Abstract The spectrum evolution of a few-cycle optical pulse in a resonant two-level atom medium is studied theoretically by using the full Maxwell--Bloch equations. On the propagating pulse, significantly much faster oscillation components separated with the main pulse appear due to strong self-phase modulation and pulse reshaping. In this case, ideal self-induced transparency cannot occur for a 2$\pi$ pulse. The spectrum of the 4$\pi$ pulse shows an evident oscillatory feature because of the continuum interference of the separate pulses. For larger pulse areas, continuum generation from near ultraviolet to infrared occurs.
Received: 26 March 2001
Revised: 26 May 2001
Accepted manuscript online:
PACS:
42.60.Jf
(Beam characteristics: profile, intensity, and power; spatial pattern formation)
(Optical transient phenomena: quantum beats, photon echo, free-induction decay, dephasings and revivals, optical nutation, and self-induced transparency)
Fund: Project supported by the National Key Basic Research Special Foundation of China (NKBRSFC) (Grant No. G1999075200) and by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, China (Grant No. 00QA14028).
Cite this article:
Xiao Jian (肖健), Wang Zhong-yang (王中阳), Xu Zhi-zhan (徐至展) SPECTRUM OF A FEW-CYCLE LASER PULSE PROPAGATING IN A TWO-LEVEL ATOM MEDIUM 2001 Chinese Physics 10 941
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