All-optical-switching demonstration using two-photon absorption and the Zeno effect

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2016

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

G. T. Hickman, J. D. Franson, and T. B. Pittman, "Optically enhanced production of metastable xenon," Opt. Lett. 41, 4372-4374 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.41.004372

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Subjects

Abstract

Metastable states of noble gas atoms are typically produced by electrical discharge techniques or “all-optical” excitation methods. Here we combine electrical discharges with optical pumping to demonstrate “optically enhanced” production of metastable xenon (Xe∗). We experimentally measure large increases in Xe∗ density with relatively small optical control field powers. This technique may have applications in systems where large metastable state densities are desirable.