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AIP conference proceedings

Wave-mixing processes in sodium-potassium vapor

Brian K. Clark, Mark F. Masters, John Huennekens

Published Jan 1, 1988• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We report observations of 4‐wave and 6‐wave mixing processes based upon two‐photon pumping of the potassium 4S→6S and 4S→4D transitions in a sodium‐potassium mixture. Additionally we observe coherent emissions at the potassium 3D→4P transition frequencies for pump wavelengths between 725 and 760 nm. The excitation spectra for these emissions show several broad peaks, each of roughly 10 nm width. A series of sharp dips is superimposed on the most intense peak due to depletion of the 3D population by laser‐induced absorption to Rydberg F levels. Although the 3D→4P emissions can be observed in both the forward and backward directions, they are ∼50 times more intense in the forward direction. We believe the forward emission is primarily due to 6‐wave mixing while the backward emission can most likely be attributed to amplified spontaneous emission following two‐photon molecular photodissociation. However, at present, the exact mechanisms responsible for these 3D→4P emissions are not fully understood.

DOI
10.1063/1.37385

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We report observations of 4‐wave and 6‐wave mixing processes based upon two‐photon pumping of the potassium 4S→6S and 4S→4D transitions in a sodium‐potassium mixture. Additionally we observe coherent emissions at the potassium 3D→4P transition frequencies for pump wavelengths between 725 and 760 nm. The excitation spectra for these emissions show several broad peaks, each of roughly 10 nm width. A series of sharp dips is superimposed on the most intense peak due to depletion of the 3D population by laser‐induced absorption to Rydberg F levels. Although the 3D→4P emissions can be observed in both the forward and backward directions, they are ∼50 times more intense in the forward direction. We believe the forward emission is primarily due to 6‐wave mixing while the backward emission can most likely be attributed to amplified spontaneous emission following two‐photon molecular photodissociation. However, at present, the exact mechanisms responsible for these 3D→4P emissions are not fully understood.
Laser excitation and ionization processes in dense (1–10 Torr) sodium vapor have been studied for laser wavelengths near the two-photon allowed nd 2D(n=3, 4, 5) and ns 2S(n=4, 5, 6) states. In particular, the 1 3Σ+g→1 3Σ+u excimer emission in Na2, predicted in 1980 by Konowalow and Julienne and observed recently by Dinev et al, was studied here in greater detail. Strong excimer emission (∼830 nm) was observed for two-photon pumping to both sides of the unresolved 4D states, and weak excimer emission was seen when pumping near the 5D levels. The excimer emission exhibits a complicated pump laser profile with a pronounced ‘‘dip’’ at the 4d 2D two-photon resonance. Similarly, [2+1] photon ionization via the 3d 2D and 4d 2D states shows a dramatic decrease as the sodium density increases. These results can be attributed either to depleted 3d 2D or 4d 2D population due to stimulated electronic Raman scattering (SERS) or to the interference effects recently reported by Malcuit et al. and Krasnikov et al. and treated theoretically by Manykin and Afanas’ev and by Agarwal. It is argued that both mechanisms are operative. Strong ionization and SERS signals were observed at the hybrid resonances corresponding to 3p 2P3/2, 1/2 →4d 2D transitions; however, no excimer lasing at 830 nm was detected. No excimer emission was detected upon two-photon pumping near or at the 3d 2D or ns 2S(n=4, 5, 6) states. Based on these and other observations, the 1 3Σ+g→1 3Σ+u excimer emission is attributed to a molecular Raman process involving stimulated emission or six-wave mixing via a pathway of the type 1 3Σ+u→2hν 3Δu→ j 3Πg→(k 3Πu, l 3Σ +u)→1 3Σ+g→1 3Σ +u .
The two‐photon excitation of 4S1/2–7S1/2 transition of potassium atoms is studied. Several coherent emissions and processes are possible, such as parametric four‐wave (PFWM), parametric six‐wave (PSWM) mixing and competition with the stimulated hyper Raman (SHRS) and the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). The radiations at the transitions 6P3/2,1/2−4S1/2, 6S1/2−4P3/2,1/2 and 5P3/2,1/2−4S1/2 are emitted only in the forward direction (indicating a parametric process), while the radiation at the transition 4P3/2,1/2−4S1/2 is emitted in the forward and in the backward direction, indicating an ASE process.
We have observed a four-wave mixing process in sodium vapor in which two of the four waves are resonantly enhanced by electric quadrupole transitions. The atom is pumped via a quadrupole transition from the 3s to the 4d state with a single photon at 2894 Å. Intense coherent emission at 3427 Å corresponding to the 3d-3s transition can be observed exiting the Na cell only in the direction parallel to the input beam. Also observed coming from the cell is intense coherent light at 2.34 µm corresponding to the 4d-4s transition in Na.
We study the generation of radiation at the 5P3/2‐4S1/2 transition of potassium vapor under excitation of the 4S1/2‐6S1/2 two‐photon resonance. The model consists of the coupled Maxwell‐Bloch equations for a four‐level configuration of Potassium atom including states 4S, 4P, 5P and 6S, which is numerically solved. Previous experimental studies have shown the emission of Parametric Four‐Wave Mixing (PFWM) radiation near the 5P3/2‐4S1/2 transition at low vapor pressures (P<1014 atoms/cm3) which is also shown in the case of the model studied.
The nonlinear response of sodium vapor with a laser tuned near the 4D two-photon resonance is investigated over a large range of sodium concentrations and pump intensities with emphasis on the influence of coherent cancellation effects on the induced polarizations and the primary mechanism for the generation of the new frequencies. Over a wide range of circumstances, the response of the medium is dominated by parametric four-wave mixing as compared to amplified spontaneous emission or stimulated electronic hyper-Raman scattering. Secondary four-wave-mixing fields are generated by stimulated Raman scattering of one parametric four-wave-mixing field and a coupling of these fields with the driving laser field. A sharp onset of saturation of the parametric four-wave-mixing signals with sodium number density and a transition from a quadratic to a linear power dependence is observed. Both effects are explained in terms of the two-photon cancellation effect.