Efficient population transfer by delayed pulses despite coupling ambiguity

In traditional schemes of multilevel multilaser excitation, each laser pulse interacts with only one pair of states, and the rotating wave approximation (RWA) is applicable. Here we study the population transfer process in a three-state system when each of the two lasers interacts with each of the pair of states and when the Rabi frequencies characterizing the interaction strengths of the system are comparable to or larger than the difference of the transition frequencies. We show that complete and robust population transfer is possible under conditions more general than those hitherto considered necessary for stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) or for successive π pulses. Using adiabatic Floquet theory we show that successful population transfer can be interpreted as adiabatic passage by means of a transfer state which connects the initial and final states. The Floquet picture offers a convenient interpretation of the population transfer as accompanied by multiple absorption of photons from or emission into the laser fields.     

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage with temporal pulselets

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) is a well established technique whereby two pulses, S preceding P, induce complete population transfer between states 1 and 3 of a three-state chain, 1-2-3. Traditionally, the S and P pulse envelopes are taken as positive (often with Gaussian form of time dependence). However, when the envelope undergoes a sign change during the pulse, as occurs with pulses in which an abrupt phase change of π occurs and whose temporal area (time-integrated Rabi frequency) is zero, then the simple population transfer need not occur. Instead there may occur multiple adiabatic passages, in which the population may ultimately be left in either state 1 (a double STIRAP) or state 3 (a triple STIRAP) or, with suitable pulse delay, in a superposition of these two states. These adiabatic changes offer possibilities to produce final-state probability amplitudes with either positive or negative signs. We here show simulated examples of such behavior, and discuss the adiabatic conditions needed for such excitation to occur.     

Coherent population transfer in NO with pulsed lasers: the consequences of hyperfine structure, doppler broadening aaand electromagnetically induced absorption

Coherent population transfer between vibrational levels of the NO molecule induced by the interaction of two delayed laser pulses, also referred to as stimulated Raman scattering involving adiabatic passage (STIRAP), is studied experimentally in a molecular beam and in the bulk. The consequences of hyperfine splitting and Doppler broadening are discussed in detail. Unlike in previous studies of this kind, transfer occurs simultaneously between more than one group of non degenerate levels. In a molecular beam or in the bulk, the transfer efficiency of STIRAP exceeds that obtained by Stimulated Emission Pumping (SEP) by a factor of 3.6 or 15, respectively. We estimate the absolute transfer efficiency T in the beam to be , while is found in the bulk. In both cases, this is of the maximum value expected from numerical studies. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Finally we show that the absorption of a pump pulse in a weakly absorbing medium is significantly enhanced by the presence of a copropagating Stokes pulse when the Rabi frequency of the latter is smaller than the width of the Doppler profile . The relation of this observation to the phenomenon of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), which is observed for , is also discussed. Received: 11 September 1997 / Revised: 28 October 1997 / Accepted: 29 October 1997     

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in fields with stochastic amplitudes

A theoretical analysis is presented of the effect of correlation between fluctuations of laser pulse amplitudes on population transfer between the states of a three-level atom coupled by the laser field. The carrier frequencies of the pulses are tuned to resonance with the transitions between the ground and excited states, |〈 and | 2〈, and the excited and metastable states, |2〈 and |3〈, in a lambda-type configuration. The laser pulses are timed so that population transfer between states |1〈 and | 3〈 is made possible by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) in the absence of fluctuations. STIRAP does not occur when the laser fields are not correlated. When the fluctuations of one pulse amplitude duplicate those of the other, STIRAP can be observed for pulse amplitudes larger than those required in the absence of fluctuations.     

