Counterintuitive Gaussian pulse sequence in three-level ladder scheme

In a recent publication we have studied counterintuitive pulse sequence applied to a three level ladder scheme, utilizing rectangular-shaped pulses. In this research we investigate amplification without population inversion in a three level ladder system interacting with two electromagnetic fields, namely, the probe and coupling fields. We take both probe and drive fields in the form of Gaussian shaped pulses. In a counterintuitive sequence scheme, the short probe pulse is introduced prior to the application of the coupling field, in contrast to a regular sequence scheme, where both fields are introduced at the same time. The influence of varying the probe pulse width and time delay between the initiation times of the probe and coupling fields on transient probe gain is investigated. It is found that the system exhibits a kind of memory about previously applied weak probe pulse. This may allow for detection of the past event by applying a strong drive pulse in the future.     

四能级双V型原子系统中考虑自发辐射相干的无粒子数反转激光

提出了一个由两个弱探测场和两个强耦合场驱动的四能级双V型原子系统, 研究发现在四波混频共振条件下, 两探测场均可被放大而无须粒子数反转. 值得注意的是, 由于所选择的激发态为超精细结构的两个近能级, 这里必须考虑自发辐射相干效应的影响. 与不考虑自发辐射相干相比, 同样参数条件下探测场的增益得到大幅度提高.而且, 探测场增益对相位非常敏感, 即增益-吸收线型受相位周期性调制, 同时也受两个偶极矩之间夹角θ制约. 此外还分析了相干抽运场 (强耦合场)的失谐对增益谱线产生的影响. 关键词： 无粒子数反转激光 四波混频 自发辐射相干     

Counterintuitive gain without inversion enhancement in pulsed fields sequence

Ultrashort pulse counterintuitive sequencing of three level lambda scheme shows five fold enhancement of the amplification without inversion on the probe transition. Introducing a short pulse weak probe field prior to the strong pump field results in an enhanced dispersion and stronger amplification on the probe field. The presence of an incoherent pump populating the upper level is crucial to the amplification. Parametric study of this effect is briefly presented.     

循环跃迁的Δ 型三能级系统中的无反转激光

研究了在引入非相干抽运的情况下,循环跃迁的Δ型共振三能级系统中产生的无反转激光.利用主方程的方法, 导出了缀饰态中强相干场极限下布居数项和相干项的稳态近似解析解以及产生无反转激光所需要满足的条件;并利用数值模拟的方法讨论了布居数分布、 系统增益对探测场和相干场拉比频率的依赖性以及随时间的演化规律. 结果表明:无论各个参量取何值,共振Δ型三能级系统总是处于无粒子数反转的状态; 只要探测场或相干场之中有一个为强场,便可产生无反转激光; 当其中任意一个场远强于另一个场时,系统的无反转增益将不再依赖于任何一个场的拉比频率.     

A scheme for ultrashort X-ray lasing without inversion

A scheme for obtaining a laser without inversion in the deep X-ray regime is proposed based on the principle of gain without inversion. A ladder scheme is proposed in the Ar⁸⁺ system. In this system, conventional lasing with population inversion in a neonlike scheme is used. This lasing field is proposed for the drive field on the higher transition of the ladder. A coherent field obtained in the high harmonics ultrashort laser provides the probe field to be amplified. The ground level is incoherently pumped into the highest level, while the latter is incoherently depumped into the ground level, at a different adjustable rate. A detailed density matrix calculation of the ladder configuration is performed [3], and the conditions under which the system exhibits inversionless gain, as well as regular gain, are derived. Numerical calculations in the bare state picture exhibits gain without inversion both at resonance and at the generalized Rabi side bands. The probe lineshape is shown to be constructed of two symmetrical dispersionlike features each centered at the generalized Rabi side bands. This is evidence of the quantum interference occurring at these locations and the basis for the gain without inversion.     

