Laser detuning

In optical physics, laser detuning is the tuning of a laser to a frequency that is slightly off from a quantum system's resonant frequency. When used as a noun, the laser detuning is the difference between the resonance frequency of the system and the laser's optical frequency (or wavelength). Lasers tuned to a frequency below the resonant frequency are called red-detuned, and lasers tuned above resonance are called blue-detuned. This technique is essential in many AMO physics experiments and associated technologies, as it allows the manipulation of light-matter interactions with high precision. Detuning has use cases in research fields including quantum optics, laser cooling, and spectroscopy. It is also fundamental to many modern and emerging atomic and quantum technologies, such as atomic clocks, quantum computers, and quantum sensors. By adjusting the detuning, researchers and engineers can control absorption, emission, and scattering processes, making it a versatile tool in both fundamental and applied physics.