Investigation of magneto-optical effect in transverse magnetic field in He

The non-linear Voigt effect has been studied in He discharge under resonance laser interaction with the He transition. The range of non-linear signal existence was determined. The contribution of the lower and upper states to the overall signal was analyzed. The cross-section for depolarizing collisions with ground state He atoms was estimated for the 3³ D _2,3 He state. Received: 16 June 1998 / Received in final form: 14 December 1998     

Efficient Population Transfer in a Λ-Type Quantum System Coupled to a Gold Nanoparticle Using STIRAP Shortcuts

A theoretical investigation on the population transfer in a Λ-type quantum system near a spherical gold nanoparticle under application of two stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) shortcuts and efficiency comparison with conventional STIRAP. It combines the density matrix approach for system dynamics, with classical electromagnetic calculations used to obtain the modified electric field amplitudes of the applied pulses and the Purcell factor of the quantum system due to the presence of the nanoparticle. The efficiency of population transfer is investigated by varying the distance between the quantum system and the nanoparticle, the free-space decay rate of quantum states, the mutual polarization, and the Rabi frequencies of each STIRAP shortcut pulses. In all cases, at least one of the applied shortcuts is more efficient than conventional STIRAP, while in most cases both perform better. When the pump and Stokes fields of the shortcuts have radial and tangential polarizations with respect to the nanoparticle surface, respectively, high transfer efficiency is obtained for small distances of the quantum system to the nanoparticle, moderate free space decay rates and large Rabi frequencies of the fields, while when the pulse polarizations are interchanged, the transfer becomes highly efficient only at large distances.     

Generation of multiple orientation in an alkali vapour by intermediate optical pumping

Summary The generation of hyperfine, dipole and quadrupole orientations in an alkali vapour by means of optical pumping withD ₁ σ-polarized light is studied in an intermediate pumping approximation. Pumping equations are explicitly given for any alkali vapour in the case of white-light pumping and for cesium vapour (I=7/2) in the case of pumping with nonuniform spectrum light. The dependence of the steady-state multipole orientation on the pumping and relaxation characteristic parameters is discussed.

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Riassunto Si studia la generazione di orientamenti iperfini, dipolari e quadrupolari in vapore alcalino mediante pompaggio ottico con luce σ-polarizzataD ₁ in un'approssimazione di pompaggio intermedio. Le equazioni di pompaggio sono date esplicitamente per ogni vapore alcalino nel caso di pompaggio di luce bianca, e per vapore di cesio (I=7/2) nel caso di pompaggio con luce spettrale non uniforme. Si discute la dipendenza dell'orientazione multipolare dello stato stazionario dal pompaggio e dai parametri caratteristici di rilassamento.

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Резюме Исследуется получение сверхтонких дипольной и квадрупольной ориентации в щелочных парах с помощью накачкиD ₁ σ-поляризованным светом в приближении промежуточной накачки. В явном виде записываются уравнения накачки для любых щелочных паров в случае накачки белым светом, а для паров цезия (I=7/2) в случае накачки светом с неравномерным спектром. Обсуждается зависимость стационарной мультипольной ориентации от накачки и характерных параметров релаксации.

     

在缀饰场中四能级“Ladder”系统的布局数转移

利用"反直觉"频率啁啾激光脉冲分析了偶能级ladder系统的布局数迁移,其中在缀饰激光场作用下N-2个中间态进行耦合.作为偶能级ladder系统的代表,我们着重分析了四能级ladder系统.研究发现如果缀饰激光场足够强且发生共振,则在能级1和能级4之间发生完全布局数迁移必须要求有一个恰当的脉冲叠加面积,调谐pump激光和stokes激光,使其中一个缀饰中间态发生共振,则可以使这个四能级系统简化为三能级系统.     

