PHASE-COHERENT LIGHT-PULSES FOR ATOM OPTICS AND INTERFEROMETRY

We have developed a novel source for the generation of powerful phase- coherent light pulses. Our setup uses an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) inside an external high-finesse resonator. By applying a short rf pul se to the AOM, we dump the cavity and extract a large part of the stor ed and enhanced power within a short optical pulse and with a controll able optical phase. In preliminary experiments we reached 100 W of pea k power in a 15-ns optical pulse. The mutual phase coherence of succes sive light pulses is demonstrated with a molecular iodine interferomet er experiment in a cell. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.