Population trapping of a two-level atom via interaction with CEP-locked laser pulse

Abstract

The trapping states of a quantum system occupy a very special place in quantum optics. Here, we propose a method to realize the population trapping (PT) in a two-level atom driven by a carrier envelope phase (CEP) locked laser pulse. We present detailed numerical results on the influence of CEP in different detuned atoms beyond the rotating wave approximation and find the population is strongly dependent on CEP, the detuning and the Rabi frequency. This allows us to choose proper parameters to realize three specific trapping states: upper trapping state, half trapping state and lower trapping state. To explain the fantastic influence of CEP, we present an analytical solution under weak-field approximation, which is consistent with the numerical solution. We further define the action quantity of the pulse acting on the atom as the integral for the interaction Hamiltonian and find the population varies approximatively linearly with the action quantity. This investigation provides directive significance for achieving PT at arbitrary quantum states and insightful schemes to regulate and control the quantum dynamics of atoms via accurately controlled optical field, and the results could be beneficial for applications to laser cooling, isotope separation and so on.