Manifestation of higher polarization moments in the dipole emission under conditions of stepwise excitation and anisotropic collisions

The induction of higher polarization moments-the octupole orientation and the hexadecapole alignment—in the case of two-step excitation of atoms through dipole transitions and their manifestation in the polarization of dipole emission under conditions of anisotropic collisions are studied. For all channels of the two-step excitation process J ₀→J ₁ J, the efficiencies of production of higher polarization moments with integer and half-integer angular momenta from J=2 to J=7 through the absorption of linearly or circularly polarized light are calculated. The rates of collisional relaxation and interconversion of higher polarization moments, for both orientation and alignment, as functions of frequency detuning of the laser line from the center of the Doppler profile are calculated. The theory is illustrated by an example of two channels of excitation of the atomic state J=2 by circularly polarized light: J ₀=0→J ₁=1J=2 and J ₀=3→J 1=2 (or 3)→J=2. In the first case, the octupole orientation enhances or attenuates the signal of circular polarization depending on the laser frequency detuning. In the second case, it represents the only source producing orientation and circular polarization of the emitted light.     

Observation of polarization switching: D1 line of sodium in a Fabry-Perot

We report observation of the complete polarization switching sequence for a gas of atoms with a J = $\text{1}\text{2}$ to J = $\text{1}\text{2}$ transition, exposed to resonant or near resonant, linearly polarized laser excitation in an optical cavity. The sequence is from linearly polarized cavity output at low input power to predominantly circularly polarized output at intermediate power and back to linearly polarized output at high input power. The switching is abrupt, exhibits hysteresis and, when hyperfine optical pumping effects are minimized, is phenomenologically in accord with predictions from theory.     

Polarization decay of pulses of electromagnetically induced transparency on J=0→J=1→J=2 degenerate quantum transitions

The evolution of radiation under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency in the scheme of degenerate quantum transitions J = 0 → J = 1 → J = 2 in the pulsed interaction regime of the fields and with allowance for the Doppler broadening of spectral lines has been analyzed numerically. It has been shown that, if the input coupling radiation is linearly polarized, the circularly polarized input probe pulse splits in the medium into pulses with mutually perpendicular linear polarizations. The direction of polarization of one of these pulses coincides with the direction of polarization of the input coupling field. The distance that the probe pulse travels in the medium until it completely decays decreases with a decrease in both the duration of the input probe pulse and the intensity of the input coupling radiation. A change in the power of the input probe pulse hardly affects the distance required for the decay and the velocity of propagation of linearly polarized pulses in the medium. An increase in the Doppler broadening of spectral lines leads to a decrease in this distance and, simultaneously, to an increase in the energy losses of the probe radiation. Qualitative considerations that explain the physical reason for the investigated effects have been presented.     

Signal of collisional beatings of polarization of light as a function of the angular momentum of an excited atomic state

A comparative study of the beats of circular polarization generated by anisotropic atomic collisions is carried out on the basis of theoretical calculations for the states J=1, 3/2, and 2 of neon atoms and ions excited by monochromatic laser radiation in xenon atmosphere. Contributions made by ordinary alignment and higher polarization moments (octupole orientation and dodecapole alignment) in the collisional generation of orientation and the signal of beatings of circular polarization are compared.     

Normal modes of a probe field in the pulsed regime of electromagnetically induced transparency in a Λ-scheme of degenerate quantum transitions

The effect of separation of linearly polarized short probe pulses of electromagnetically induced transparency in the field of linearly polarized coupling radiation is modeled numerically. It is shown that the input-probe pulses polarized parallel or perpendicular to the input-probe field propagate in the medium without changing the state of their polarization. If the input-probe radiation is weak compared to the coupling radiation, then the probe field inside the medium is the sum of two independently propagating linearly polarized normal modes, which are excited by the projections of the input-probe pulse onto the direction of polarization of the coupling radiation and onto the perpendicular direction, respectively. The normal modes have the same phase velocities, but different velocities of their real envelopes. This circumstance leads to the rotation of the plane of polarization of the total probe field at short distances and to its separation into two pulses with mutually perpendicular directions of polarization at long distances. At a high intensity of the probe radiation, the input-probe pulse decays into pulses the planes of polarization of which are not mutually perpendicular. Under these conditions, it is impossible to represent the probe radiation as a sum of normal modes. The modeling is performed in the scheme of degenerate quantum transitions between states of levels ³ P ₀, ³ P ₁ ⁰, and ³ P ₂ of isotope ²⁰⁸Pb taking into account the Doppler broadening of spectral lines.     

