Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Scientific Reports

Two Step Excitation in Hot Atomic Sodium Vapor

Bernd Docters, Jörg Wrachtrup, Ilja Gerhardt

Published Sep 12, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract A two step excitation scheme in hot atomic sodium vapor is experimentally investigated. The observed effects reflect a coupling between the 32S, 32P and the 32D states. We present the relative dependence on detuning of the two utilized lasers around λ = 589 nm and 819 nm. Unlike expected, we achieve a higher detuning dependence of the probe and the coupling laser by a factor of approximately three. The presented work aimed for a Rydberg excitation and quantum light storage. Such schemes are usually implemented with a red laser on the D-line transition and a coupling laser of shorter (typically blue) wavelength. Due to the fact that higher P-Rydberg states are approximately two times higher in energy than the 32D state, a two photon transition from the atomic excited 32P state to a Rydberg P state is feasible. This might circumvent laser frequency doubling whereby only two lasers might mediate a three photon process. The scheme of adding threek-vectors allows for electromagnetically induced transparency experiments in which the resulting k-vector can be effectively reduced to zero. By measurements utilizing electric fields and an analysis of the emission spectrum of the atomic vapor, we can exclude the excitation of the P-P two photon transition.

DOI
10.1038/s41598-017-12089-w

Related papers

Telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in a hot vapor

Wenfang Li, Jinjin Du, Mark Lam +1 more

We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the 5 D 5/2 state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the 21 F 7/2 Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.

arXiv:2209.08927•Optics Letters•Aug 8, 2022•7 citations

Laser beam combining in atomic potassium vapor

Mark T. Gruneisen, Kenneth R. MacDonald, Robert W. Boyd +1 more

When an atomic vapor interacts with an intense nearly resonant laser field, the ac Stark effect causes a profound modification of the weak-field absorption spectrum. Two of the induced spectral features can lead to amplification of a weak probe wave. We have previously measured in atomic sodium vapor high probe-wave gain (G = 38) due to the three-photon effect and a somewhat lower gain (G = 4) when the probe wave is detuned from the pump laser frequency by the inverse of the atomic response time.1 We present the results of an experimental and theoretical study of the energy coupling between two intense laser fields of comparable intensity through their interaction with an atomic vapor. In our experiments, a tunable alexandrite laser provides microsecond laser pulses of the required intensity that are nearly resonant with the 4s → 4p transition in potassium. We observed large energy transfer (50%) between the two waves at the nearly degenerate resonance and measured the intensity dependence of the coupling efficiency. Theoretical modeling of the interaction is based on a continued-fraction solution of the density-matrix equations of motion.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations

nS1/2→(n+1)S1/2 two-photon excitation EIT-AT spectrum of Rydberg atom

Yongmei Xue, Li-Ping Hao, Jiabei Fan +2 more

In this work, we present an nS1/2→(n + 1)S1/2 two-photon excitation EIT-AT spectrum of Rydberg atom in the vapor cell. A ground state (6S1/2), a first excited state (6P3/2) and Rydberg state (69S1/2) of cesium atoms constitute a three-level system. A weak probe laser locking to the transition of 6S1/2 (F = 4)→6P3/2 (F′ = 5) couples the ground-state transition, and the strong coupling laser drives the Rydberg transition of 6P3/2→69S1/2 to yield electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, which realizes the optical detection of Rydberg atoms. Two Rydberg 69S1/2 and 70S1/2 levels are coupled with the microwave field at a frequency of fMW = 11.735 GHz, forming a microwave two-photon spectrum. To observe the influence of microwave electric field power on two-photon spectrum, we investigate the microwave coupled Rydberg EIT-AT spectra at different microwave fields. The measurements show that the EIT-AT splitting interval is proportional to the square of the microwave electric field at strong microwave field, and indicvates a nonlinear dependence at weak microwave electric field. The theoretical calculation accords with the experimental measurement. The work here is of significance in precisely measuring the microwave electric field.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2022•0 citations

