Quantum theory of Rabi sideband generation by forward four-wave mixing

The predictions of a quantum-mechanical theory of forward four-wave mixing in a homogeneously broadened system of two-level atoms are presented. In the limit of a very short interaction region, the predictions of this theory reproduce those of well-known theories for the spontaneous-emission spectrum of an atom in the presence of an intense laser field. More generally, the theory predicts how the emission spectrum is modified due to propagation effects for a medium of arbitrary length. For long propagation path lengths, the emitted radiation can be quite intense and has a spectrum that is strongly peaked at the Rabi sidebands of the incident laser frequency. The theory shows that Rabi sideband generation in the forward direction can be understood as parametric amplification of weak radiation emitted spontaneously at the Rabi sidebands. The quantum noise that initiates the four-wave-mixing process has contributions both from fluctuations in the incident vacuum radiation field and from fluctuations in the polarization of the atomic dipoles. Both contributions are important for the case of a radiatively broadened medium, although the material fluctuations make the dominant contribution for the case of a medium in which the broadening is largely collisional. Under certain conditions large amounts of squeezing in the radiated field are predicted.