Abstract

We have used the stimulated-photon echo (three-pulse echo) technique¹ to investigate small-angle elastic and depolarizing collisions of excited ytterbium with noble gases. The pulse sequence, the level scheme, and the density matrix relevant for the echo formation are illustrated in Fig. TuGG4-l, a) and b). Our experiment has been performed in ytterbium vapor using levels 6s^{2 1}S₀, 6s6p ³P₁ and 6s7s ³S₁ as levels a, b, and c, respectively. Two different polarization configurations were used [Fig. TuGG4-l, c) and d)].

© 1984 Optical Society of America