Ultrafast Rabi oscillation of a Gaussian atom ensemble

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates ultrafast Rabi oscillations in a Gaussian atom ensemble using cold rubidium vapor, with experimental results aligning with theoretical predictions and exploring composite pulse sequences for improved population inversion.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental observation of ultrafast Rabi oscillations in a Gaussian atom ensemble and validates a theoretical model for these oscillations.

Findings

Experimental Rabi oscillations match theoretical predictions.

Three-pulse composite interaction enhances population inversion.

Good agreement between experimental data and theoretical model.

Abstract

We investigate Rabi oscillation of an atom ensemble in Gaussian spatial distribution. By using the ultrafast laser interaction with the cold atomic rubidium vapor spatially confined in a magneto-optical trap, the oscillatory behavior of the atom excitation is probed as a function of the laser pulse power. Theoretical model calculation predicts that the oscillation peaks of the ensemble-atom Rabi flopping fall on the simple Rabi oscillation curve of a single atom and the experimental result shows good agreement with the prediction. We also test the the three-pulse composite interaction $R_x(\pi/2)R_y(\pi)R_x(\pi/2)$ to develop a robust method to achieve a higher fidelity population inversion of the atom ensemble.