Impact of domain structure restructuring on the photomagnetization of a garnet film illuminated with circularly polarized light

A photomagnetization effect is observed for a (Tm,Bi)₃(Fe,Ga)₅O₁₂ garnet film at T = 300 K due to the restructurization of its multidomain structure. Photomagnetization (ΔM) emerges under the action of circularly polarized laser radiation in the spectral range of 450–600 nm at lasing power P < 600 kW/cm² and pulse duration τ _i ～ 7ns. The dependences of ΔM are measured on the polarization of light and magnetic field, the latter being perpendicular to the surface of the film. The maximum value of ΔM is observed for the circular polarization of light without a magnetic field. Moreover, ΔM changes sign with as the circular polarization changes sign and is zero for linear polarization.     

Increase of probe beam light-induced polarization rotation via accumulation of coherent oscillations

We study possibilities of the method of accumulation of the coherent-nonstationary response of the medium for amplifying the polarization rotation of probe radiation in conditions of a cascade two-photon resonance. The probe field couples the ground level nS _1/2 of an alkali metal atom with the excited doublet nP _1/2,3/2, while the monochromatic pump field couples this doublet with a higher excited state n’S _1/2. We obtain analytic expression for the rotated component of the probe field polarization. It is shown that consistent switching by π the phase of the input probe field may create in the tail portion of its rotated component a separate light pulse with more than an order of magnitude higher intensity, which is a desired result for polarization laser spectroscopy.     

Optical-pyrometric diagnostics of the state of silicon during nanopulsed laser irradiation

The dynamics of the reflectivity at ?? = 0.53 ??m and the IR radiation of silicon in the wavelength range 0.9?C1.2 ??m is studied under the action of nanosecond ruby laser radiation pulses. When radiation energy density W is lower than the threshold of laser-induced melting of the surface of a semiconductor crystal, the major contribution to the IR radiation emitted by this crystal is made by edge photoluminescence. As the melting threshold is exceeded, the nanosecond dynamics of the detected IR radiation changes from photoluminescence to the thermal radiation of the forming Si phase melt with a high reflectivity. The results of pyrometric measurements of the peak melt surface temperature as a function of W obtained at an effective wavelength ?? _e = 1.04 ??m of the detected IR radiation agree with the data of analogous measurements performed at ?? _e = 0.53 and 0.86 ??m.     

On the shape of cross resonances in counterpropagating wave spectroscopy

Physical processes that generate cross resonances are studied. It is revealed that not only populational, but also coherent, effects can make a contribution to formation of cross resonances. The effects of coherent processes, lifetimes of levels, the parameter of radiation branching from the upper level, and light fields?? characteristics are shown to be qualitatively different for the ??-, V-, and J = 1 ? J = 1 types of transition. Conditions for the change in the sign of cross resonances are found and a situation wherein the cross resonance has a purely coherent nature is shown.     

Saturation and collisional effects on magnetic optical rotation

We give a density matrix treatment of an atom in a dilute vapour subject to a B-field applied in the direction of propagation of a monochromatic plane wave. The radiation is of arbitrary intensity and state of polarization, and is assumed to be in the vicinity of an electric dipole absorption transition from a J = 0 to a J = 1 level. Collisional effects are included within the context of the impact approximation. Analytical solutions for the matrix elements are obtained for the case of plane polarized light and form the basis for a discussion of the physical mechanisms underlying saturation effects in Faraday rotation spectra. Atomic motion is taken into account by convolution. Only the case of an optically thin sample is considered explicitly.     

