Abstract

We consider the interaction of two-level atoms with optical pulses separated in time by T (Fig. 1). The first pulse consists of field modes (k₁, Ω) and (k₂, Ω + δ) and creates a ground state population grating having period 2π/q, where q = k₁ – k₂. Owing to atomic motion, this grating decays for the ensemble of atoms, but it can be recovered at specific times following the second pulse’s action. This grating echo is analogous to the normal two-pulse photon echo.

© 1997 Optical Society of America