Nonlinear resonance induced by the higher spatial coherence harmonics

The spectrum of a test field in a three-level ArII Λ scheme in the presence of a strong standing wave on the adjacent transition was measured. The known light-induced transparency peak was observed; the peak shifted as the detuning of the strong field was varied. In addition, a new resonance in the line center arose whose position was independent of the strong-field frequency. The resonance was caused by the higher spatial coherence harmonics on the test transition. Perturbation theory for a low and numerical calculations for a high standing wave intensity give qualitative agreement with experiment and substantiate the nature of the central transition.