Statistical-noise properties of an optical amplifier utilizing two-beam coupling in atomic-potassium vapor. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We have measured the gain and statistical-noise properties of a weak probe beam amplified through two-beam coupling in atomic-potassium vapor for both the Rabi and stimulated Rayleigh gain features. The probe-beam gain was observed to be as large as 125 for the Rabi feature, whereas the gain was typically less than 2 for the Rayleigh feature. The rms noise at the Rabi gain feature was approximately three times greater than the ideal amplifier quantum-noise limit. For the Rayleigh gain feature, the rms noise was 12 to 15 times greater than the ideal amplifier quantum-noise limit. We present a fully quantum-mechanical theory of two-beam coupling in a system of two-level atoms which includes the effects of atomic motion and pump-beam absorption. The predictions of this theory are in good agreement with the experimental data. 1996 The American Physical Society.

published proceedings

  • Phys Rev A

author list (cited authors)

  • Davis, W. V., Gaeta, A. L., Boyd, R. W., & Agarwal, G. S.

citation count

  • 5

complete list of authors

  • Davis, WV||Gaeta, AL||Boyd, RW||Agarwal, GS

publication date

  • May 1996