Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is a well-known phenomenon due in part to its applicability to quantum devices such as quantum memories and quantum gates. EIT is commonly modeled with a three-level lambda system due to the simplicity o
f the calculations. However, this simplified model does not capture all the physics of EIT experiments with real atoms. We present a theoretical study of the effect of two closely-spaced excited states on EIT and off-resonance Raman transitions. We find that the coherent interaction of the fields with two excited states whose separation is smaller than their Doppler broadened linewidth can enhance the EIT transmission and broaden the width of the EIT peak. However, a shift of the two-photon resonance frequency for systems with transitions of unequal dipole strengths leads to a reduction of the maximum transparency that can be achieved when Doppler broadening is taken into account even under ideal conditions of no decoherence. As a result, complete transparency cannot be achieved in a vapor cell. Only when the separation between the two excited states is of the order of the Doppler width or larger can complete transparency be recovered. In addition, we show that off-resonance Raman absorption is enhanced and its resonance frequency is shifted. Finally, we present experimental EIT measurements on the D1 line of $^{85}$Rb that agree with the theoretical predictions when the interaction of the fields with the four levels is taken into account.
Squeezed states of light have received renewed attention due to their applicability to quantum-enhanced sensing. To take full advantage of their reduced noise properties to enhance atomic-based sensors, it is necessary to generate narrowband near or
on atomic resonance single-mode squeezed states of light. We have previously generated bright two-mode squeezed states of light, or twin beams, that can be tuned to resonance with the D1 line of $^{87}$Rb with a non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) process in a double-lambda configuration in a $^{85}$Rb vapor cell. Here we report on the use of feedforward to transfer the amplitude quantum correlations present in the twin beams to a single beam for the generation of single-mode amplitude squeezed light. With this technique we obtain a single-mode squeezed state with a squeezing level of $-2.9pm0.1$ dB when it is tuned off-resonance and a level of $-2.0pm 0.1$ dB when it is tuned on resonance with the D1 $F=2$ to $F=2$ transition of $^{87}$Rb.
Squeezed states of light have found their way into a number of applications in quantum-enhanced metrology due to their reduced noise properties. In order to extend such an enhancement to metrology experiments based on atomic ensembles, an efficient l
ight-atom interaction is required. Thus, there is a particular interest in generating narrow-band squeezed light that is on atomic resonance. This will make it possible not only to enhance the sensitivity of atomic based sensors, but also to deterministically entangle two distant atomic ensembles. We generate bright two-mode squeezed states of light, or twin beams, with a non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) process in hot $^{85}$Rb in a double-lambda configuration. Given the proximity of the energy levels in the D1 line of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb, we are able to operate the FWM in $^{85}$Rb in a regime that generates two-mode squeezed states in which both modes are simultaneously on resonance with transitions in the D1 line of $^{87}$Rb, one mode with the $F=2$ to $F=2$ transition and the other one with the $F=1$ to $F=1$ transition. For this configuration, we obtain an intensity difference squeezing level of $-3.5$ dB. Moreover, the intensity difference squeezing increases to $-5.4$ dB and $-5.0$ dB when only one of the modes of the squeezed state is resonant with the D1 $F=2$ to $F=2$ or $F=1$ to $F=1$ transition of $^{87}$Rb, respectively.
