Resonant and off-resonant transients in electromagnetically induced transparency: Turn-on and turn-off dynamics

Abstract

This paper presents a wide-ranging theoretical and experimental study of nonadiabatic transient phenomena in a $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ electromagnetically induced transparency system when a strong coupling field is rapidly switched on or off. The theoretical treatment uses a Laplace transform approach to solve the time-dependent density matrix equation. The experiments are carried out in a ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ magneto-optical trap. The results show transient probe gain in parameter regions not previously studied, and provide insight into the transition dynamics between bare and dressed states.