Probe field spectroscopy in two-level systems with arbitrary phase memory in collisions

Abstract

The spectrum of weak probe field absorption (amplification) by two-level atoms experiencing collisions with buffer gas atoms in a strong resonance laser field is studied theoretically. Analysis is carried out for systems with a weak Doppler broadening under relatively mild constraints on the strong field intensity for the general case of an arbitrary change in the phase of the radiation-induced dipole moment in elastic collisions of gas particles. It is shown that, in spite of uniform broadening of the absorption line, the probe field spectrum exhibits a clearly manifested anisotropy to mutual orientation of the wavevectors of strong and probe radiation. It is found that the width of resonances in the probe field spectrum under definite conditions (that can easily be created in experiments) is proportional to the diffusion coefficient for atoms interacting with radiation. This fact can form the basis of the spectroscopic method for measuring the transport frequencies of collisions between particles absorbing radiation and buffer particles. It is shown that phase memory effects in collisions strongly modify the probe field spectrum both qualitatively and quantitatively. Simple operative formulas proposed for the probe field spectrum are convenient for experimental data processing.