The optical double resonance spectrum of an atom in a squeezed field

Abstract

The authors consider a three-level atom in the ladder configuration, which interacts with two classical, monochromatic electromagnetic fields. The laser driving the mod 0) to mod 1) transition is intense, whilst the laser connecting the mod 1) to mod 2) transition is weak. In addition, a squeezed vacuum field is centered on the mod 0) to mod 1) transition. They calculate the optical double resonance spectrum for this system, and show that it depends very sensitively on the squeezing phase and degree of squeezing. Normally the ODR spectrum consists of two peaks, but when the population trapping condition of Courty and Reynaud (1989) is satisfied, one of the peaks disappears. The observation of the ODR spectrum could provide a means of detecting a squeezed field.