单发太赫兹时域光谱技术

太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)广泛应用于材料、生物医学、化学、药学、安检等诸多领域。传统扫描式THz-TDS技术需要通过改变探测光延时逐点扫描并重构时域信号,仅适合于具有较高重复频率且稳定的太赫兹辐射源情形下的样品探测。在低重复频率或涨落较大的太赫兹辐射源情形下和不可逆过程中样品的探测,扫描式THz-TDS不再适用,需要使用单发THz-TDS技术,单发THz-TDS技术原则上仅需要一个激光脉冲就可以获取一个完整的太赫兹时域脉冲波形。介绍几种主要的单发THz-TDS探测技术,这些技术都利用了电光晶体的泡克尔斯效应,通过测量探测光的某个物理量的变化来提取太赫兹信号。根据探测方法不同可分为光谱编码、空间编码和互相关等技术。在光谱编码技术中,探测光不同频率成分在时间上发生分离,不同时间成分分别被太赫兹脉冲不同时刻电场调制,通过测量探测光各个频率被太赫兹脉冲调制前后的光谱的变化提取太赫兹脉冲波形。该方法光路简单,测量结果直观,有较高的信噪比,但其时间分辨率较低,且被测太赫兹信号容易产生失真。为提高被测信号的时间分辨率,有人提出了空间编码技术,即不同位置探测光分别被太赫兹脉冲不同时刻电场调制,通过测量探测光各个位置太赫兹脉冲调制前后的光强变化提取太赫兹脉冲波形。根据不同空间展开方法可分为一维空间编码技术和二维空间编码技术。空间编码技术中虽然有较高的时间分辨率,但由于探测光在空间展开能量分散使得其信噪比相对较低。此外,还有一种较高时间分辨率的技术即互相关技术,可分为共线互相关和非共线互相关技术。在非共线互相关技术中,被太赫兹脉冲调制的激光啁啾脉冲与短脉冲互相关作用产生二次谐波,通过太赫兹脉冲调制前后二次谐波空间分布变化来提取太赫兹信号;在共线互相关技术中被太赫兹脉冲调制的啁啾脉冲与短脉冲共线入射到光谱仪,通过干涉条纹提取太赫兹信号,该技术提高了时间分辨率和信噪比,但光路布置复杂,不能进行实时监测。回顾了这几种单发THz-TDS探测技术的发展历程,综述探测技术的原理、实验方案和测量结果,并讨论了这些探测技术的优势和不足。     

Quantum interference effects on the probe amplification without and with inversion in a four-level system

A four-level system driven by two coherent fields is considered. It is shown that in the presence of an incoherent pump, the probe gain at a short wavelength can be achieved due to the quantum interference. Our density matrix calculation provides the conditions for probe amplification from different origins, including gain without population inversion on any state basis, gain with population inversion on the dressed-state basis, and gain with population inversion on the bare-state basis. Also, by controlling the Rabi frequency of the coupling field a total change from non-inversion to inversion can be achieved which does not depend on the intensity of the incoherent pump.     

Influence of Doppler broadening and spontaneously generated coherence on propagation effect in a quasi lambda-type four-level system

In this paper we study influences of Doppler broadening, spontaneously generated coherence, and other system parameters on propagation effect in a quasi lambda-type four-level atomic system. It is shown that when the Doppler broadening is present, generally speaking, the values of gain and intensity of lasing without inversion (i.e. the probe field) in the co-propagating probe and driving fields case are much larger than those in the counter-propagating case; considerably larger gain and intensity of lasing without inversion than those without the Doppler broadening can be obtained by choosing appropriate values of the Doppler broadening width and spontaneously generated coherence strength. The gain and intensity of lasing without inversion increase with the increase of spontaneously generated coherence strength; when spontaneously generated coherence is present, much larger gain and intensity of lasing without inversion than those in the case without spontaneously generated coherence can be obtained. Choosing suitable values of the probe detuning, Rabi frequencies of the driving and pump fields at the entrance of the medium also can remarkably enhance the gain and intensity of lasing without inversion.     

