Quantum Optics of Strongly Driven Two-Level Atoms

Yuan Zhan, Zixuan Wang, Richard P. Mirin +2 more

We study resonance fluorescence spectra from a two-level atom strongly driven by both optical and acoustic fields. We observe cancellation of the central peak and extract optimal phonon cooling conditions in the driven atom-phonon system.

Harry J. Kimble, O. Carnal, N. Ph. Georgiades +7 more

Yifu Zhu, A. Lezama, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

Two-level atoms (in free space) cannot be maintained in a state of steady-state inversion. Although this fact may seem to preclude the possibility of producing a two-level-atom laser, It is well known that strongly driven two-level atoms exhibit gain (and loss) at certain frequencies in the vicinity of the excitation frequency.1 Inside an optical cavity the optical gain may be larger than the losses, and laser oscillation should occur with an ensemble of two-level atoms as the active medlum.2

H. Walther

Yifu Zhu, Qilin Wu, S. Morin +1 more

A feature associated with continuous-wave two-photon optical gain has been observed in the absorption spectrum of an ensemble of barium atoms driven by a strong near-resonant optical field. In the dressed-atom picture, the observed gain is attributable to inverted two-photon transitions with nearly resonant intermediate states. A cw optical two-photon laser utilizing this gain appears feasible.

K. Wódkiewicz