Analysis of the Spectral Composition of Fluorescence from Laser-Excited Cold Atomic Clouds

Abstract

A consistent quantum approach is used to calculate the signal of fluorescence from a laser-excited cold atomic ensemble. The possibility of analyzing the spectral composition of this nonstationary signal is investigated. Application of wavelet transforms is shown to be a very efficient method that allows achieving a good spectral or temporal resolution, depending on specific problem. On the basis of this approach, the spectral composition of fluorescence and its dynamics after excitation are studied. The spectral properties of the secondary emission of the ensemble are compared for different directions and polarizations.