We show theoretically that the propagation of light can be slowed down considerably using the method of coherent hole-burning in a Doppler broadened three-level Λ-type atomic medium without the Doppler-free configurations. The reduction of group velocity of light pulse is achieved by the application of a saturating beam and a strong coupling beam which produce a narrow spectral hole-burning at resonance. We can obtain a larger group index than that using the method of saturation absorption spectroscopy in Doppler-broadened two-level atomic systems.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

1. L. V. Hau, S. E. Harris, Z. Dutton, and C. H. Behroozi, "Light speed reduction to 17 meter per second in a ultracold atomic gas," Nature 397, 594 (1999). [CrossRef]
2. M. M. Kash, V. A. Sautenkov, A. S. Zibrov, L. Hollberg, G. R. Welch, M. D. Lukin, Y. Rostovtsev, E. S. Fry, and M. O. Scully, "Ultraslow group velocity and enhanced nonlinear optical effects in a coherently driven hot atomic gas," Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 5229-5232 (1999). [CrossRef]
3. O. Schmidt, R. Wynands, Z. Hussein, and D. Meschede, "Steep dispersion and group velocity bellow c/3000 in coherent population trapping," Phys. Rev. A 53, R27-R30 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. A. Kasapi, M. Jain, G. Y. Yin, and S. E. Harris, "Electromagnetically induced transparency: propagation dynamics," Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 2447-2450 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. R. W. Boyd, M. G. Raymer, P. Narum and D. J. Harter, "Four-wave parametric interactions in a strongly driven two-level system," Phys. Rev. A 24, 411-423 (1981). [CrossRef]
6. M. S. Bigelow, N. N. Lepeshkin, and R. W. Boyd, "Superluminal and slow light propagation in a roomtemperature solid," Science,  301, 200-202 (2003). [CrossRef]
7. M. S. Bigelow, N. N. Lepeshkin, and R. W. Boyd, "Observation of ultraslow light in a ruby crystal at room temperature," Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 113903 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. E. Baldit, K. Bencheikh, P. Monnier, J. A. Levenson, and V. Rouget, "Ultraslow light propagation in an inhomogeneously broadened rare-earth ion-doped crystal," Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 143601 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. G. S. Agarwal and T. N. Dey, "Ultraslow light in inhomogeneously broadened media," Phys. Rev. A 73, 043809 (2006). [CrossRef]
10. G. S. Agarwal and T. N. Dey, "Slow light in Doppler-broadened two-level systems," Phys. Rev. A 68, 063816 (2003). [CrossRef]
11. R. M. Camacho, M. V. Park, and J. C. Howell, "Slow light with large fractional delays by spectral hole-burning in rubidium vapor," Phys. Rev. A 74, 033801 (2006). [CrossRef]
12. P. Dong and J. Y. Gao, "Appearance and disappearance of hole-burning behind an electromagnetically induced transparency window," Phys. Lett. A 265, 52-57 (2000). [CrossRef]
13. J. H. Wu, X. G. Wei, D. F. Wang, Y. Chen, and J. Y. Gao, "Coherent hole-burning phenomenon in a Doppler braodened three-level ??-type atomic system," J. Opt. B 6, 54-58 (2004).
14. X. G. Wei, J. H. Wu, H. H. Wang, A. Li, Z. H. Kang, Y. Jiang, J. Y. Gao, "First-principle experimental observation of coherent hole burning in atomic rubidium vapor," Phys. Rev. A. 74, 063820 (2006). [CrossRef]
15. B. R. Mollow, "Stimulated emission and absorption near resonance for driven systems," Phys. Rev. A 5, 2217- 2222 (1972). [CrossRef]
16. S. E. Harris, J. E. Field, and A. Kasapi, "Dispersive properties of electromagnetically induced transparency," Phys. Rev. A 46, 29 (1992). [CrossRef]
17. P. G. Pappas, M. M. Burns, D. D. Hinshelwood, and M. S. Feld "Saturation spectroscopy with laser optical pumping in atomic barium," Phys. Rev. A 21, 1955-1968 (1980). [CrossRef]
18. M. SargentIII, " Spectroscopy techniques based on Lamb??s laser theory," Phys. Rep. 43, 223-265 (1978). [CrossRef]
19. S. Haroche and F. Hartman, "Theory of saturated-absorption line shapes," Phys. Rev. A 6, 1280-1299 (1972). [CrossRef]
20. S. E. Harris, "Electromagnetically induced transparency," Phys. Today 50, 36-42 (1997). [CrossRef]
21. C. G. B. Garrett and D. E. MoCumber, "Propagation of a gaussian light pulse through an anomalous dispersion medium," Phys. Rev. A 1, 305-313 (1970). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. B

• J. H. Wu, X. G. Wei, D. F. Wang, Y. Chen, and J. Y. Gao, "Coherent hole-burning phenomenon in a Doppler braodened three-level ??-type atomic system," J. Opt. B 6, 54-58 (2004).

