Experimental demonstration of light amplification without population inversion

Abstract

We report the observation of light amplification without population inversion. A linear superposition of an m=1 and an m=-1 magnetic substate is populated coherently. Absorption from this superposition to a higher state is canceled by interference of channels, a so-called dark resonance. An inverse transition is used for amplification of light. The temporal behavior of the amplified pulse and the gain are studied as a function of the energy splitting due to a magnetic field. In a vapor of cadmium-112 gain factors of up to 4.3 are observed.