Abstract

Remarkable effects are predicted in a coherently prepared atomic medium. These include gain without inversion and high index of refraction with zero absorption.¹ Atomic samarium in a magnetic field is an attractive system for the experimental realization of these effects. We have modeled the behavior of this system for a strong, coherence-inducing pump and a weak probe. We calculate probe eigenpolarizations and the associated susceptibilities as a function of probe frequency using realistic values for oscillator strengths, damping rates, and number density but not including Doppler broadening. This eigenpolarization approach is an advance over previous treatments of these effects. We demonstrate that under certain conditions gain without inversion and high index of refraction still occur when this model is used. Furthermore, under certain conditions the probe exhibits double refraction. The current model assumes that the pump propagates without modification. The next step will be to model the pump propagation more realistically.

© 1992 Optical Society of America