Electromagnetically induced absorption scheme for vapor-cell atomic clock.

A dual-frequency light field scheme, composed of counterpropagating pump and probe light waves with equal circular polarizations and different intensities, is proposed for the detection of subnatural-linewidth electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) resonances. In this scheme, the bright-type EIA resonance is obtained at fixed static magnetic field by tuning the frequency difference between both optical fields and can be used as a frequency reference in an atomic clock. Using a 5-mm long buffer-gas-filled Cs vapor cell, an EIA-based atomic clock with a short-term fractional frequency stability of 5.