sublevels of the terms on the structure of nonlinear magnetooptic resonances in the amplitude and polarization characteristics of the wave. Some features of nonlinear magnetooptic resonances for laser excitation of atoms from the ground state are noted. A study is made of the Faraday rotation and self-rotation of the polarization ellipse of the radiation as a function of the detuning of the wave frequency, the saturation parameter, and the optical density of the gas. The stability of the polarization of light in the medium is discussed. It is noted that these laws may be used to analyze and control the radiation characteristics of lasers and amplifiers when the level of saturation of a resonant gaseous medium in a magnetic field is high.