Microscopic theory of optical line narrowing of a coherently driven solid

A. Schenzle, M. Mitsunaga, R. G. DeVoe, and R. G. Brewer
Phys. Rev. A 30, 325 – Published 1 July 1984
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Abstract

The optical Bloch equations which incorporate the phenomenological population (T1) and dipole dephasing (T2) times have been tested recently by optical free-induction-decay (FID) measurements on an impurity-ion crystal Pr3+:La3 at 1.6 K. At low optical fields, the observed Pr3+ optical linewidth is dominated by magnetic fluctuations arising from pairs of fluorine nuclear flip-flops where the condition T1T2 prevails. At elevated fields, this nuclear broadening mechanism is quenched and the Bloch equations are violated with T2T1. In this paper, a microscopic theory appropriate for a low-temperature impurity solid is presented which reveals the above features both for optical and radio frequencies, and a simple physical interpretation of this line narrowing phenomenon is given. Modified Bloch equations of a novel form are derived to second order and yield analytic FID solutions over the entire range of optical-field strength. A discussion of the earlier NMR theories is given, pointing out similarities and differences.

  • Received 13 March 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.30.325

©1984 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Schenzle*, M. Mitsunaga, R. G. DeVoe, and R. G. Brewer

  • IBM Research Laboratory, San Jose, California 95193

  • *On leave from the Physik Department, Universität Essen—Gesamthochschule, D-4300, Essen, West Germany.

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Vol. 30, Iss. 1 — July 1984

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