Nonlinear Optics in Dense Frequency Narrow Supersonic Beams

摘要

A broad program of research has been undertaken to develop novel magneticallycompensated supersonic beams and to study the interaction of light with these systems The technique was demonstrated initially with strontium where a 50% absorption and 18 MHz linewidth was obtained using a transition with a 22 usec radiative lifetime. The new method was then applied to observe continuous spatial photon echoes in samarium, which will have important applications in spatial phase conjugation and in nonlinear optical processing including optical field spatial convolution and correlation. In addition to this research, the use of a magnetic field gradient in the magnetic compensation method led to the development of novel Raman induced resonance imaging techniques for moving atoms in beams. The method can achieve uncertainty limited spatial resolution in the nanometer region with wide applications in atomic optics, including interferometers, gyroscopes and ultrahigh resolution lithography.