Absorption notch in the spectrum of a transform limited pulse of small area

J. M. Friedman, H. M. Gibbs, T. N.C. Venkatesan, B. Bölger, D. Polder, M. F.H. Schuurmans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider the frequency distribution of the absorption when a short uncertainty broadened light pulse interacts with an atomic resonance sharp with respect to the spectral width of the pulse. We demonstrate theoretically that a sharp absorption notch within the frequency profile of an uncertainty broadened incident light pulse originates from destructive interference between the original pulse and the free induction tail of radiation of excited atoms. The notch is unambiguously observed for nanosecond pulses interacting with an atomic beam of sodium.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-187
Number of pages5
JournalOptics Communications
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1977
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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