Inducing quantum coherence via decays and incoherent pumping with application to population trapping, lasing without inversion, and quenching of spontaneous emission

Quantum interference in a decaying three-level system of V type with degenerate upper levels driven by a single incoherent field is shown to lead to a coherent population-trapping state and more generally to a population-locked state. The latter is a state with half the population locked in two upper states regardless of the strength of incoherent pumping and decay rates. We reveal the mechanism by which half the population is pumped to the upper states no matter how weak is the incoherent pumping. Transient regimes of gain without inversion and inversion without gain are demonstrated. Quenching of spontaneous emission due to electron collisions is also discussed in support of the experiments and ideas of Suckewer and [Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 1122 (1988)].