Transient line narrowing: A laser spectroscopic technique yielding resolution beyond the natural linewidth Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In problems involving transitions between two decaying states, one encounters lorentzian factors whose width is given by the sum of the decay rates from the two states in question, i.e. by the natural linewidth. In the present paper, we discuss techniques for achieving resolution beyond the natural linewidth, limited by the difference between the decay rates rather than their sum. These techniques provide the possibility of enhanced spectral resolution, as well as giving a direct measurement of the difference between the decay rates. 1980.

published proceedings

  • Optics Communications

author list (cited authors)

  • Meystre, P., Scully, M. O., & Walther, H.

citation count

  • 38

complete list of authors

  • Meystre, Pierre||Scully, Marlan O||Walther, Herbert

publication date

  • May 1980