Normal-mode splitting and linewidth averaging for two-state atoms in an optical cavity

M. G. Raizen; R. J. Thompson; R. J. Brecha; H. J. Kimble; H. J. Carmichael

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.63.240

Normal-mode splitting and linewidth averaging for two-state atoms in an optical cavity

M. G. Raizen, R. J. Thompson, R. J. Brecha, H. J. Kimble, and H. J. Carmichael

Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 240 – Published 17 July 1989

Abstract

An investigation of the radiative processes for a collection of N two-state atoms strongly coupled to the field of a high-finesse optical cavity is presented. Observations of the spectral response of the composite system to weak external modulation reveal a coupling-induced normal-mode splitting. Linewidth averaging leads to linewidths below the free-space atomic width.