The Physics of Laser-Atom Interactions

by Dieter Suter

• ISBN13: 9780521462396
• ISBN10: 0521462398
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-10-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book provides a thorough introduction to the interaction of atoms and atomic ions with optical and magnetic fields. Particular emphasis is placed on the wealth of important multilevel effects, where atomic vapours exhibit anisotropic behaviour. As well as covering the classic two-level atom approach to light-atom interactions, a general multi-level formalism is also described in detail, and used to discuss optical pumping, two-dimensional spectroscopy and nonlinear optical dynamics. The final chapter deals with the mechanical effects of light, including the cooling and trapping of atoms. With full theoretical and experimental coverage, and over 250 illustrations, the book will be of great interest to graduate students of laser spectroscopy, quantum electronics and quantum optics, and to researchers in these fields.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi	(2)
Symbols and abbreviations	xiii
1 Introduction	1	(37)
1.1 Atoms	1	(5)
1.1.1 Historical	1	(2)
1.1.2 Quantum mechanics	3	(3)
1.2 Light	6	(6)
1.2.1 The quantum theory of light	6	(4)
1.2.2 The classical description	10	(2)
1.3 Atom-light interaction	12	(9)
1.3.1 General	12	(5)
1.3.2 Multilevel atoms	17	(4)
1.4 Summary of relevant physical processes	21	(17)
1.4.1 Laser spectroscopy	21	(1)
1.4.2 Sublevel dynamics	22	(3)
1.4.3 Optical properties	25	(3)
1.4.4 Magnetic resonance	28	(7)
1.4.5 Waves and particles	35	(3)
2 Two-level atoms	38	(36)
2.1 Quantum mechanical description	38	(8)
2.1.1 The Jaynes-Cummings model	38	(3)
2.1.2 Summary of results	41	(5)
2.2 Semiclassical analysis	46	(17)
2.2.1 Model	46	(5)
2.2.2 Equation of motion	51	(6)
2.2.3 Statics	57	(2)
2.2.4 Stationary solution	59	(4)
2.3 Dynamics	63	(11)
2.3.1 Rabi flopping	63	(3)
2.3.2 Free precession	66	(4)
2.3.3 Photon echoes	70	(4)
3 Three-level effects	74	(45)
3.1 Phenomenological introduction	74	(3)
3.1.1 Model atoms	74	(2)
3.1.2 Coherence transfer	76	(1)
3.2 System and Hamiltonian	77	(6)
3.2.1 Single-transition operators	77	(2)
3.2.2 Irradiation of a single transition	79	(2)
3.2.3 Irradiation of two transitions	81	(2)
3.3 Three-level dynamics	83	(16)
3.3.1 Excitation of a single transition	83	(2)
3.3.2 Coherence transfer	85	(2)
3.3.3 Three-level echoes	87	(3)
3.3.4 Quantum beats	90	(1)
3.3.5 Raman excitation	91	(6)
3.3.6 Bichromatic excitation	97	(2)
3.4 Steady-state effects	99	(10)
3.4.1 Coherent population trapping	100	(5)
3.4.2 Coherent Raman scattering	105	(4)
3.5 Overdamped systems	109	(10)
3.5.1 Characteristics	109	(3)
3.5.2 Adiabatic limit	112	(1)
3.5.3 Optical pumping	113	(2)
3.5.4 Light shift and damping	115	(2)
3.5.5 Ground state dynamics	117	(2)
4 Internal degrees of freedom	119	(41)
4.1 Rotational symmetry	119	(12)
4.1.1 Motivation	119	(1)
4.1.2 Rotations around a single axis	120	(3)
4.1.3 Rotations in three dimensions	123	(3)
4.1.4 Tensor operators	126	(2)
4.1.5 Hamiltonian and Schrodinger equations	128	(3)
4.2 Angular momentum	131	(6)
4.2.1 Radiation field	131	(3)
4.2.2 Atomic angular momentum	134	(3)
4.3 Multipole moments	137	(3)
4.3.1 Multiple expansion	137	(2)
4.3.2 Alignment	139	(1)
4.4 Interaction with external fields	140	(11)
4.4.1 Electric fields	140	(3)
4.4.2 Magnetic interactions	143	(3)
4.4.3 Magnetic resonance spectra	146	(3)
4.4.4 Larmor precession	149	(2)
4.5 Electric dipole transitions	151	(9)
4.5.1 Angular momentum exchange	151	(3)
4.5.2 Spin-orbit coupling	154	(4)
4.5.3 Nuclear spin	158	(2)
5 Optical pumping	160	(43)
5.1 Principle and overview	160	(3)
5.1.1 Phenomenology	160	(1)
5.1.2 Historical	161	(2)
5.2 Two-level ground states	163	(11)
5.2.1 System	163	(2)
5.2.2 Longitudinal pumping	165	(1)
5.2.3 Relaxation effects	166	(2)
5.2.4 Transverse pumping	168	(3)
5.2.5 Light shift	171	(3)
5.3 Modulated pumping	174	(12)
5.3.1 Motivation	174	(3)
5.3.2 Equation of motion	177	(1)
