Variance and spectra of fluorescence-intensity fluctuations from two-level atoms in a phase-diffusing field.

Abstract

We have measured the variance in fluorescence intensity and the spectrum of those fluctuations for two-level atoms in a phase-diffusing laser field. We compare our results with recent theoretical predictions that have been extended to include the effects of Doppler broadening and spatial variation of the laser intensity. Our study includes the effects of laser power, bandwidth, and shape (Lorentzian and non-Lorentzian) of the laser spectrum. At lower laser intensities, our measured variances versus detuning are in quantitative agreement with the theoretical predictions. At intensities above saturation, the variance is sensitive to inhomogeneities in the distribution of laser intensity in the interaction region, and only qualitative agreement is achieved. Asymmetries in the variance versus detuning resulting from correlated amplitude and phase noise have been observed. Spectra of the phase-noise-induced fluorescence-intensity fluctuations are shown to contain contributions from transients excited by the phase noise and are more sensitive to artifacts in the noise modulation process than the intensity spectrum of the laser field itself.