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Investigation of the high-contrast sub-Doppler absorption spikes observed in a cesium vapor cell under the dual-frequency regime

Denis V. Brazhnikov, Moustafa Abdel Hafiz, A. V. Taǐchenachev, Valeriy I. Yudin, Emeric de Clercq, Rodolphe Boudot

Published Jul 2, 2017• 0 citations
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Abstract

Recently, the new bright feature of Doppler-free resonance in a cesium vapor cell under the twofrequency counterpropagating light waves has been observed [1] (see Fig.1). It consists in observation of a natural-linewidth nonlinear resonance with very high contrast. In spite of this effect is becoming very useful tool for laser frequency stabilization in CPT atom clocks [2, 3], it has not been understood and studied well enough. Here we focus on the detailed experimental as well as theoretical study of the new effect. Three physical reasons have been revealed that can result in observation of enhanced absorption at the center of the resonance. Moreover, simultaneous and constructive action of thesereasons can greatly increase amplitude of the nonlinear resonance, which can be two times bigger than a wide Doppler background. Theory is based on a well-known -scheme of atomic energy levels. The scheme has provided us with very clear physical interpretation of the effect. The real structure of atomic energy levels with taking into account all magnetic sublevels has been also considered.

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We have detected and analysed interesting features of sub-Doppler resonances, which are induced in absorption of the weak monochromatic probe light beam (with the scanned frequency) by the counterpropagating two-frequency pumping radiation implementing the phenomenon of the coherent population trapping (CPT) on resonant Λ-systems of atomic levels. Our experimental investigations have been carried out on example of spectral components of the Doppler broadened D2line of cesium atoms. Obtained results may be used for optimization of laser frequencies stabilization on atomic transitions.

