Abstract

The interaction of light with atomic media, i.e., media describable as an ensemble of free particles, can be used to alter the quantum statistics of the interacting light field. Nonlinear effects present in such an interaction are rather weak unless the light is tuned dose to resonance with a transition between two atomic energy eigenstates. Although semiclassical optical effects are now enhanced, the desired changes to the quantum statistics are normally washed out by atomic noise from absorption and spontaneous emission. Tuning away from resonance turns off nonlinearities faster than it turns off absorption.

© 1994 Optical Society of America