Excitation of transitions between atomic or molecular energy levels by monochromatic laser radiation - I. Excitation under conditions of strictly homogeneous line broadening

The development with time of the excitation of a transition between two atomic or molecular energy levels under the influence of monochromatic laser radiation is examined under conditions of strictly homogeneous line-broadening. The ratio of the number of atoms or molecules, N2, in an excited state to the total number, N, is calculated for various ratios of the intensity parameter β ═ E0μ/ħ to the half line-width γ. E0 is the amplitude of the electric field in the incident radiation and the dipole moment matrix element for the transition. Exact expressions for N2/N as a function of time are given for the situation when the frequency ω/2π of the radiation is exactly equal to that of the transition ω0/2π. Numerical calculations are made for the situation when the ‘detuning’ δ ═ ω — ω0 is not equal to zero. Approximate expressions are also derived in terms of δ for use in a later paper which deals with mixed homogeneous and inhomogeneous line-broadening.