Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Molecular Atom Selectivity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the concept of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and its potential application to single atoms within molecules. Participants explore whether EIT can be effectively utilized to create transparency in a specific atom of a molecule, considering both theoretical and experimental aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Jake questions whether EIT can be applied to a single atom within a molecule, seeking clarification on the phenomenon.
  • Jake further elaborates on the idea of designing EIT beams to interact specifically with the energy levels of one atom in a molecule, allowing for transparency through a dark state.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the nature of the inquiry, questioning if it pertains to a known phenomenon or a hypothetical scenario regarding atom/molecule transparency.
  • A later reply clarifies that the discussion is indeed about applying EIT to an atom within a molecule.
  • Another participant notes that a dark state is a superposition state, suggesting that dark states can be created between energy levels that maintain coherence, including those of atomic transitions within molecules.
  • It is mentioned that many EIT experiments utilize dilute gases, where atoms behave as individual quantum systems, thus coherence applies to each atom individually. However, long-range interactions in certain states, like Rydberg states, may introduce additional considerations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of EIT in relation to single atoms within molecules. There is no consensus on the feasibility or implications of the proposed application, leaving the discussion open-ended.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of coherence in creating dark states and note that the behavior of atoms in dilute gases may differ from those in other states due to long-range interactions.

jaketodd
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Can electromagnetically induced transparency, be effected on a single atom within a molecule?

Thanks,

Jake
 
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In other words, can you have the electromagnetically induced transparency beams designed to interact with the energy levels of one of a molecule's atoms, and the resultant transparency allowing the beams to pass the molecule (dark state)?

Thanks,

Jake
 
Is this a real phenomenon or are you asking if it's possible to make a single atom/molecule transparent by hitting it with...something?
I'm guessing the latter, but I want to make sure you aren't referring to some phenomenon that I am unfamiliar with and trying to apply it to a single atom.
 
Drakkith said:
Is this a real phenomenon or are you asking if it's possible to make a single atom/molecule transparent by hitting it with...something?
I'm guessing the latter, but I want to make sure you aren't referring to some phenomenon that I am unfamiliar with and trying to apply it to a single atom.

I'm just talking about electromagnetically induced transparency applied to an atom within a molecule.
 
Ah ok, I just looked it up and read the wiki article on it. Interesting effect.
 
A dark state is a superposition state, which means that you can create dark states between any energy levels that can maintain coherence, in particular these can be levels that belong to an atomic transition within a molecule yes.
 
In many experiments the gases used to demonstrate EIT are dilute gases, this means that their atoms (or molecules) behaves as individual quantum mechanical systems. Therefore the whole bussines of coherence applies to each atom individualy.

However there situations when you have long range interaction between atoms (e.g. Rydberg states) and one needs to consider additional effects.
 

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