Perturbative and nonperturbative processes in adiabatic population transfer

With the help of superadiabatic techniques for quantum systems depending slowly on time, we demonstrate how the total transition amplitude, tracked in time in the usual adiabatic basis, can be decomposed into a perturbative part consisting of terms proportional to powers of the adiabaticity parameter, and a nonperturbative component. The interference of both components underlies the oscillations that accompany transitions in the adiabatic basis. Whereas for traditionally considered systems the final nonadiabatic transition probability is determined by the nonperturbative part alone, this is no longer correct for models describing stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). We explain the recently discovered breakdown of the Dykhne-Davis-Pechukas formula on general grounds, and provide simple, but accurate approximations for transition amplitudes in STIRAP systems. Received: 22 January 1998 / Revised: 17 March 1998 / Accepted: 31 March 1998     

Coherent superpositions of states in coupled Hilbert-space using step by step Morris–Shore transformation

Creation of coherent superpositions in quantum systems with N_a$N_a$ states in the lower set and N_b$N_b$ states in the upper set is presented. The solution is drived by using the Morris–Shore transformation, which step by step reduces the fully coupled system to a three-state Λ$\Lambda$-like system and a set of decoupled states. It is shown that, for properly timed pulse, robust population transfer from an initial ground state (or superposition of M$M$ ground states) to an arbitrary coherent superposition of the ground states can be achieved by coincident pulses and/or STIRAP techniques.     

Quantum state engineering in ion-traps via adiabatic passage

We propose two relatively robust schemes to generate entangled W states of three (or generally N) ions in ion trap systems by using adiabatic passage technique and appropriately designed ion-field couplings in a single step. In the first scheme, we apply the N-pod fractional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (F-STIRAP) technique to generate W state of N ions using two Gaussian laser pulses. We also show that the W state of N ? 1 ions can be created via a simple N-pod standard STIRAP by two laser pulses. In the second scheme, we generate the entangled state of N ions via ??-pulse technique by a single laser pulse. We also study the population transfer of the system by numerical solutions of the master equation, considering the effect of decoherence channels due to laser intensity fluctuations and dissipation in the phonon modes.     

Atomic beam deflection by coherent momentum transfer and the dependence on weak magnetic fields

The deflection of Ne atoms in the metastable state ³ P ₂ by coherent transfer of the momenta of 4 or 8 photons is demonstrated, based on the technique developed for coherent population transfer with delayed pulses (STIRAP). After deflection the intensity profile of the isotope of mass 20 is fully seperated from that for the undeflected atoms of mass 22. It is furthermore shown, how the interplay of Larmor precession of the electronic magnetic moment and the sequential deflection in two spatially separated zones can be used to measure the magnetic field, integrated over the flight-path between the transfer zones. Received: 1 October 1997 / Revised: 22 December 1997 / Accepted: 11 March 1998     

Dark resonances for ground-state transfer of molecular quantum gases

One possible way to produce ultra-cold, high-phase-space-density quantum gases of molecules in the rovibronic ground state is given by molecule association from quantum-degenerate atomic gases on a Feshbach resonance and subsequent coherent optical multi-photon transfer into the rovibronic ground state. In ultra-cold samples of Cs₂ molecules, we observe two-photon dark resonances that connect the intermediate rovibrational level |v=73,J=2〉 with the rovibrational ground state |v=0,J=0〉 of the singlet X ¹ Σ _g ⁺ ground-state potential. For precise dark resonance spectroscopy we exploit the fact that it is possible to efficiently populate the level |v=73,J=2〉 by two-photon transfer from the dissociation threshold with the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) technique. We find that at least one of the two-photon resonances is sufficiently strong to allow future implementation of coherent STIRAP transfer of a molecular quantum gas to the rovibrational ground state |v=0,J=0〉.     

