Abstract

We show theoretically that velocity-selective coherent population trapping in one dimension may be realized in atomic transitions other than J_g = 1 ↔ J_e = 1. The atomic momentum distribution resulting from irradiation by counterpropagating σ₊–σ₋ waves on the J_g = 3/2 ↔ J_e = 1/2 and the J_g = 2 ↔ J_e = 1 atomic transitions is investigated through solution of the optical Bloch equations and determination of the effective loss rates for atomic eigenstates. An inverted-W atomic level configuration is also used to investigate the features of velocity-selective coherent population trapping. The momentum distribution exhibits peaks at the ±ħk or the ±ħ2k and the 0 momenta, depending on the atomic transitions and the laser intensity. These structures, generated by atomic states that do not interact with the laser radiation, are stable when associated with eigenstates of the kinetic energy, or metastables; i.e., the structures last several hundred spontaneous lifetimes when generated by nonexact kinetic-energy eigenstates.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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