Two-photon Raman Transitions Research Articles

Vacuum Rabi splitting and intracavity dark state in a cavity-atom system

We report experimental measurements of the transmission spectrum of an optical cavity coupled with cold Rb atoms. We observe the multiatom vacuum Rabi splitting of a composite cavity and atom system. When a coupling field is applied to the atoms and induces the resonant two-photon Raman transition with the cavity field in a $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$-type system, we observe a cavity transmission spectrum with two vacuum Rabi sidebands and a central peak representing the intracavity dark state. The central peak linewidth is significantly narrowed by the dark-state resonance and its position is insensitive to the frequency change of the empty cavity.

Fast quantum state control of a single trapped neutral atom

We demonstrate the initialization, readout, and high-speed manipulation of a qubit stored in a single $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atom trapped in a submicrometer-sized optical tweezer. Single-qubit rotations are performed on a time scale below $100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ns}$ using two-photon Raman transitions. Using the spin-echo technique, we measure an irreversible dephasing time of $34\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$. The readout of the single atom qubit is at the quantum projection noise limit when averaging up to 1000 individual events.

Molecular Matter-Wave Amplifier

We describe a matter-wave amplifier for vibrational ground-state molecules which uses a Feshbach resonance to first form quasibound molecules starting from an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. The quasibound molecules are then driven into their stable vibrational ground state via a two-photon Raman transition inside an optical cavity. The transition from the quasibound state to the electronically excited state is driven by a classical field. Amplification of ground state molecules is then achieved by using a strongly damped cavity mode for the transition from the electronically excited molecules to the molecular ground state.

State selective production of molecules in optical lattices.

We demonstrate quantum control over both internal and external quantum degrees of freedom in a high number of identical "chemical reactions," carried out in an array of microtraps in a 3D optical lattice. Starting from a Mott insulating phase of an ultracold atomic quantum gas, we use two-photon Raman transitions to create molecules on lattice sites occupied by two atoms. In the atom-molecule conversion process, we can control both the internal rovibronic and external center of mass quantum state of the molecules. The lattice isolates the microscopic chemical reactions from each other, thereby allowing photoassociation spectra without collisional broadening even at high densities of up to 2 x 10(15) cm(-3).

Subfemtosecond-pulse generation by rotational molecular modulation and pulse-spacing increase

A technique is proposed to increase multiplicatively the pulse spacing of a periodic subfemtosecond-pulse train based on molecular modulation, with more pairs of driving lasers to control the higher-order stimulated Raman scattering. We demonstrate that the pulse spacing can be readily doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled by using pairs of off-resonant two-photon Raman transitions driven by laser beams of sufficient intensities and relatively shifted carrier frequencies. A periodic subfemtosecond-pulse train with a pulse width down to 0.53 fs and pulse spacing up to 376 fs can be generated with appropriate molecular coherence control of the fundamental rotational transition in molecular hydrogen.

Light propagation in an atomic medium with steep and sign-reversible dispersion

We show that ground-state Zeeman coherence prepared by two-photon Raman transitions in alkali atoms results in steep controllable and sign-reversible dispersion. Pulse propagation with small negative as well as positive group velocity of light (-c/5100 and c/41 000) in a Cs vapor cell is reported. Energy exchange between copropagating light components through long-lived Zeeman coherence with enhanced absorption or transmission has been observed.

Doppler three-level (V-scheme) laser without population inversion

The theory of amplification and lasing without population inversion in a three-level medium with inhomogeneous broadening via the formation of an open V configuration is elaborated. The conditions for energy transfer from the infrared into the visible spectral range, i.e., the conditions of up-conversion nb>nc>na, and the external field required for saturation of the b⇄a transition are established. Two-photon resonant Raman transitions in ensemble of mobile atoms of a gas-discharge plasma are analyzed. The frequency shift of the probe field spectrum as a whole is shown to be governed by the frequency shift of the pump field multiplied by the ratio of the wave numbers of the probe amplification field and the pump field. The interaction of atoms through Ne transitions with the pump field (λ=1.15 em, 2p4-2s2 transition) and the lasing field (λ=0.6328 em, 3s2-2p2 transition) with an increase in the lasing frequency by a factor of 1.82 with respect to the absorbed radiation is calculated.

