title: Saturation-induced coherence loss in coherent backscattering of light.
abstract: We use coherent backscattering of light by cold strontium atoms to study phase-breaking mechanisms in the multiple-scattering regime. As the probe light intensity is increased, the atomic optical transition starts to be saturated. Nonlinearities and inelastic scattering then occur. The latter induces a characteristic phase-breaking time that reduces the wave coherence. In our experiment, this leads to a strong reduction of the enhancement factor of the coherent backscattering cone. The results at different probe detuning are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Ondes et Désordre, FRE 2302, 1361 Route des Lucioles, F-06560 Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chanelière
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilkowski
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bidel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miniatura