Observation of sub-natural linewidths for cold atoms in a magneto-optic trap

Rapol, UD and Wasan, A and Natarajan, V (2003) Observation of sub-natural linewidths for cold atoms in a magneto-optic trap. In: Europhysics Letters, 61 (1). pp. 53-59.

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Abstract

We have studied the absorption of a weak probe beam through cold rubidium atoms in a magneto-optic trap. The absorption spectrum shows two peaks, with the smaller peak having linewidth as small as 28% of the natural linewidth. The modification happens because the laser beams used for trapping also drive the atoms coherently between the ground and excited states. This creates "dressed" states whose energies are shifted depending on the strength of the drive. Linewidth narrowing occurs due to quantum coherence between the dressed states. The separation of the states and the linewidth depends on the trapping-laser intensity and detuning as predicted by this model.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Europhysics Letters
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to EDP Sciences.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2007
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:28
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/7341

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