Semiclassical approach to resonance-optics polarization effects in coherent and squeezed fields

Abstract

Equations are derived for the atomic density matrix and relaxation operator for a broadband squeezed field in an arbitrary polarization state and resonance atomic energy levels with an arbitrary degree of degeneracy. It is shown that suppression of the relaxation of the quadrature component of the atomic polarization depends strongly on the type of resonance transition and the polarization state of the squeezed and coherent perturbing fields. When the resonance levels are strongly degenerate, the relaxation of the quadrature component of the atomic polarization under conditions of maximum suppression is nonexponential in character. The mathematical apparatus developed here makes it possible to calculate polarization-related aspects of the multifrequency optical behavior of atomic and molecular systems resonantly excited both by coherent light and by broadband squeezed fields.