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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Diffraction and quantum control of wave functions in nonresonant two-photon absorption

Baihong Li, Huafeng Pang, Doudou Wang, Tao Zhang, Ruifang Dong, Yongfang Li

Published Feb 9, 2018• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the nonresonant two-photon absorption process in a two-level atom, induced by a weak chirped pulse, is theoretically investigated in the frequency domain. An analytical expression of the wave function expressed by Fresnel functions is obtained, and the two-photon transition probability (TPTP) versus the integral bandwidth, spectral width, and chirp parameter is analyzed. The results indicate that the oscillation evolution of the TPTP result from quantum diffraction of the wave function, which can be explained by analogy with Fresnel diffraction from a wide slit in the spatial domain. Moreover, the ratio between the real and imaginary parts of the excited state wave function and, hence, the atomic polarization, can be controlled by the initial phase of the excitation pulse. In some special initial phase of the excitation pulse, the wave functions with purely real or imaginary parts can be obtained by measuring the population probability. This work provides a novel perspective for understanding the physical details of the interactions between atoms and chirped light pulses in the multiphoton process.

DOI
10.1088/1361-6455/aaae5d

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Abstract In this study, the nonresonant two-photon absorption process in a two-level atom, induced by a weak chirped pulse, is theoretically investigated in the frequency domain. An analytical expression of the wave function expressed by Fresnel functions is obtained, and the two-photon transition probability (TPTP) versus the integral bandwidth, spectral width, and chirp parameter is analyzed. The results indicate that the oscillation evolution of the TPTP result from quantum diffraction of the wave function, which can be explained by analogy with Fresnel diffraction from a wide slit in the spatial domain. Moreover, the ratio between the real and imaginary parts of the excited state wave function and, hence, the atomic polarization, can be controlled by the initial phase of the excitation pulse. In some special initial phase of the excitation pulse, the wave functions with purely real or imaginary parts can be obtained by measuring the population probability. This work provides a novel perspective for understanding the physical details of the interactions between atoms and chirped light pulses in the multiphoton process.
We theoretically investigate the nonresonant two-photon absorption (TPA) process in a two-level atom induced by a weak chirped pulse in the frequency domain. According to the extremum condition of the two-photon transition probability (TPTP) at the transition center frequency, we propose a Fresnel-inspired pulse tailoring scheme for TPA that is significantly different from that of Broers et al. [Phys. Rev. A46, 2749 (1992)]. Using this scheme, the TPTP can be focused or eliminated completely by constructively or destructively modulating various pathways of the quantum interference. Our results are a significant improvement on those obtained by Broers et al. and will have potential applications in selective two-photon microscopy and spectroscopy.
We study the interaction between the shaped chirped laser pulse and a two-level atomic system. The analytical solution of the population probability on the excited state is obtained by the first order perturbation theory. We show that the temporal evolution of the wave function on the excited state is similar to the grating diffraction. By varying the modulation adepth and the compensation phase we demonstrate that the quantum coherent control for the population probability on the excited state can be achieved. We present a new method for measuring the wave function by the quantum holography principle.
In general cases of strong field excitation, the Stark effect has a significant influence on transient two-photon transitions, and the analytic description of this process is quite challenging. By combining analytical solutions and numerical simulations, the transient two-photon transition processes excited by weak and strong chirped pulses are systematically investigated, showing the important influences of parameters such as light field intensity, chirp factor, and detuning on the time-domain evolution of two-photon transition probabilities. Firstly, an approximate analytical expression is derived for the amplitude of the time-domain two-photon transition probability by using the second-order perturbation theory. This analytical solution indicates that the transient two-photon transition process under weak field excitation is similar to the Fresnel rectangular edge diffraction effect. As the light field intensity increases, the influence of the Stark effect on two-photon transitions also intensifies. Secondly, through a series of approximations, the approximate analytical solutions of the Schrödinger equation under strong field interactions are obtained. The analytical solutions show that the strong field Stark effect induces energy level to split, which disrupts the symmetry of the time-domain two-photon transition probability distribution, and its frequency domain process is similar to the “double-slit interference” effect. The research results indicate that the efficiency of population transfer during strong field excitation is closely related to the light field intensity, while the chirp factor can not only regulate the efficiency and time position of population transfer but also change the oscillation frequency of the population probability in the time domain. This work offers new insights into describing the time-domain evolution of the population probability under strong field excitation and lays a scientific basis for research on two-photon microscopy imaging.
We investigate the interaction between a two-level atomic system and a phase controllable light field. The quantum diffraction of the population probability for the excited state is described analytically. The physical sense of the wave function evolution is analyzed in detail. The polarization of the atoms is shown with the help of Cornu spiral of the wave function and the temporal evolution of the real and imaginary part for the wave function. It is shown that the polarization of the atoms and the temporal evolution of the wave function as well as the propagation of light can be controlled by manipulating the phase of the light field.
Multiphoton transitions can be reached by many routes through a continuum of virtual levels. We show that the transition probability of two-photon and multiphoton processes can be controlled by tailoring the shape of an ultrashort excitation pulse, so that the many paths leading to the final state interfere to give a desired probability amplitude. We analyze the effect of pulse shapes on N-photon absorption as well as on Raman transitions. We show theoretically that certain tailored dark pulses do not excite the system at all, while other shaped pulses induce transitions as effectively as transform limited pulses, even when their peak amplitudes are greatly reduced. These results are confirmed experimentally for two-photon transitions in atomic cesium.
The interaction between the laser pulse with a small-area and a three-level atomic system is investigated.The formation and characterization of the shaped laser pulse are analyzed and the two-photon transition is studied with the shaped laser pulse.The influence of the relaxation of the excited state and the length of the shaping medium on the two-photon absorption is discussed.Based on the dispersion theory the oscillation of the transient twophoton transition is explained.The result indicates that the transition probability of two-photon absorption evolves regularly with the several values of parameters such as the length of medium(l),relaxation time(t2) and bandwidth(Δω).Meanwhile the transition probability appears in the transient oscillation.