Coherent population transfer in four-level ladder systems by single frequency-chirped laser pulse

Adiabatic passage induced by a frequency-chirped laser pulse in four-level ladder systems is investigated. Two different strategies for efficient population transfer (intuitive and counterintuitive laser pulse) are analyzed. For the larger detuning, the four-level ladder system can be reduced to a two-level system with which we are familiar. For the smaller detuning, the main conditions for realization of population transfer are the following: the width of the transform-limited laser pulse envelope frequency spectrum (without chirp) must be smaller and the peak Rabi frequency of the pulse must be larger than the detuning ε₂₁ and ε₂₁∼ε₃₂ in the case of the three-photon resonance. With this laser pulse, it is possible to achieve complete population via the intermediate levels by three successive adiabatic passages. Complete inversion is also obtained by a counterintuitive direction of the frequency sweep.     

三能级三模量子系统中探测场的增益研究

研究了三能级原子与多模光场相互作用的量子系统，从系统的密度矩阵运动方程出发讨论了无粒子数反转探测场的增益条件，发现当驱动场拉比频率取5，探测场拉比频率取1，非相干抽运取3，驱动场失谐量取3时，系统可以在偏离共振的两端获得粒子数无反转而相应的探测场获得了增益，即实现了无粒子数反转激光，其在光通信方面具有重要的应用价值。     

Amplification without population inversion in molecules

We have studied the feasibility of amplification without population inversion (AWI) in LiH molecule for three-level ladder, V, and Λ schemes. We have shown the salient features of AWI in a molecular system in comparison to that in an atomic system, viz. the dependence of gain profile on the choice of different rotational and vibrational transitions. Under different three-level schemes, the effect of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening on the gain profile has been studied. We have also studied the dependence of gain on different external parameters. The temporal evolution of gain has been analyzed and it was found that AWI is achievable in both the transient and the steady state regime. For all the three-level schemes and in particular for the ladder scheme, amplification of the weak probe was obtained using a coupling laser of smaller frequency.     

失谐对开放的四能级系统无粒子数反转激光的影响

提出开放的四能级双驱动场无反转激光系统的理论模型,由电偶极和旋转波近似得到其密度矩阵方程,讨论无反转激光产生的物理机制,利用数值计算结果分析探测场和驱动场失谐对系统无反转激光增益和粒子数差的影响.     

Laser without inversion driven by short pulse

Lasing without population inversion in a three-level atomic system driven by a short pulse is considered. In the case of adiabatic interaction, the gain at a laser transition is shown to be caused by a simple mechanism associated with the fact that the driving field creates an unoccupied lower laser level. As a result, the system operates as a standard two-level laser. To control the population of the upper laser level, various schemes of incoherent pumping of this state are analyzed. The example of sodium vapors is considered. An important application of the method under study to metal vapor lasers is discussed.     

Comparison between effects of Doppler broadening on pure and non-pure inversionless gains with frequency up-conversion

A study is made of the effects of Doppler broadening on pure gain without inversion, which means that neither one-photon nor two-photon inversions are allowed, and non-pure gain without inversion, which means that one-photon inversion does not occur but two-photon inversion is present, in a closed Λ-type three-level system with incoherent pumping. It is shown that when the driving field is resonant but the probe field is not, in a certain range of Doppler width, for the case of the lower degree of frequency up-conversion, generally, pure gain without inversion increases monotonically and non-pure gain without inversion does not monotonically increase or decrease with increasing Doppler width; for the case of the higher degree of frequency up-conversion, pure gain without inversion decreases monotonically but non-pure gain without inversion cannot be produced. In the case of two-photon resonance, in some range of Doppler width, pure gain without inversion does not monotonically increase or decrease while non-pure gain without inversion decreases monotonically with Doppler width increasing. Finally, an experimental scheme for examining our theoretical result is given.     

Probe Gain without Probe field in a V-type System with an External Field Coupling Two Upper Levels

We report a new coherence and interference phenomenon in a V-typesystem with an external field coupling two upper levels. It is found that the probe gain can be generated even when no probe field is applied to the system, we attribute this result to the existence of the external field. By comparing with the conventional probe gain, the probe gain without the probe field is enhanced greatly because of the absence of the population inversion term.     

