Enhanced Isotope Discrimination Using Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

Electromagnetically induced transparency is applied to isotope discrimination. By adjusting the intensity of a coupling laser, one isotope is made resonantly opaque while another is rendered transparent to a probe. Experimental results are shown in isotopically enriched atomic lead, where 0.03% ${}^{207}$Pb is clearly seen against a background of ${}^{208}$Pb.