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Recently, the new bright feature of Doppler-free resonance in a cesium vapor cell under the twofrequency counterpropagating light waves has been observed [1] (see Fig.1). It consists in observation of a natural-linewidth nonlinear resonance with very high contrast. In spite of this effect is becoming very useful tool for laser frequency stabilization in CPT atom clocks [2, 3], it has not been understood and studied well enough. Here we focus on the detailed experimental as well as theoretical study of the new effect. Three physical reasons have been revealed that can result in observation of enhanced absorption at the center of the resonance. Moreover, simultaneous and constructive action of thesereasons can greatly increase amplitude of the nonlinear resonance, which can be two times bigger than a wide Doppler background. Theory is based on a well-known -scheme of atomic energy levels. The scheme has provided us with very clear physical interpretation of the effect. The real structure of atomic energy levels with taking into account all magnetic sublevels has been also considered.
The saturated absorption technique is an elegant method widely used in atomic and molecular physics for high-resolution spectroscopy, laser frequency standards and metrology purposes. We have recently discovered that a saturated absorption scheme with a dual-frequency laser can lead to a significant sign reversal of the usual Doppler-free dip, yielding a deep enhanced-absorption spike. In this paper, we report detailed experimental investigations of this phenomenon, together with a full in-depth theoretical description. It is shown that several physical effects can support or oppose the formation of the high-contrast central spike in the absorption profile. The physical conditions for which all these effects act constructively and result in very bright Doppler-free resonances are revealed. Apart from their theoretical interest, results obtained in this manuscript are of great interest for laser spectroscopy and laser frequency stabilization purposes, with applications in laser cooling, matter-wave sensors, atomic clocks or quantum optics.
The results of detailed experimental and theoretical investigations of new nonlinear effect in the field of saturated-absorption spectroscopy of atom vapours are presented. The effect consists in observation of a high-contrast natural-linewidth absorption spike when133Cs atoms are being irradiated by the bichromatic counterpropagating laser beams. The results obtained can be useful in various fields of modern laser physics and applications where saturated-absorption resonances are used. For instance, the effect has been already implemented in the coherent-population-trapping atom clocks to enhance stabilization of optical frequencies and to improve stability of the clocks on the whole.
Sub-Doppler spectroscopy in alkali-metal vapor cells using two counterpropagating dual-frequency laser beams allows the detection of high-contrast sign-reversed natural-linewidth sub-Doppler resonances. Previously, a qualitative theory based on a simplified \ensuremath{\Lambda}-scheme model has been reported to explain underlying physics of this phenomenon. In this paper, an extended theoretical model of dual-frequency sub-Doppler spectroscopy (DFSDS) for the Cs D1{D}_{1}D1​ line is reported. Taking into account the real atomic energy structure, main relaxation processes, and various nonlinear effects, this model describes quantitatively the respective contributions of involved physical processes and predicts main properties (height and linewidth) of the sub-Doppler resonances. Experimental tests are performed with a Cs vapor microfabricated cell and results are found to be in correct agreement with theoretical predictions. Spatial oscillations of the sub-Doppler resonance amplitude with translation of the reflection mirror are highlighted. A beat note between two laser systems, including one stabilized with DFSDS on a Cs vapor microcell, yields a fractional frequency stability of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ until 10-s averaging time. These results demonstrate that DFSDS could be an interesting approach for the development of a high-performance microcell-based optical frequency reference, with applications in various compact quantum devices.
Abstract High-contrast sub-Doppler resonances observed in alkali-metal atomic vapors in the field of counterpropagating bichromatic laser beams are perspective in quantum metrology for designing a miniature optical frequency standard. Until now, these nonlinear resonances have been investigated only experimentally or using numerical calculations. In our opinion, the development of a simplified theoretical model of the observed resonances, which would provide explicit compact analytic expressions describing the line shape of the resonance, would be extremely important for further evolution of the theory. In this study, we perform such theoretical analysis based on the three-level Λ scheme of the atom. We investigate two regimes, viz., the regime of a low-intensity standing wave with close intensities of counterpropagating beams (I1 ≈ I2) and the regime of a probe wave, in which one of the beams has a noticeably lower intensity than that of the oppositely propagating beam (I2 ≪ I1). The resulting analytic expressions make it possible to determine qualitative differences between these regimes and to separate explicitly the contributions from different nonlinear effects to the light field absorption, including the terms responsible for the formation of a high-contrast sub-Doppler peak. The expressions derived here are in qualitative agreement with experimental data obtained earlier.
Abstract We review three laser spectroscopy schemes developed recently for observation of high-contrast enhanced-absorption nonlinear resonances in small alkali-vapor cells. In our experiments, optical transitions within the cesium D1 line are involved and a probe beam transmission is analyzed. The first spectroscopy method is based on the configuration with two-frequency counter propagating beams, which are linearly polarized in orthogonal directions. This configuration provides observation of high-contrast natural-linewidth resonances superimposed on broad Doppler profiles when the laser frequency is scanned. These resonances have good prospects for developing a miniature optical frequency reference. The second scheme involves two-frequency counter propagating beams with equal circular polarizations and provides observation of subnatural-linewidth resonances when the Raman frequency detuning is scanned. We use these resonances for stabilizing the microwave frequency of a local oscillator (≈ 4.6 GHz). Frequency stability of around 6 × l0-12 is achieved at 1-s averaging using a 5-mm length cell. This result makes the technique attractive for developing a miniature frequency standard in thr microwave range. The third configuration exploits single-frequency counter-propagating beams with linear orthogonal polarizations. The ultrahigh-contrast subnatural-linewidth resonances can be observed when the longitudinal magnetic field is scanned around zero. The possible application is discussed of these resonances in vector atomic magnetometry.
We have detected and analysed interesting features of sub-Doppler resonances, which are induced in absorption of the weak monochromatic probe light beam (with the scanned frequency) by the counterpropagating two-frequency pumping radiation implementing the phenomenon of the coherent population trapping (CPT) on resonant Λ-systems of atomic levels. Our experimental investigations have been carried out on example of spectral components of the Doppler broadened D2line of cesium atoms. Obtained results may be used for optimization of laser frequencies stabilization on atomic transitions.