Observation of Slow Velocities and Self-Steepening of Optical Pulses Described by Adiabatic Following

Abstract

The observation and the theoretical explanation of phenomena which accompany near-resonant pulse propagation in atomic vapors are described. These phenomena bridge the gap between linear dispersion theory, which applies in the far wings of lines, and strictly resonant effects characteristic of self-induced transparency. The results indicate that very low propagation velocities and strong pulse reshaping are not unique to transparency situations.