Equal area property of narrow resonances induced in coupled Doppler-broadened systems by intense laser radiation

Abstract

It is well known that the spectral line shape of the narrow change signal induced at one Doppler-broadened transition by an intense laser field resonating with a second one can be extremely complex and nonclassical in form, the exact details depending on such factors as the direction of observation relative to the propagation direction of the laser field and its spatial form (traveling wave or standing wave). Nevertheless, the area under the change signal line shape, i.e. its frequency-integrated intensity, is always the same for a given laser field, and is independent of the coupling between laser and change-signal fields. A proof of this equal area property, based on quantum-mechanical transition-rate theory, is given for a three-level system composed of degenerate or near-degenerate states. The resulting expression is also applicable to line-shape calculations for experiments which study resonance fluorescence induced by intense laser or resonance radiation or other forms of excitation.