COOPERATIVE POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF AN ENSEMBLE OF LAMBDA-ATOMS IN A BICHROMATIC FIELD

Equations are derived which describe the dynamics of three-level atoms with a Lambda level scheme, interacting with two coherent resonance f ields under conditions such that cooperative relaxation predominates o ver incoherent spontaneous emission. A numerical calculation of the te mporal dynamics of the values of the atomic populations is performed. It is shown that coherent population trapping in the presence of coope rative decay is possible. The quantities characterizing this phenomeno n are calculated-the width of the black line and the transition time t o coherent trapping in this scheme. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phy sics. [S1063-7842(98)00506-6].