Experimental and numerical study of self-induced transparency in a neon absorber

Self-induced transparency on the neon transition 2s ₂(J=1)–2p ₄(J=2) is studied both experimentally by investigating the propagation of 3-nsec laser pulses at 1.15 µm in an absorber discharge and theoretically by a numerical integration of Bloch's equations and the wave equation.—The application of linearly and circularly polarized light corresponds to the interaction with a quasi-nondegenerate and degenerate transition, respectively. Pulse shapes, delays, and transmittancevs. input peak intensity are found in quantitative agreement with the calculated data. While with linear light polarization all SIT characteristics clearly appear, with circular polarization the pulse break-up and the oscillation of transmittance due to optical nutations are washed out.—The homogeneous linewidth derived from pulse delay data agrees with the value from conventional measurements. The results prove SIT useful as a quantitative spectroscopic method.     

Experimental and numerical study of self-induced transparency in a neon absorber

Self-induced transparency on the neon transition 2s ₂(J=1)–2p ₄(J=2) is studied both experimentally by investigating the propagation of 3-nsec laser pulses at 1.15 µm in an absorber discharge and theoretically by a numerical integration of Bloch's equations and the wave equation.—The application of linearly and circularly polarized light corresponds to the interaction with a quasi-nondegenerate and degenerate transition, respectively. Pulse shapes, delays, and transmittancevs. input peak intensity are found in quantitative agreement with the calculated data. While with linear light polarization all SIT characteristics clearly appear, with circular polarization the pulse break-up and the oscillation of transmittance due to optical nutations are washed out.—The homogeneous linewidth derived from pulse delay data agrees with the value from conventional measurements. The results prove SIT useful as a quantitative spectroscopic method.Work supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

On the mechanism of electromagnetic microwave absorption in superfluid helium

In experiments on electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption in the microwave range in superfluid (SF) helium [1?C3], a narrow EM field absorption line with a width on the order of (20?C200) kHz was observed against the background of a wide absorption band with a width of 30?C40 GHz at frequencies f ₀ ?? 110?C180 GHz corresponding to the roton gap energy ?? _r (T) in the temperature range 1.4?C2.2 K. Using the so-called flexoelectric mechanism of polarization of helium atoms (⁴He) in the presence of density gradients in SF helium (HeII), we show that nonresonance microwave absorption in the frequency range 170?C200 GHz can be due to the existence of time-varying local density gradients produced by roton excitations in the bulk HeII. The absorption bandwidth is determined by the roton-roton scattering time in an equilibrium Boltzmann gas of rotons, which is t _r-r ?? 3.4 × 10^?11 s at T = 1.4 K and decreases upon heating. We propose that the anomalously narrow microwave resonance absorption line in HeII at the roton frequency f ₀(T) = ??r(T)/2??? appears due to the following two factors: (i) the discrete structure of the spectrum of the surface EM resonator modes in the form of a periodic sequence of narrow peaks and (ii) the presence of a stationary dipole layer in HeII near the resonator surface, which forms due to polarization of ⁴He atoms under the action of the density gradient associated with the vanishing of the density of the SF component at the solid wall. For this reason, the relaxation of nonequilibrium rotons generated in such a surface dipole layer is strongly suppressed, and the shape and width of the microwave resonance absorption line are determined by the roton density of states, which has a sharp peak at the edge of the roton gap in the case of weak dissipation. The effective dipole moments of rotons in the dipole layer can be directed either along or across the normal to the resonator surface, which explains the experimentally observed symmetric doublet splitting of the resonance absorption line in an external dc electric field perpendicular to the resonator surface. We show that negative absorption (induced emission) of EM field quanta observed after triggering a Kapitza ??heat gun?? occurs when the occupation numbers for roton states due to ??pumping?? of rotons exceed the occupation numbers of EM field photons in the resonator.     

