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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics

Temporal compression of light

J. Keith Wigmore, D. Grischkowsky

Published Apr 1, 1978• 51 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The 5890 Å output from a CW dye laser was converted into a train of 0.5 ns pulses by frequency modulation and passage through a near-resonant atomic vapor delay line of Na. The theory of the process is discussed in both the time and frequency domains. Using a modulation index of 120 at a frequency of 17.8 MHz, we obtained values for the temporal compression ratio and intensity enhancement of 112 and 14, easily the largest that have been reported.

DOI
10.1109/jqe.1978.1069786

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The 5890 Å output from a CW dye laser was converted into a train of 0.5 ns pulses by frequency modulation and passage through a near-resonant atomic vapor delay line of Na. The theory of the process is discussed in both the time and frequency domains. Using a modulation index of 120 at a frequency of 17.8 MHz, we obtained values for the temporal compression ratio and intensity enhancement of 112 and 14, easily the largest that have been reported.
We wish to use atomic group-velocity dispersion to compress energetic copper-vapor laser- pumped dye-laser pulses from 40 ns to approximately 300 ps. This talk focuses on numerical results that illustrate coherent atomic effects on the process. Traditionally, analysis has been based on linear dispersion theory (LDT). This model represents the atoms as a static susceptibility. This susceptibility gives rise to the differential group delay required for compression of frequency-swept pulses. However, LDT is inadequate in analyzing compression in a regime in which the coherent transition rate (Rabi frequency) is comparable to the laser detuning. Here population transfer becomes significant, thus invalidating the concept of a steady-state dipole. An adequate representation of the atomic system requires solution of the coupled Maxwell-Bloch equations. We have developed a code to model near-resonant coherent propagation through inhomogeneously broadened two-level atoms.
Numerical simulations of the compression of laser pulses by propagation through a medium of two-level near resonant atoms is presented. The compression of long pulses (>10 ns) whose peak Rabi frequency is comparable to the laser detuning from the atomic transition is addressed. This regime is one in which an accurate description of the physics requires solution of the Maxwell-Bloch equations. A model to investigate nonlinear effects on the compression process has been developed. The analysis begins with a study of the compression of optimally chirped pulses of various fluences. The onset of the nonlinear effects and their ramifications on the compression process are addressed.>