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arXiv:0711.1684 · Laser Physics

Saturated absorption spectroscopy: Elimination of crossover resonances with the use of a nanocell

Armen D. Sargsyan, David G. Sarkisyan, A. Papoyan, Y. Pashayan-Leroy, Peter Moroshkin, Antoine Weis, Alen Khanbekyan, E. Mariotti, L. Moi

Published Jun 1, 2008• 30 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

It is demonstrated that the velocity-selective optical pumping/saturation resonances of the reduced absorption in a Rb vapor nanocell with thickness L = λ, 2λ, and 3λ (resonant wavelength λ = 780 nm) allow for the complete elimination of crossover (CO) resonances. We observe well-pronounced resonances corresponding to the F g = 3 → F e = 2, 3, and 4 hyperfine transitions of the 85Rb D2 line with line widths close to the natural width. A small CO resonance located midway between F g = 3 → F e = 3 and F g = 3 → F e = 4 transitions appears only for L ≥ 4λ. The D2 line (λ = 852 nm) in a Cs nanocell exhibits a similar behavior. From the amplitude ratio of the CO and VSOP resonances, it is possible to determine the thickness of the column of alkali vapor in the range of 1–1000 μm. The absence of the CO resonances for nanocells with L ∼ λ is attractive for the frequency reference application and for studying the transitions between the Zeeman sublevels in external magnetic fields.

DOI
10.1134/s1054660x08060091

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Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters•Aug 1, 2016•25 citations
It is demonstrated that the velocity-selective optical pumping/saturation resonances of the reduced absorption in a Rb vapor nanocell with thickness L = λ, 2λ, and 3λ (resonant wavelength λ = 780 nm) allow for the complete elimination of crossover (CO) resonances. We observe well-pronounced resonances corresponding to the F g = 3 → F e = 2, 3, and 4 hyperfine transitions of the 85Rb D2 line with line widths close to the natural width. A small CO resonance located midway between F g = 3 → F e = 3 and F g = 3 → F e = 4 transitions appears only for L ≥ 4λ. The D2 line (λ = 852 nm) in a Cs nanocell exhibits a similar behavior. From the amplitude ratio of the CO and VSOP resonances, it is possible to determine the thickness of the column of alkali vapor in the range of 1–1000 μm. The absence of the CO resonances for nanocells with L ∼ λ is attractive for the frequency reference application and for studying the transitions between the Zeeman sublevels in external magnetic fields.
A new nano-cell with smoothly varying longitudinal thickness of the atomic vapour layer L in the range of 350 - 5100 nm allowing to study the resonant absorption of D1 and D2 lines of Cs atoms for thicknesses changing from L = Lambda/2 to L = 6 Lambda with the step of Lambda/2 (Lambda = 852 nm or 894 nm are the resonant laser wavelengths) and for different intensities is developed. It is revealed that for low laser intensities there is narrowing of the resonant absorption spectrum for the thicknesses L = (2n + 1)Lambda/2 (where n is an integer) up to L = 7Lambda /2 and broadening of the spectrum for L = n Lambda. For relatively high laser intensity (>1 mW/cm2), velocity selective optical pumping/saturated resonances of a reduced absorption (with the line-width close to the natural one), and centred on the hyperfine transitions occur when L = n Lambda. The possible application of these resonance peaks is given. The developed theoretical model describes well the experiment.
We propose a technique which we call “ L = λ Zeeman technique” (LZT) for investigation of the transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the hfs structure of alkali metal atoms in external magnetic fields. The technique is based on the employment of a nanocell with the thickness of the Rb atom vapor column equal to the wavelength of the laser radiation, 780 nm, resonant with the atomic rubidium D 2 transition. At the laser intensities of about 1 mW/cm 2 in the transmission spectrum of the nanocell narrow (∼ 30 MHz) resonant peaks of reduced absorption appear localized exactly on the atomic transitions. In magnetic fields these peaks are split and their amplitudes and frequency positions depend on the magnetic field strength. The theoretical model well describes the experimental results.
We describe the so-called λ-Zeeman method to investigate individual hyperfine transitions between Zeeman sublevels of atoms in an external magnetic field of 0.1mT–0.25T. Atoms are confined in a nanocell with thickness L=λ, where λ is the resonant wavelength (794 or 780nm for D1 or D2 line, respectively, of Rb). Narrow resonances in the transmission spectrum of the nanocell are split into several components in a magnetic field; their frequency positions and transition probabilities depend on the B field. Possible applications are described, such as magnetometers with nanometric spatial resolution and tunable atomic frequency references.
Comparison of absorption and fluorescence in a nano-cell containing Rb vapor with other Rb nano-cells with addition of neon gas is presented. It is shown that the effect of collapse and revival of Dicke-type narrowing occurs for Rb nanocells containing N2 as buffer gas under 6 and 20 Torr pressure for the thickness L = λ /2 and L = where λ is the resonant λ, laser wavelength 794 nm (D1 line). Particularly for 6 Torr the line-width of the transmission spectrum for the thickness L =λ/2 is 2 times narrower than that for L = λ. For an ordinary Rb cell with L = 0.1 - 10 cm with addition of buffer gas, the velocity selective optical pumping/saturation (VSOP) resonances in saturated absorption spectra are fully suppressed when the buffer gas pressure > 0.5 Torr. A spectacular difference is that for L = λ, VSOP resonances located at the atomic transitions are still observable even when Ne pressure is ≥ 6 Torr. Narrowband fluorescence spectra of a nano-cell with L = λ/2 can be used as a convenient tool for online buffer gas pressure monitoring for the conditions when ordinary pressure gauges are unusable. Comparison of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect in a nano-cell filled with pure (without a buffer gas) Rb with another nano-cell, where buffer gas nitrogen is added, is presented. The use of N2 gas inside Rb nano-cells strongly extends the range of coupling laser detunings in which it is still possible to form EIT resonance.
We describe the so-called "Lambda-Zeeman method" to investigate individual hyperfine transitions between Zeeman sublevels of atoms in an external magnetic field of 0.1 mT - 0.25 T. Atoms are confined in a nanocell with thickness L = Lambda, where Lambda is the resonant wavelength (794 nm or 780 nm for D1 or D2 line of Rb). Narrow resonances in the transmission spectrum of the nanocell are split into several components in a magnetic field; their frequency positions and probabilities depend on the B-field. Possible applications are described, such as magnetometers with nanometric spatial resolution and tunable atomic frequency references.
The features of the effect of selective reflection from rubidium vapor in a nanocell with the thickness L ≈ λ/2 and L ≈ λ/4, where λ = 795 nm is the wavelength of laser radiation resonant with the Rb D 1 line, are studied. It is shown that, because of the behavior of the nanocell as a low-Q-factor Fabry–Pérot etalon, the sign of the derivative of the selective reflection spectra changes near L ≈ λ/2 from negative at L > λ/2 to positive at L < λ/2. The simplicity of the experimental implementation, large amplitude, and sub-Doppler width (40MHz) of a detected signal at an atomic transition frequency are appropriate for applications in metrology and magnetometry. In particular, selective reflection from the nanocell is a convenient frequency marker of atomic transitions; in this case, the amplitudes of peaks are proportional to the transition probabilities. The remote optical monitoring of a magnetic field with a spatial resolution L = λ/4 ≈ 199 of nm is possible on the basis of the splitting of selective reflection peaks in a strong magnetic field (up to 3 kG). A theoretical model describes well the experimental results.