On decoherence and nonlinear effects in the generation of quantum states of motion in Paul traps

We study some possible sources of decoherence in the generation of nonclassical states of motion of ions in Paul traps by means of numerical simulations based on reported experiments. In particular we study the consequences of the spontaneous decay of the internal energy state |0i which couples the two hyperfine internal states |1i and |2i in the two-photon Raman transitions used to manipulate the ion motional state. We also consider some possible experimental limitations to generate coherent states due to nonlinear effects in the coupling of the centre-of-mass coordinates with the laser field. A similar analysis is performed for carrier pulses taking into account nonlinearities and micromotion. The quantum evolution of the ion internal and centre-of-mass degrees of freedom are studied using amplitude equations derived from Schrodinger's equation. The limitations of such an approach are also discussed.

Recoil-induced resonances in nonlinear, ground-state, pump-probe spectroscopy

A theory of pump-probe spectroscopy is developed in which optical fields drive two-photon Raman transitions between ground states of an ensemble of three-level $\Lambda $ atoms. Effects related to the recoil the atoms undergo as a result of their interactions with the fields are fully accounted for in this theory. The linear absorption coefficient of a weak probe field in the presence of two pump fields of arbitrary strength is calculated. For subrecoil cooled atoms, the spectrum consists of eight absorption lines and eight emission lines. In the limit that $\chi_{1}\ll \chi_{2}$, where $\chi_{1}$ and $\chi_{2}$ are the Rabi frequencies of the two pump fields, one recovers the absorption spectrum for a probe field interacting with an effective two-level atom in the presence of a single pump field. However when $\chi_{1}\gtrsim \chi_{2}$, new interference effects arise that allow one to selectively turn on and off some of these recoil induced resonances.

Non-Markovian dynamics in pulsed- and continuous-wave atom lasers

The dynamics of atom lasers with a continuous output coupler based on two-photon Raman transitions is investigated. With the help of the time-convolutionless projection operator technique the quantum master equations for pulsed- and continuous-wave (cw) atom lasers are derived. In the case of the pulsed atom laser the power of the time-convolutionless projection operator technique is demonstrated through comparison with the exact solution. It is shown that in an intermediate coupling regime where the Born-Markov approximation fails, the results of this algorithm agree with the exact solution. To study the dynamics of a continuous-wave atom laser a pump mechanism is included in the model. Whereas the pump mechanism is treated within the Born-Markov approximation, the output coupling leads to non-Markovian effects. The solution of the master equation resulting from the time-convolutionless projection operator technique exhibits strong oscillations in the occupation number of the Bose-Einstein condensate. These oscillations are traced back to a quantum interference which is due to the non-Markovian dynamics and which decays slowly in time as a result of the dispersion relation for massive particles.

Measurement of the Earth's Gravity Gradient with an Atom Interferometer-Based Gravity Gradiometer

We report the demonstration of an atom interferometer-based gravity gradiometer. The gradiometer uses stimulated two-photon Raman transitions to measure the relative accelerations of two ensembles of laser cooled atoms. We have used this instrument to measure the gradient of the Earth's gravitational field.

Population transfer through the continuum using laser-controlled Stark shifts

We show, through analysis and numerical modeling of hydrogen and sodium, that it should be possible to transfer atomic population, with high probability, using a delayed-pulse two-photon Raman transition in which intermediate states are in the ionization continuum. We propose using auxiliary laser pulses to overcome dynamic Stark shifts that would otherwise prevent population transfer. We find that, even without such auxiliary pulses, population transfer can be improved by tuning the carrier frequencies away from the two-photon Raman resonance condition. Our computations for hydrogen predict nearly 85 percent population transfer.

Continuously tunable CH_3F Raman far-infrared laser

By pumping CH(3)F with a 150-mJ, continuously tunable, multiatmosphere CO(2) laser, we have produced approximately 0.2-mJ far-infrared laser pulses that can be tuned quasi-continuously over approximately 85% of the range from 220 to 400 microm. The tunable far-infrared laser action results from two-photon (Raman) transitions in the R branch of the CH(3)F nu(3) band.

Quantum Statistics of Nonlinear Optics

Nonlinear interaction of light with matter is described from the quantum-statistical point of view. The cases of two-photon absorption, Raman transition, sum-frequency generation, parametric amplification, and incoherent scattering are discussed. It is shown that the nonlinear optical effects depend strongly on the statistical properties of the light fields. The rate of nonlinear absorption, generation, and amplification is higher for chaotic than for coherent, and also higher for multimode than for single-mode pump fields. Measurements of the statistics of the output fields may yield information about the statistics of the input fields and the properties of the medium.