Nonlinear absorption and density-dependent dephasing in Rydberg electromagnetically-induced-transparency media

Light propagation through an ensemble of ultracold Rydberg atoms in an electromagnetically-induced-transparency (EIT) configuration is studied. In strongly interacting Rydberg EIT media, nonlinear optical effects lead to a nontrivial dependence of the degree of probe-beam attenuation on the medium d...

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Hauptverfasser: Gärttner, Martin (VerfasserIn) , Evers, Jörg (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 18 September 2013
In: Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics
Year: 2013, Jahrgang: 88, Heft: 3
ISSN:1094-1622
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033417
Online-Zugang:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033417
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033417
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Verfasserangaben:Martin Gärttner and Jörg Evers
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Zusammenfassung:Light propagation through an ensemble of ultracold Rydberg atoms in an electromagnetically-induced-transparency (EIT) configuration is studied. In strongly interacting Rydberg EIT media, nonlinear optical effects lead to a nontrivial dependence of the degree of probe-beam attenuation on the medium density and on its initial intensity. We develop a Monte Carlo rate equation model that self-consistently includes the effect of the probe-beam attenuation to investigate the steady state of the Rydberg medium driven by two laser fields. We compare our results to recent experimental data and to results of other state-of-the-art models for light propagation in Rydberg EIT media. We find that for low probe field intensities, our results match the experimental data best if a density-dependent dephasing rate is included in the model. At higher probe intensities, our model deviates from other theoretical approaches, because it predicts a spectral asymmetry together with line broadening. These are likely due to off-resonant excitation channels, which, however, have not been observed in recent experiments. Atomic motion and coupling to additional Rydberg levels are discussed as possible origins for these deviations.
Beschreibung:Gesehen am 26.01.2021
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1094-1622
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033417