Coherent and collimated blue light generated by four-wave mixing in Rb vapour.
We investigate frequency up-conversion of low power cw resonant radiation in Rb vapour as a function of various experimental parameters. We present evidence that the process of four wave mixing is responsible for unidirectional blue light generation and that the phase matching conditions along a light-induced waveguide determine the direction and divergence of the blue light. Velocity-selective excitation to the 5D level via step-wise and two-photon processes results in a Doppler-free dependence on the frequency detuning of the applied laser fields from the respective dipole-allowed transitions. Possible schemes for ultraviolet generation are discussed.
Akulshin
Alexander M
AM
Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. aakoulchine@swin.edu.au
McLean
Russell J
RJ
Sidorov
Andrei I
AI
Hannaford
Peter
P
D003116:Color; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
D005740:Gases; D012413:Rubidium