Abstract

Most models of lasing without inversion utilize incoherent pumping of the upper state of the transition on which lasing occurs. We suggest replacing incoherent pumping by a color pump (i.e. laser with a finite bandwidth) for selective pumping of the upper state, where one can also take advantage of the tunability of the laser. A three-level ladder system is considered with the upper two levels providing the lasing transition. We reduce the density matrix equations for this system to a set of eight coupled Langevin equations with multiplicative noise. These equations are solved using Monte-Carlo methods to obtain the gain as a function of various atom and field parameters. The use of the color pump leads to a significant enhancement in gain. Using a dressed states formalism, an explanation of the possible physical mechanism behind this gain enhancement is provided.

© 1993 Optical Society of America