Intracavity Raman conversion for 16-μm Stokes pulse generation in para-hydrogen

16-μm Stokes pulses were directly generated for the first time to our knowledge by an intracavity configuration for the para-hydrogen Raman laser. We have analyzed Stokes field growth using a focused gain model and designed a pump/Stokes cavity to satisfy CO₂ pump power and pulse duration requirements for Raman oscillation. The CO₂ laser oscillation with circular polarization was realized by seeding externally circularly polarized CO₂ radiation. An output energy of 2.4 mJ was obtained with the output coupler of 0.5% transmittance, which indicated that 420 mJ of Stokes pulse energy was stored inside the cavity. This suggests that a much higher energy can be extracted by the optimization of cavity parameters. Received: 18 November 1998 / Published online: 26 May 1999     

Floquet theory for short laser pulses

We develop adiabatic perturbation theory for quantum systems responding to short laser pulses, with or without a frequency chirp. Our approach rests on lifting the time-dependent Schr?dinger equation to an extended Hilbert space, then applying standard perturbational techniques to Floquet states in this extended space, and finally projecting back to the physical Hilbert space. The same strategy also allows us to construct superadiabatic bases for monitoring the quantum evolution in the course of a pulse. These bases provide a diagnostic tool for improving the efficiency of pulse-induced population transfer. The formalism is applied to the selective excitation of molecular vibrational states by chirped laser pulses, which exploit either successive single-photon resonances or a multiphoton resonance, and by a STIRAP-like process. Received: 23 June 1998 / Revised: 18 August 1998 / Accepted: 25 August 1998     

Numerical exploration of coherent excitation in three-level ladder systems

The technique of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) is used to transfer potassium atoms from the 22p state to the 21p Rydberg state through the intermediate state 22s. The results show that complete population transfer is related to pulse duration and overlap, and occurs when the pulse duration and overlap have adequate values. At the same time, population trapping is also formed. Complete population transfer can also occurs when the two-photon resonance condition ({\it\Delta}_s= {\it\Delta}_p) is met.     

Time reversible evolution via nonadiabatic coupling in adiabatic dark subspace

We propose a method for the creation of arbitrary superposition of N atomic states using generalized stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) techniques with laser fields coupling each one of N lower states to a single upper state in a (N+1)-level atomic system. (N-1) dark states that are composed of N lower states span a dark subspace. In the adiabatic limit, the dark and bright subspaces are decoupled, thus the nonadiabatic interaction within this dark subspace dominates the evolution of the system. Different from general methods to create our required coherent superposition state, in a reverse way, here we consider the required state as the starting point of evolution dynamics, and utilize laser fields to drive it into a single lower state step by step. Time reverse pulses of laser fields return the single lower state back to our required coherent superposition state based on time reversal symmetry. In principle, the computationally simple method allows the case with a large value of N. Based on the STIRAP techniques, it is robust against small variations of parameters of laser pulses and is immune to spontaneous radiation.     

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage via the ionization continuum in helium: Experiment and theory

We experimentally demonstrate coherent population transfer, driven by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) between two bound quantum states, coupled via a continuum of states. We present extended numerical and experimental investigations on population transfer from the metastable state 2s ¹S₀ to the excited state 4s ¹S₀ in metastable helium atoms. While techniques based on incoherent excitation do not permit any population transfer via rapidly decaying continuum states, our data indicate a maximum transfer efficiency of 20% in coherent excitation by STIRAP. We study the transfer efficiency with respect to the relevant experimental parameters.     

Cascaded compression of the first and second Stokes pulses during forward transient stimulated Raman amplification

The results of numerical modelling of cascaded compression of the first and second Stokes pulses during regenerative regime of the forward transient stimulated Raman amplification are presented for the case when the walk-off length of the first Stokes pulse due to group velocity mismatch is shorter than the length of the nonlinear medium. The influence of the initial amplitudes of the seed first Stokes pulses, its durations and its time delay with respect to the pump pulse, the Kerr nonlinearity of the medium on the conversion efficiency, duration and propagation factor M² of the first and second Stokes pulse are studied. It is demonstrated that for the pump pulse duration of 1 ps the duration of the compressed second Stokes pulses in a KGW crystal near the beam axis may be approximately 14 times shorter than the pump pulse duration. It is shown that the propagation factor of the compressed pulses increases significantly because of complex spatial-temporal dynamics of compression and the influence of Kerr nonlinearity of Raman medium.