We develop an analytical theory of dark resonances that accounts for the full atomic-level structure, as well as all field-induced effects such as coherence preparation, optical pumping, ac Stark shifts, and power broadening. The analysis uses a model based on relaxation constants, which assumes the total collisional depolarization of the excited state. A good qualitative agreement with the experiments for Cs in Ne is obtained.

• Received 7 October 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.033810