Coherent population trapping in cesium: Dark lines and coherent microwave emission

The phenomenon of coherent population trapping in alkali-metal atoms is analyzed by means of a perturbation approach. Closed form transparent solutions are obtained for the coherences existing within the system and the populations of the ground levels and of the excited state. The presence of dark lines and coherent microwave emission from the ground state are made explicit. Experimental results that confirm the theoretical calculations are reported for the case of cesium in a buffer gas. Conclusions are drawn in connection with the application of coherent population trapping to the field of atomic frequency standards.