Quantum interference shifts in laser spectroscopy with elliptical polarization

TL;DR

This paper derives an analytical model for quantum interference shifts in laser spectroscopy with elliptical polarization, enabling prediction of interference effects and optimizing experimental setups across atomic systems.

Contribution

It provides a compact analytical expression for quantum interference shifts applicable to any elliptical polarization and observation angle, enhancing precision in laser spectroscopy measurements.

Findings

Derived a universal formula for quantum interference shifts

Predicted conditions to eliminate interference effects

Applicable to various atomic spectroscopy experiments

Abstract

We investigate the quantum interference shifts between energetically close states, where the state structure is observed by laser spectroscopy. We report a compact and analytical expression that models the quantum interference induced shift for any admixture of circular polarization of the incident laser and angle of observation. An experimental scenario free of quantum interference can thus be predicted with this formula. Although, this study is exemplified here for muonic deuterium, it can be applied to any other laser spectroscopy measurement of $ns-n'p$ frequencies of a nonrelativistic atomic system, via a $ns\rightarrow n'p \rightarrow n"s $ scheme.