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

Spectrum of light scattering from an extended atomic wave packet

Dubetsky, B, P. R. Berman

Published Mar 30, 2001• 2 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The spectrum of the light scattered from an extended atomic wave packet is calculated. For a wave packet consisting of two spatially separated peaks moving on parallel trajectories, the spectrum contains Ramsey-like fringes that are sensitive to the phase difference between the two components of the wave packet. Using this technique, one can establish the mutual coherence of the two components of the wave packet without recombining them.

Related papers

Spectrum of light scattering from an extended atomic wave packet

B. DUBETSKY, P. R. Berman

The spectrum of the light scattered from an extended atomic wave packet is calculated. For a wave packet consisting of two spatially separated peaks moving on parallel trajectories, the spectrum contains Ramsey-like fringes that are sensitive to the phase difference between the two components of the wave packet. Using this technique, one can establish the mutual coherence of the two components of the wave packet without recombining them.

arXiv:physics/0103097•Journal of Modern Optics•Jan 1, 2002•1 citation

Signatures of nonlocality in the first-order coherence of scattered light

P. Cañizares, T. Görler, Juan Pablo Paz +2 more

The spatial coherence of an atomic wavepacket can be detected in scattered photons, even when the center-of-mass motion is in the quantum coherent superposition of two distant, nonoverlapping wavepackets. Spatial coherence manifests itself in the power spectrum of the emitted photons, whose spectral components can exhibit interference fringes as a function of the emission angle. The contrast and the phase of this interference pattern provide information about the quantum state of the center of mass of the scattering atom.

arXiv:quant-ph/0703109•Laser Physics•Jul 1, 2007•3 citations

Optical Ramsey fringes induced by Zeeman coherence

Alexander S. Zibrov, Andrey B. Matsko

We utilize a two-photon polarization spectroscopy technique to observe Ramsey fringes that appear due to light scattering by coherently prepared rubidium atoms. We examine the effect in a vapor cell for spatially and temporally separated laser fields. We present a theoretical interpretation of the experimental results.

Physical Review A•Dec 14, 2001•35 citations

Young's Double-Slit Interferometry within an Atom

Michael W. Noel, Carlos R. Stroud

An experiment is described which is an analog of Young's double-slit interferometer using an atomic electron instead of light. Two phase-coherent laser pulses are used to excite a single electron into a state of the form of a pair of Rydberg wave packets that are initially on opposite sides of the orbit. The two wave packets propagate and spread until they completely overlap, then a third phase-coherent laser pulse probes the resulting fringe pattern. The relative phase of the two wave packets is varied so that the interference produces a single localized electron wave packet on one side of the orbit or the other.

Physical Review Letters•Aug 14, 1995•98 citations

Interaction of atomic wave packets with four-wave mixing:?detection of rubidium and potassium wave packets by coherent ultraviolet emission

Henry Tran, P. C. John, Ju Gao +1 more

The observation of an atomic wave packet by use of a coherent, nonlinear-optical process is reported. Wave packets formed in K or Rb vapor by two-photon excitation of ns and (n-2)dstates (n=8 for K; n=11 , 12 for Rb) with red (~620-nm) , 80-100-fs pulses were detected by four-wave mixing in pump-probe experiments. The temporal behavior of the wave packet is observed by monitoring the coherent UV radiation generated near the alkali mp(2)P? (2)S(1/2) (7</=m</=12 for Rb; 5</=m</=7 for K) resonance transitions when a probe pulse is scattered by the wave packet established by the earlier (identical) pump pulse. The spatial and spectral characteristics of the UV emission are well described by axially phase-matched four-wave mixing, and all the prominent frequency components of the wave packets are associated with energy differences between pairs of excited states for which Diota=0 or Diota=2 . These results demonstrate that the wave packet modulates chi((3))of the medium, thus rendering the wave packet detectable.

Optics Letters•Jan 1, 1998•26 citations

Light scattering

P. R. Berman

Light scattering of monochromatic radiation by atoms and dilute vapours is reviewed. The relative contributions of incoherent and coherent scattering are calculated for weak incident fields. It is shown that, to lowest order in the intensity of the driving field, there can be several inelastic components in the scattered spectrum. The positions and widths of these components are related to light shifts and optical pumping of the atoms in the field. The complications that one encounters in scattering by two atoms, moving atoms, and atomic ensembles are discussed in qualitative terms.

Contemporary Physics•Sep 1, 2008•7 citations
The spectrum of the light scattered from an extended atomic wave packet is calculated. For a wave packet consisting of two spatially separated peaks moving on parallel trajectories, the spectrum contains Ramsey-like fringes that are sensitive to the phase difference between the two components of the wave packet. Using this technique, one can establish the mutual coherence of the two components of the wave packet without recombining them.
The spatial coherence of an atomic wavepacket can be detected in scattered photons, even when the center-of-mass motion is in the quantum coherent superposition of two distant, nonoverlapping wavepackets. Spatial coherence manifests itself in the power spectrum of the emitted photons, whose spectral components can exhibit interference fringes as a function of the emission angle. The contrast and the phase of this interference pattern provide information about the quantum state of the center of mass of the scattering atom.
An experiment is described which is an analog of Young's double-slit interferometer using an atomic electron instead of light. Two phase-coherent laser pulses are used to excite a single electron into a state of the form of a pair of Rydberg wave packets that are initially on opposite sides of the orbit. The two wave packets propagate and spread until they completely overlap, then a third phase-coherent laser pulse probes the resulting fringe pattern. The relative phase of the two wave packets is varied so that the interference produces a single localized electron wave packet on one side of the orbit or the other.
The observation of an atomic wave packet by use of a coherent, nonlinear-optical process is reported. Wave packets formed in K or Rb vapor by two-photon excitation of ns and (n-2)dstates (n=8 for K; n=11 , 12 for Rb) with red (~620-nm) , 80-100-fs pulses were detected by four-wave mixing in pump-probe experiments. The temporal behavior of the wave packet is observed by monitoring the coherent UV radiation generated near the alkali mp(2)P? (2)S(1/2) (7</=m</=12 for Rb; 5</=m</=7 for K) resonance transitions when a probe pulse is scattered by the wave packet established by the earlier (identical) pump pulse. The spatial and spectral characteristics of the UV emission are well described by axially phase-matched four-wave mixing, and all the prominent frequency components of the wave packets are associated with energy differences between pairs of excited states for which Diota=0 or Diota=2 . These results demonstrate that the wave packet modulates chi((3))of the medium, thus rendering the wave packet detectable.
Light scattering of monochromatic radiation by atoms and dilute vapours is reviewed. The relative contributions of incoherent and coherent scattering are calculated for weak incident fields. It is shown that, to lowest order in the intensity of the driving field, there can be several inelastic components in the scattered spectrum. The positions and widths of these components are related to light shifts and optical pumping of the atoms in the field. The complications that one encounters in scattering by two atoms, moving atoms, and atomic ensembles are discussed in qualitative terms.