Abstract. Population inversion on the 5D5/2-6P3/2 transition in Rb atoms produced by cw laser excitation at different wavelengths has been analysed by comparing the generated mid-IR radiation at 5.23 μm originating from amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and isotropic blue fluorescence at 420 nm. Using a novel method for detection of two photon excitation via ASE, we have observed directional coand counter-propagating emission at 5.23 μm. Evidence of a threshold-like characteristic is found in the ASE dependences on laser detuning and Rb number density. We find that the power dependences of the backward-and forwarddirected emission can be very similar and demonstrate a pronounced saturation characteristic, however their spectral dependences are not identical. The presented observations could be useful for enhancing efficiency of frequency mixing processes and new field generation in atomic media.
We report on spiking dynamics of frequency up-converted emission at 420 nm generated on the 6P3/2-5S1/2 transition in Rb vapour two-photon excited to the 5D5/2 level with laser light at 780 and 776 nm. The spike duration is shorter than the natural lifetime of any excited level involved in the interaction with both continuous and pulsed pump radiation. The spikes at 420 nm are attributed to temporal properties of the directional emission at 5.23 μm generated on the population-inverted 5D5/2-6P3/2 transition. A link between the spiking regime and cooperative effects is discussed. We suggest that the observed stochastic behaviour is due to the quantum-mechanical nature of the cooperative effects rather than random fluctuation of the applied laser fields.
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