Abstract

Studies of the classic problem of two non-degenerate atomic energy states exposed to an intense monochromatic driving field have enabled fundamental discoveries in quantum optics including inversionless optical gain,¹ multiphoton laser action,² and electromagnetically induced transparency.³ Nevertheless, the level degeneracy present in many atomic systems can and has been shown to play key roles in a variety of unique driven atom dynamics ranging from light-shift mediated stimulated Raman optical gain and lasing⁴ to electromagnetically induced absorption.⁵ To date, however, the potentially rich dynamics of these novel systems has received relatively little attention.

© 2001 Optical Society of America