Temporal buildup of electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption resonances in degenerate two-level transitions

The temporal evolution of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and absorption (EIA) coherence resonances in pump-probe spectroscopy of degenerate two-level atomic transition is studied for light intensities below saturation. Analytical expressions for the transient absorption spectra are given for simple model systems and a model for the calculation of the time-dependent response of realistic atomic transitions, where the Zeeman degeneracy is fully accounted for, is presented. EIT and EIA resonances have a similar (opposite sign) time-dependent line shape, however, the EIA evolution is slower and thus narrower lines are observed for long interaction time. Qualitative agreement with the theoretical predictions is obtained for the transient probe absorption on the ⁸⁵Rb D₂ line in an atomic beam experiment.