Slow and stored light and optical depth

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates how optical depth affects slow and stored light in Rb vapor, analyzing efficiency based on various parameters and comparing results with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on the dependence of slow and stored light efficiency on optical depth and related parameters in Rb vapor.

Findings

Efficiency varies with Rb density, pulse duration, delay, and control field intensity.

Experimental results align qualitatively with theoretical three-level model predictions.

Insights into optimizing slow and stored light in atomic vapors.

Abstract

We present a preliminary experimental study of the dependence on optical depth of slow and stored light pulses in Rb vapor. In particular, we characterize the efficiency of slow and stored light as a function of Rb density; pulse duration, delay and storage time; and control field intensity. Experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with theoretical calculations based on a simplified three-level model at moderate densities.