Coherent population trapping via quantum interference of incoherent pump processes in three-level Λ systems

Quantum interference has been predicted to occur in a three-level Λ system with near-degenerate dipole allowed transitions, which are coupled to the same linearly polarized incoherent field. For the Λ system with two degenerate lower levels, we show that (a) quantum interference of incoherent pump processes leads to coherent population trapping (CPT), and (b) when two coherent fields are applied to two transitions on two-photon resonance, CPT appears when the amplitudes and phases of the applied coherent fields and the polarization angle of the incoherent field satisfy certain conditions. Further, the physical mechanism and the above conditions for CPT are presented