On coherently driven group index of probe pulse at double-frequency regimes: An analytical formulation

The group index and its lineshape of a relatively weak double-resonance probe pulse (signal) propagates through an open doubly driven N-type five-level atomic system are analytically formulated. It is shown that the signal can be controlled by manipulating the driving contribution of the two coupling fields, so that both superluminal and subluminal propagation can take place simultaneously at two different (probe field induced transition) frequency regimes with reduced absorption/gain. Hence the proposed double-control scheme may be exploited to observe the double-switching effect (i.e. from superluminal to subluminal and vice versa) with negligible distortion. In our realization this double-controlling mechanism may be regarded as simultaneous tuning of two knobs, to regulate the group index of the signal at double-frequency regimes.     

Dressed states analysis of lasing without population inversion in a three-level ladder scheme: Approximate analytic time dependent solutions

A dressed-state study of lasing without population inversion from a three level atom interacting with a bi-chromatic laser field, in the ladder configuration, is formulated. We allow the atomic system to be dressed by both laser filed photons (double dressing). The evolution of the system under consideration is being explored both analytically and numerically, within the transient regime. Time dependent approximate analytic solutions for dressed-state populations and coherences are derived, within the so called “secular approximation,” under resonant conditions. We also present time dependent numerical solutions for population and coherences in the off-resonance regime. A spectral analysis is also performed revealing the structure of various dressed states transitions. These are shown to be composed of quintets centered about the frequencies of the coupling and probe laser fields and having sidebands located symmetrically at positions shifted from line center at the Rabi and double Rabi frequencies.     

Phase-Controlled Transparent Superluminal Light Propagation in a Doppler-Broadened Four-Level N-Type System

The propagation of a weak probe field in a four-level N-type quantum system in the presence of spontaneously generated coherence(SGC) is theoretically investigated. The optical properties of the system are studied and it is shown that the group velocity of light pulse can be controlled by relative phase of applied fields. By changing the relative phase of applied fields, the group velocity of light pulse changes from transparent subluminal to the transparent superluminal light propagation. Thus, the phase-controlled absorption-free superluminal light propagation is obtained without applying an incoherent laser fields to the system. The propagation of a weak probe light pulse is studied by solving the Maxwell's wave equation on numerical grid in space and time. Moreover, we study the third order self- and cross-Kerr susceptibility of probe field and calculate the nonlinear cross-phase shift for different values of intensity of applied fields. In addition, we take into account the effect of Doppler broadening on the light pulse propagation and it is found that a suitable choice of laser propagation directions allows us to preserve our results even in the presence of Doppler effect. It is demonstrated that by increasing the Doppler width of distribution to the room temperature,the dispersion changes from transparent subluminal to transparent superluminal light propagation which is our major motivation for this work.     

A simple scheme for the design of solvent-suppression pulses

Excitation sculpting was first introduced as a way to efficiently suppress solvent signals. It requires a pulse sequence that acts as a null pulse at the solvent-resonance frequency and as an inversion pulse everywhere else. In this article, it is shown that such a goal can be achieved starting with "top-hat" inversion shaped pulses such as I-BURP-2 or gaussian cascade G3. The result is a Globally Antisymmetric Selective Pulse, or GASP. Numerical optimization was used to extend the performance of such pulses. Multifrequency signal suppression was shown to be possible through application of successive excitation sculpting modules.     

相干诱导冷原子微腔中的动态光存储

将行波耦合激光、驻波光栅激光和静磁场作用于一个超冷原子系综,获得了由两个Bragg反射区和一个电磁感应透明区构成的动态可控光学微腔。对耦合激光、光栅激光和静磁场进行时间调制,将一个弱探测激光送入这一相干诱导光学微腔,使其形成周期振荡,然后再根据需要在一定时间延迟之后将其导出,将这一伴随着较弱能量损耗的探测脉冲受限传播过程视为一个有效的动态光存储机制。对提出的信息存储机制进行了数值模拟,讨论了它的优点和实用价值,提出了它的发展前景。