Nature

• L. V. Hau, S. E. Harris, Z. Dutton, and C. H. Behroozi, "Light speed reduction to 17 meter per second in a ultracold atomic gas," Nature 397, 594 (1999). [CrossRef]

Phys. Lett. A

• P. Dong and J. Y. Gao, "Appearance and disappearance of hole-burning behind an electromagnetically induced transparency window," Phys. Lett. A 265, 52-57 (2000). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rep.

• M. SargentIII, " Spectroscopy techniques based on Lamb??s laser theory," Phys. Rep. 43, 223-265 (1978). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A

• S. Haroche and F. Hartman, "Theory of saturated-absorption line shapes," Phys. Rev. A 6, 1280-1299 (1972). [CrossRef]
• B. R. Mollow, "Stimulated emission and absorption near resonance for driven systems," Phys. Rev. A 5, 2217- 2222 (1972). [CrossRef]
• S. E. Harris, J. E. Field, and A. Kasapi, "Dispersive properties of electromagnetically induced transparency," Phys. Rev. A 46, 29 (1992). [CrossRef]
• P. G. Pappas, M. M. Burns, D. D. Hinshelwood, and M. S. Feld "Saturation spectroscopy with laser optical pumping in atomic barium," Phys. Rev. A 21, 1955-1968 (1980). [CrossRef]
• G. S. Agarwal and T. N. Dey, "Ultraslow light in inhomogeneously broadened media," Phys. Rev. A 73, 043809 (2006). [CrossRef]
• G. S. Agarwal and T. N. Dey, "Slow light in Doppler-broadened two-level systems," Phys. Rev. A 68, 063816 (2003). [CrossRef]
• R. M. Camacho, M. V. Park, and J. C. Howell, "Slow light with large fractional delays by spectral hole-burning in rubidium vapor," Phys. Rev. A 74, 033801 (2006). [CrossRef]
• O. Schmidt, R. Wynands, Z. Hussein, and D. Meschede, "Steep dispersion and group velocity bellow c/3000 in coherent population trapping," Phys. Rev. A 53, R27-R30 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• R. W. Boyd, M. G. Raymer, P. Narum and D. J. Harter, "Four-wave parametric interactions in a strongly driven two-level system," Phys. Rev. A 24, 411-423 (1981). [CrossRef]
• C. G. B. Garrett and D. E. MoCumber, "Propagation of a gaussian light pulse through an anomalous dispersion medium," Phys. Rev. A 1, 305-313 (1970). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A.

• X. G. Wei, J. H. Wu, H. H. Wang, A. Li, Z. H. Kang, Y. Jiang, J. Y. Gao, "First-principle experimental observation of coherent hole burning in atomic rubidium vapor," Phys. Rev. A. 74, 063820 (2006). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• M. S. Bigelow, N. N. Lepeshkin, and R. W. Boyd, "Observation of ultraslow light in a ruby crystal at room temperature," Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 113903 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. Baldit, K. Bencheikh, P. Monnier, J. A. Levenson, and V. Rouget, "Ultraslow light propagation in an inhomogeneously broadened rare-earth ion-doped crystal," Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 143601 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Kasapi, M. Jain, G. Y. Yin, and S. E. Harris, "Electromagnetically induced transparency: propagation dynamics," Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 2447-2450 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. M. Kash, V. A. Sautenkov, A. S. Zibrov, L. Hollberg, G. R. Welch, M. D. Lukin, Y. Rostovtsev, E. S. Fry, and M. O. Scully, "Ultraslow group velocity and enhanced nonlinear optical effects in a coherently driven hot atomic gas," Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 5229-5232 (1999). [CrossRef]

Phys. Today

• S. E. Harris, "Electromagnetically induced transparency," Phys. Today 50, 36-42 (1997). [CrossRef]

Science

• M. S. Bigelow, N. N. Lepeshkin, and R. W. Boyd, "Superluminal and slow light propagation in a roomtemperature solid," Science,  301, 200-202 (2003). [CrossRef]

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