Saturation, Allowed Transitions and Quantum Interference in Laser Cooling of Solids

Abstract

New methods for the rapid cooling of solids with increased efficiency are analyzed and demonstrated experimentally. The advances offered by optical saturation, dipole-allowed transitions, and quantum interference for improved laser cooling of solids are highlighted.

Keywords

• optical refrigeration
• anti-Stokes fluorescence
• absorption saturation
• discrete resonances
• lasing without inversion
• Raman cooling