Optical orientation of nuclei in nitrogen alloys GaAsN at room temperature

The intensity and giant circular polarization of edge luminescence in a longitudinal magnetic field have been measured in nitrogen alloys GaAsN under circularly polarized pumping. It has been found that these dependences are shifted with respect to zero field by a value B _eff. The magnitude of the internal field B _eff increases with the pumping intensity and reaches saturation (≈250 G) at large excitation densities. The saturation of the B _eff field with growth of pumping indicates that this is a field of nuclei, polarized dynamically due to hyperfine interaction with optically oriented deep paramagnetic centers, rather than a field of exchange interaction created on the center by spin-polarized photo-excited conduction electrons. The short time of nuclear polarization by electrons (<15 μs), measured under modulation of circular polarization of the exciting light with high frequency, points to a small number of nuclei undergoing hyperfine interaction with an electron localized at a center.     

Optical nutation and photon echo by phase or amplitude shift of light waves

Optical nutation and photon echo caused by phase shift of a light wave incident on a resonant medium are considered. The case of simultaneous ultrashort perturbation of phase and amplitude is also treated. It is shown that a change of linear to circular polarization of incident light waves gives rise to an increase of the period and the decay time of optical nutation on the resonant atomic transitions J→J. On the contrary, the above mentioned period and decay time in the same situation are decreased on the resonant atomic transitions with the moment change J?J+1. This law in optical nutation can be taken as a base of the method for experimental identification of the atomic and molecular transitions. Moreover, the comparison of the theoretical and experimental optical nutation curves allows the probability of spontaneous emission to be determined.     

Contribution of hexadecapole alignment to the polarization of quadrupole emission under laser excitation conditions

The linear polarization of quadrupole emission by the J=2-J ₀=0 transition under conditions of laser excitation in a gas medium is studied. Cases of excitation through dipole and quadrupole absorption of monochromatic laser radiation are considered. Taking into account the anisotropy of collisional relaxation, the contributions of polarization moments of the second and fourth ranks, i.e., those with usual and hexadecapole alignments, to the signal of linear polarization of quadrupole emission are calculated. The dependence of this signal on the laser frequency, the density of the gas medium, and the angles determining the orientation of the system of axes of observation of light polarization relative to a laser ray is studied. The numerical calculations of contributions of usual and hexadecapole alignment to the signal of linear polarization are made for the magnetic quadrupole transition J=2-J ₀=0 between the states 2p ⁵(² P ₁ ^2/0 )3p′[3/2]₂ and 2p ⁵(² P ₁ ^2/0 )3s 3s′[1/2]⁰ of neon atoms in the xenon atmosphere.     

Generation of a pilot phase pulse during the propagation of slow elliptically polarized pulses in a medium under coherent population trapping

Propagation of elliptically polarized light pulses in a medium of two-level atoms with degenerate energy levels under coherent population trapping has been studied within the density-matrix formalism and reduced Maxwell’s equation. It has been shown that ellipticity pulses and the orientation angle of the polarization ellipse move with a deceleration. The analytical expression for the group velocity of an arbitrary J → J dark transition (J is an integer) has been derived. In addition, a previously unknown effect of forced phase modulation under the variation of the spatial orientation of the polarization ellipse has been discovered. This phase modulation includes a pilot pulse passing through the medium at the speed of light in vacuum and a slow pulse moving synchronously with the pulse of the orientation angle.     

Measurement of the parity mixing of the 501 keV transition in180Hf by use of a backscattering polarimeter

The circular polarization of the 501 keV gamma radiation in¹⁸⁰Hf was remeasured by use of a Compton backscattering polarimeter with the single pulse counting technique. The resultP _c=?(1.9±0.6) · 10^?3 confirms the strong parity mixing which was previously reported by other groups.     

Laser-induced effects for overlapping autoinoizing rydberg states of xenon

The effect of a laser field on the cross section of photoionization of an atom by probe radiation in the region of closely lying autoionizing resonances is studied theoretically. The cross sections in the region of the overlapping autoionizing Rydberg states 5p ⁵(² P _1/2)6d′ J = 1 and 5p ⁵(² P _1/2)8s′ J = 1 resonantly coupled with the discrete state 5p ⁵(² P _3/2)7p[1/2]₁ in the xenon atom are calculated. The behavior of the shape and position of resonances in relation to the frequency and intensity of laser radiation is studied.