Study on probe field propagation in the presence of control and coupling fields through a four-level N-type atomic system

Abstract

The absorption features of a probe field propagating through a four-level N-type atomic system in the presence of two coherent radiation fields is studied analytically by using a density matrix formulation. The system has two ground levels and two excited levels. A weak probe laser couples the upper ground level to the lower excited level whereas a strong control field connects the lower ground level to the lower excited level. The coupling field acts between the upper ground level and the upper excited level. The transition parameters of the 87Rb D1 line have been used to simulate the probe response. The simulated probe absorption shows a gain-like structure depending on the relative field intensities. The spectral features of the probe response exhibit substantial differences under thermal averaging as compared to a Doppler-free condition. The splitting of simulated probe absorption can be explained by the dressed state model. Electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) is observed in the simulated probe response curve when the spontaneous decay of the population from the uppermost excited state to the lower ground state is absent.