Nonlinear Magneto-optics and Reduced Group Velocity of Light in Atomic Vapor with Slow Ground State Relaxation

Abstract

The dynamics of resonant light propagation in rubidium vapor in a cell with antirelaxation wall coating are investigated. We change the polarization of the input light and measure the time dependence of the polarization after the cell. The observed dynamics are shown to be analogous to those in electromagnetically induced transparency. Spectral dependence of light pulse delays is found to be similar to that of nonlinear magneto-optic rotation. Delays up to $\ensuremath{\approx}13\mathrm{ms}$ are observed, corresponding to a $8\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ group velocity. Fields of a few microgauss are used to control the group velocity.