Sub-Doppler absorption narrowing in atomic vapor at two intense laser fields

Aleksandar J. Krmpot, Marina M. Mijailovi, Bratimir M. Pani? +4 more

We have experimentally studied electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) in hot 85Rb atomic vapor using probe and coupling light with comparable power levels. We have shown that strong-probe EIT has different linewidth and appears in fewer configurations than does usual, weak probe EIT. In V-scheme, where optical pumping and saturation are dominant mechanisms, narrow EIT is possible only when a probe is tuned to a closed transition. The width of the EIT resonance increases with laser intensity with non-linear dependence, similar to the weak-probe EIT in Lambda- scheme. The EIT in Lambda- scheme was observed when two transitions had balanced population losses. The EIA was modified for the case of a strong probe as well: in four-level N-scheme with Zeeman sublevels the EIA was observed only for a cycling transition when F'=F+1, where F and F' are the angular momenta of the 5 2S1/2 (ground) and 5 2P3/2 (excited) state hyper-fine levels, respectively. The combination of strong probe and strong coupling laser beam intensities allows observation of an absorption dip due to three-photon resonance in a four-level scheme that involves the Raman transitions via virtual level.

Optics Express•Jan 1, 2005•34 citations

The break of L-S coupling and the double Stark resonance in the spectrum of 36P → 37P two-photon transition in Rydberg atoms of sodium

I. I. Ryabtsev, Denis B. Tretyakov

New results are presented of an experimental investigation of the spectrum of 36 P → 37 P two-photon microwave transition in Rydberg atoms of sodium in a constant electric field. Depending on the conditions of excitation of the initial 36 P state (the constant electric field is switched on either before or after the exciting laser pulse) and polarization of laser radiation, a strong variation is observed of the amplitudes of individual two-photon transitions between the fine-structure Stark components of the 36 P and 37 P states. This effect is an analog of the Paschen-Back effect in a strong magnetic field and is due to the break of L-S coupling and to the variation of the wave functions of Rydberg electrons in an electric field. It is also found that the break of L-S coupling affects considerably the shape of double Stark resonance arising upon intersection of the virtual intermediate level of two-photon transition with the real intermediate 37 S level.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics•Apr 1, 2002•3 citations

Single-photon Rydberg excitation spectra of cesium atomic vapor with a 319nm ultra-violet laser

iandong Bai, Jieying Wang, Shuo Liu +2 more

We demonstrate the single-photon excitation spectra of cesium Rydberg atoms by means of a Doppler-free purely all-optical detection with a room-temperature vapor cell and a 319 nm ultra-violet (UV) laser. We excite atoms directly from 6S1/2 ground state to 71P3/2 Rydberg state with a narrow-linewidth 319 nm UV laser. The detection of Rydberg states is performed by monitoring the absorption of an 852 nm probe beam in a V-type three-level system. With a strong coupling light, we observe the Autler-Townes (AT) doublet, and the dependences of the separation and linewidths on the coupling intensity are experimentally investigated, which is consistent with the prediction based on the dressed state theory. Moreover, the AT splitting can be used to measure the Rabi frequency. In an external magnetic field, the Rydberg spectra of nondegenerate Zeeman sublevels are demonstrated. The splitting of the spectrum is of great significance for studying the characteristics of Rydberg atoms.

