Masar Amplication of Incoherent Radiation by Interstellar OH

Molecular excitation model for maser amplification of emission lines of interstellar hydroxyl radica

Nonlinear interaction of light with Bose-Einstein condensate: new methods to generate subpoissonian light

We consider $\Lambda$-type model of the Bose-Einstein condensate of sodium atoms interacting with the light. Coefficients of the Kerr-nonlinearity in the condensate can achieve large and negative values providing the possibility for effective control of group velocity and dispersion of the probe pulse. We find a regime when the observation of the "slow" and "fast" light propagating without absorption becomes achievable due to strong nonlinearity. An effective two-level quantum model of the system is derived and studied based on the su(2) polynomial deformation approach. We propose an efficient way for generation of subpoissonian fields in the Bose-Einstein condensate at time-scales much shorter than the characteristic decay time in the system. We show that the quantum properties of the probe pulse can be controlled in BEC by the classical coupling field.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl

Transparent Anomalous Dispersion and Superluminal Light Pulse Propagation at a Negative Group Velocity

Anomalous dispersion cannot occur in a transparent passive medium where electromagnetic radiation is being absorbed at all frequencies, as pointed out by Landau and Lifshitz. Here we show, both theoretically and experimentally, that transparent linear anomalous dispersion can occur when a gain doublet is present. Therefore, a superluminal light pulse propagation can be observed even at a negative group velocity through a transparent medium with almost no pulse distortion. Consequently, a {\it negative transit time} is experimentally observed resulting in the peak of the incident light pulse to exit the medium even before entering it. This counterintuitive effect is a direct result of the {\it rephasing} process owing to the wave nature of light and is not at odds with either causality or Einstein's theory of special relativity.Comment: 12 journal pages, 9 figure