5.3.3 Rotating frame	178	(3)
5.3.4 Polarisation modulation	181	(5)
5.4 Multilevel ground states	186	(17)
5.4.1 Overview	186	(1)
5.4.2 Hyperfine pumping	187	(1)
5.4.3 Degenerate multilevel systems	188	(3)
5.4.4 The sodium ground state	191	(5)
5.4.5 Light shift and damping	196	(2)
5.4.6 Diamagnetic ground states	198	(2)
5.4.7 Spectral holeburning	200	(3)
6 Optically anisotropic vapours	203	(45)
6.1 Isotropic atoms	203	(6)
6.1.1 The Lorentz-Lorenz model	203	(4)
6.1.2 Semiclassical theory	207	(2)
6.2 Anisotropic media	209	(11)
6.2.1 Introduction	209	(2)
6.2.2 System response	211	(4)
6.2.3 Magnetooptic effects	215	(5)
6.3 Propagation	220	(10)
6.3.1 Eigenpolarisations of plane waves	220	(3)
6.3.2 Arbitrary polarisation	223	(3)
6.3.3 Coherent Raman scattering	226	(2)
6.3.4 Transverse effects	228	(2)
6.4 Polarisation-selective detection	230	(18)
6.4.1 Fundamentals	230	(5)
6.4.2 Detection schemes	235	(4)
6.4.3 Observables in multilevel ground states	239	(3)
6.4.4 The sodium ground state	242	(6)
7 Coherent Raman processes	248	(32)
7.1 Overview	248	(8)
7.1.1 Raman processes	248	(3)
7.1.2 Electronic structure of rare earth ions	251	(1)
7.1.3 Nuclear spin states	252	(4)
7.2 Frequency-domain experiments	256	(7)
7.2.1 Spectral holeburning	256	(2)
7.2.2 Raman heterodyne spectroscopy	258	(3)
7.2.3 Triple resonance	261	(2)
7.3 Time-resolved experiments	263	(17)
7.3.1 Photon echo modulation	263	(3)
7.3.2 Coherent Raman beats	266	(3)
7.3.3 Time-domain spectroscopy	269	(10)
7.3.4 Examples	279	(1)
8 Sublevel dynamics	280	(34)
8.1 Experimental arrangement	280	(6)
8.1.1 General considerations	280	(2)
8.1.2 Setup	282	(2)
8.1.3 Historical overview	284	(1)
8.1.4 Phenomenology	285	(1)
8.2 Spin nutation	286	(5)
8.2.1 Signal	286	(2)
8.2.2 Experimental control	288	(3)
8.3 Free induction decay	291	(5)
8.3.1 Theory	291	(3)
8.3.2 Experimental control	294	(2)
8.4 Spin echoes	296	(7)
8.4.1 Introduction	296	(2)
8.4.2 Mechanism	298	(2)
8.4.3 Control parameters	300	(3)
8.5 Modulated excitation	303	(5)
8.5.1 Laboratory-frame detection	303	(2)
8.5.2 Phase-sensitive detection	305	(2)
8.5.3 Frequency-domain experiments	307	(1)
8.6 Time-domain spectroscopy	308	(6)
8.6.1 Example	308	(2)
8.6.2 Microscopic analysis	310	(2)
8.6.3 Possible extensions	312	(2)
9 Two-dimensional spectroscopy	314	(40)
9.1 Fundamentals	314	(10)
9.1.1 Motivation and principle	314	(2)
9.1.2 Theoretical analysis	316	(5)
9.1.3 Coherence transfer echoes	321	(1)
9.1.4 Possible applications	322	(2)
9.2 Coherence transfer	324	(12)
9.2.1 Introduction	324	(1)
9.2.2 Example	325	(3)
9.2.3 System and Hamiltonian	328	(2)
9.2.4 Light-induced dynamics	330	(2)
9.2.5 Signal	332	(4)
9.3 "Forbidden" multipoles	336	(18)
9.3.1 Observables	336	(3)
9.3.2 Rotations	339	(7)
9.3.3 Separation of multipole orders	346	(3)
9.3.4 Coherence transfer echoes	349	(5)
10 Nonlinear dynamics	354	(31)
10.1 Overview	354	(7)
10.1.1 Resonant vapours as optically nonlinear media	354	(3)
10.1.2 Wave mixing	357	(2)
10.1.3 Coupled absorption	359	(2)
10.2 Nonlinear propagation: self-focusing	361	(13)
10.2.1 Light-induced waveguides	361	(5)
10.2.2 Self-focusing	366	(3)
10.2.3 Experimental observation	369	(3)
10.2.4 Other structures	372	(2)
10.3 Temporal instabilities	374	(11)
10.3.1 Feedback	374	(2)
10.3.2 Evolution	376	(4)
10.3.3 Limit cycles	380	(2)
10.3.4 Chaos	382	(3)
11 Mechanical effects of light	385	(38)
11.1 Light-induced forces	385	(4)
11.1.1 Momentum conservation	386	(2)
11.1.2 Optical potential	388	(1)
11.2 Spontaneous forces	389	(10)
11.2.1 Scattering force	389	(3)
11.2.2 Doppler cooling	392	(3)
11.2.3 Velocity diffusion	395	(2)
11.2.4 Doppler limit	397	(2)
11.3 Stimulated forces	399	(10)
11.3.1 Gradient force	399	(3)
11.3.2 Applications	402	(4)
11.3.3 Rectified dipole force	406	(3)
11.4 Forces on multilevel atoms	409	(14)
11.4.1 Multilevel effects	409	(3)
11.4.2 Magnetooptic traps	412	(3)
11.4.3 Sisyphus cooling	415	(2)
11.4.4 Stimulated magnetooptic force	417	(2)
11.4.5 Raman transitions	419	(4)
References	423	(26)
Index	449