•Jun 1, 2018•0 citations
Abstract A two step excitation scheme in hot atomic sodium vapor is experimentally investigated. The observed effects reflect a coupling between the 32S, 32P and the 32D states. We present the relative dependence on detuning of the two utilized lasers around λ = 589 nm and 819 nm. Unlike expected, we achieve a higher detuning dependence of the probe and the coupling laser by a factor of approximately three. The presented work aimed for a Rydberg excitation and quantum light storage. Such schemes are usually implemented with a red laser on the D-line transition and a coupling laser of shorter (typically blue) wavelength. Due to the fact that higher P-Rydberg states are approximately two times higher in energy than the 32D state, a two photon transition from the atomic excited 32P state to a Rydberg P state is feasible. This might circumvent laser frequency doubling whereby only two lasers might mediate a three photon process. The scheme of adding threek-vectors allows for electromagnetically induced transparency experiments in which the resulting k-vector can be effectively reduced to zero. By measurements utilizing electric fields and an analysis of the emission spectrum of the atomic vapor, we can exclude the excitation of the P-P two photon transition.
We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the 5 D 5/2 state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the 21 F 7/2 Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.
When an atomic vapor interacts with an intense nearly resonant laser field, the ac Stark effect causes a profound modification of the weak-field absorption spectrum. Two of the induced spectral features can lead to amplification of a weak probe wave. We have previously measured in atomic sodium vapor high probe-wave gain (G = 38) due to the three-photon effect and a somewhat lower gain (G = 4) when the probe wave is detuned from the pump laser frequency by the inverse of the atomic response time.1 We present the results of an experimental and theoretical study of the energy coupling between two intense laser fields of comparable intensity through their interaction with an atomic vapor. In our experiments, a tunable alexandrite laser provides microsecond laser pulses of the required intensity that are nearly resonant with the 4s → 4p transition in potassium. We observed large energy transfer (50%) between the two waves at the nearly degenerate resonance and measured the intensity dependence of the coupling efficiency. Theoretical modeling of the interaction is based on a continued-fraction solution of the density-matrix equations of motion.
In this work, we present an nS1/2→(n + 1)S1/2 two-photon excitation EIT-AT spectrum of Rydberg atom in the vapor cell. A ground state (6S1/2), a first excited state (6P3/2) and Rydberg state (69S1/2) of cesium atoms constitute a three-level system. A weak probe laser locking to the transition of 6S1/2 (F = 4)→6P3/2 (F′ = 5) couples the ground-state transition, and the strong coupling laser drives the Rydberg transition of 6P3/2→69S1/2 to yield electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, which realizes the optical detection of Rydberg atoms. Two Rydberg 69S1/2 and 70S1/2 levels are coupled with the microwave field at a frequency of fMW = 11.735 GHz, forming a microwave two-photon spectrum. To observe the influence of microwave electric field power on two-photon spectrum, we investigate the microwave coupled Rydberg EIT-AT spectra at different microwave fields. The measurements show that the EIT-AT splitting interval is proportional to the square of the microwave electric field at strong microwave field, and indicvates a nonlinear dependence at weak microwave electric field. The theoretical calculation accords with the experimental measurement. The work here is of significance in precisely measuring the microwave electric field.
We have experimentally studied electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) in hot 85Rb atomic vapor using probe and coupling light with comparable power levels. We have shown that strong-probe EIT has different linewidth and appears in fewer configurations than does usual, weak probe EIT. In V-scheme, where optical pumping and saturation are dominant mechanisms, narrow EIT is possible only when a probe is tuned to a closed transition. The width of the EIT resonance increases with laser intensity with non-linear dependence, similar to the weak-probe EIT in Lambda- scheme. The EIT in Lambda- scheme was observed when two transitions had balanced population losses. The EIA was modified for the case of a strong probe as well: in four-level N-scheme with Zeeman sublevels the EIA was observed only for a cycling transition when F'=F+1, where F and F' are the angular momenta of the 5 2S1/2 (ground) and 5 2P3/2 (excited) state hyper-fine levels, respectively. The combination of strong probe and strong coupling laser beam intensities allows observation of an absorption dip due to three-photon resonance in a four-level scheme that involves the Raman transitions via virtual level.
New results are presented of an experimental investigation of the spectrum of 36 P → 37 P two-photon microwave transition in Rydberg atoms of sodium in a constant electric field. Depending on the conditions of excitation of the initial 36 P state (the constant electric field is switched on either before or after the exciting laser pulse) and polarization of laser radiation, a strong variation is observed of the amplitudes of individual two-photon transitions between the fine-structure Stark components of the 36 P and 37 P states. This effect is an analog of the Paschen-Back effect in a strong magnetic field and is due to the break of L-S coupling and to the variation of the wave functions of Rydberg electrons in an electric field. It is also found that the break of L-S coupling affects considerably the shape of double Stark resonance arising upon intersection of the virtual intermediate level of two-photon transition with the real intermediate 37 S level.
We demonstrate the single-photon excitation spectra of cesium Rydberg atoms by means of a Doppler-free purely all-optical detection with a room-temperature vapor cell and a 319 nm ultra-violet (UV) laser. We excite atoms directly from 6S1/2 ground state to 71P3/2 Rydberg state with a narrow-linewidth 319 nm UV laser. The detection of Rydberg states is performed by monitoring the absorption of an 852 nm probe beam in a V-type three-level system. With a strong coupling light, we observe the Autler-Townes (AT) doublet, and the dependences of the separation and linewidths on the coupling intensity are experimentally investigated, which is consistent with the prediction based on the dressed state theory. Moreover, the AT splitting can be used to measure the Rabi frequency. In an external magnetic field, the Rydberg spectra of nondegenerate Zeeman sublevels are demonstrated. The splitting of the spectrum is of great significance for studying the characteristics of Rydberg atoms.