Optical delay with spectral hole burning in Doppler-broadened cesium vapor

The full frequency dependence of the optical delay in the Cs D-1 (6(2)S(1/2) - 6(2)P(1/2)) line has been observed, including all four hyperfine split components. Pulse delays of 1.6 ns to 24.1 ns are obtained by scanning across the hyperfine splitting associated with the lower S-2(1/2) state. Optical control of pulse delays in cesium vapor was demonstrated by pumping the D-2 (6(2)S(1/2) - 6(2)P(3/2)) transition and observing resulting holes in the D-1 delay spectrum. For a pump at four times the saturation intensity, the pulse delays are reduced by a maximum of 78% in a narrow region of 110 MHz. The frequency dependence of the delays of the probe laser in the vicinity of the spectral holes agrees with a Kramers-Kronig model prediction. Published by Elsevier B.V.