Laser Excitation of Polarization Waves in a Frozen Gas

Abstract

Laser experiments with optically excited frozen gases entail the excitation of polarization waves. In a continuum approximation the waves are dispersionless, but their frequency depends on the direction of the propagation vector. An outline is given of the theory of transient phenomena that involve the excitation of these waves by a resonant dipole-dipole transfer process.

12 pages including 1 figure