Coherence-population-trapping transients induced by an ac magnetic field

Coherent-population-trapping transients induced by an ac magnetic field are investigated theoretically for a realistic three-level Λ system in the D ₁ line of 87Rb. The contributions to the transient probe absorption from the various subsystems that compose the realistic atomic system are examined and the absorption of each Λ subsystem is compared to that of a simple Λ system. The population redistribution due to optical pumping is shown to be the dominant cause of the difference between the contributions of the various subsystems to the oscillatory character of the probe absorption. We also discuss the series of transients that reappear every half-cycle time of a modulated magnetic field when the system is in two-photon resonance, and we study the transient behavior as a function of the probe detuning. The effect of a buffer gas on the amplitude and shape of the transients is considered.