Saturation-induced coherence loss in coherent backscattering of light

We use coherent backscattering of light by cold strontium atoms to study phase-breaking mechanisms in the multiple-scattering regime. As the probe light intensity is increased, the atomic optical transition starts to be saturated. Nonlinearities and inelastic scattering then occur. The latter induces a characteristic phase-breaking time that reduces the wave coherence. In our experiment, this leads to a strong reduction of the enhancement factor of the coherent backscattering cone. The results at different probe detuning are also presented.