Abstract
A sequence of two femtosecond coherent pulses—a strong -polarized pulse and a weak -polarized pulse—excite the transition of atomic rubidium in an optically dense vapor. The pulse induces transitions between the adiabatic states with a coupling strength that is different for identically and oppositely light-shifted coupled states, and that can be modified by tuning the relative phase between the pulses. An efficient control of the medium gain for the pulse is experimentally demonstrated. It is shown to be the result of interference between the absorption and the stimulated emission paths for photons.
- Received 7 September 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.053602
©2007 American Physical Society