Non-stationary coherent population trapping in frequency-modulated fields

Coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance formation is modeled numerically in a three-level Λ -system with one of the near-resonance fields being frequency-modulated. The model is based on density matrix equations in RW approximation with atomic relaxation properly taken into account. Slow modulation is shown to be equivalent to CW excitation with the frequency changed point by point. As the modulation period approaches the relaxation times, the delayed response of the system is shown to cause the CPT resonance shift and reshaping, as well as the appearance of transient oscillations of the energy level populations.