Abstract

Pomeau et al.¹ have shown that a two-level atom strongly driven by a single 100% amplitude modulated (AM) field can show broadband spectral behavior when the two-frequency components of the field are incommensurate. The equations describing the atomic response to a monochromatic field without making the rotating wave approximation (RWA) are identical to form to the equations describing a 100% amplitude modulated field within the RWA. This fact makes the observation of the predictions of Pomeau et al. experimentally realizable in an optical resonance experiment. We present theoretical and numerical results of a pair of 100% AM fields interacting with a single atomic resonance. The effects on the atomic response of commensurate and incommensurate modulation frequencies are discussed as are the experimental implications.

© 1987 Optical Society of America