Eur. Phys. J. D 1, 217-221 (1998)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050083

Nonlinear diffraction due to the transient polarization in a thin film of atomic gases^*

Department of Physics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260-1500, USA

Corresponding author: ^a dllin@acsu.buffalo.edu

Received: 3 July 1997
Accepted: 5 December 1997
Published online: 15 February 1998

Abstract

Nonlinear optical response of a thin layer of rarefied atomic vapor is examined by taking into account the atomic motion as well as collisions with the cell walls. Extraordinary pattern of self-diffraction spectrum due to the transient polarization is predicted. It is shown that the spectra are Doppler free and depend strongly upon the vapor thickness. A new possibility of signal enhancement is revealed and a simple device is suggested to enhance greatly the nonlinear reflection signal from a resonant vapor layer.