Theory of resonances in four-wave mixing resulting from velocity-changing collisions

Abstract

A theory of four-wave mixing including effects of velocity-changing collisions is presented. Three fields with frequencies ω, ω, and ω+δ are incident on a vapor of ‘‘two-level’’ atoms having upper state b and lower state a. Two of the fields are counterpropagating and the third (of frequency ω+δ) makes a small angle with one of the others. The frequency ω is a nearly resonant (inside the Doppler width) with the a-b transition frequency. The phase-conjugate signal emitted at frequency ω-δ is calculated as a function of δ. Using a simple collision model in which collisions are phase interrupting in their effect on atomic coherence and velocity-changing in their effect on level populations, we discuss the conditions under which resonances characterized by the upper or lower radiative and collision rates can be observed. Assuming that the total (a+b) state population is conserved in the absence of collisions, it is shown that velocity-changing collisions can ‘‘open’’ the system and lead to a resonance characterized by the lower-state width (convoluted with the residual Doppler width). With increasing pressure, the width of this induced resonance structure decreases monotonically. For sufficiently high pressure, the collisional redistribution of velocity classes is complete—the system ‘‘recloses’’ and the narrow resonance disappears. The interplay of the collision-induced opening, line narrowing, and reclosing of the system is discussed, as is the relationship of these narrow resonances to the so-called pressure-induced extra resonances of Bloembergen and co-workers [Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys. 16, 151 (1978); Phys. Rev. Lett. 46, 111 (1981)].