A one-dimensional nano-metric-thin cell (NC) filled with potassium metal has been built and used to study optical atomic transitions in external magnetic fields. These studies benefit from the remarkable features of the NC allowing one to use and λ methods for effective investigations of individual transitions of the K D 1 line. The methods are based on strong narrowing of the absorption spectrum of the atomic column of thickness L equal to and to λ (with being the resonant laser radiation wavelength). In particular, for a π -polarized radiation excitation the λ -method allows us to resolve eight atomic transitions (in two groups of four atomic transitions) and to reveal two remarkable transitions that we call guiding transitions (GT). The probabilities of all other transitions inside the group (as well as the frequency slope vs . magnetic field) tend to the probability and to the slope of GT. Note that for circular polarization there is one group of four transitions and GT do not exist. Among eight transitions there are also two transitions (forbidden for ) with the probabilities undergoing strong modification under the influence of magnetic fields. Practically the complete hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is observed at relatively low magnetic fields. Note that for the K D 2 line GT are absent. Theoretical models describe the experiment very well.
A one-dimensional nano-metric-thin cell (NC) filled with potassium metal has been built and used to study optical atomic transitions in external magnetic fields. These studies benefit from the remarkable features of the NC allowing one to use and λ methods for effective investigations of individual transitions of the K D 1 line. The methods are based on strong narrowing of the absorption spectrum of the atomic column of thickness L equal to and to λ (with being the resonant laser radiation wavelength). In particular, for a π -polarized radiation excitation the λ -method allows us to resolve eight atomic transitions (in two groups of four atomic transitions) and to reveal two remarkable transitions that we call guiding transitions (GT). The probabilities of all other transitions inside the group (as well as the frequency slope vs . magnetic field) tend to the probability and to the slope of GT. Note that for circular polarization there is one group of four transitions and GT do not exist. Among eight transitions there are also two transitions (forbidden for ) with the probabilities undergoing strong modification under the influence of magnetic fields. Practically the complete hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is observed at relatively low magnetic fields. Note that for the K D 2 line GT are absent. Theoretical models describe the experiment very well.
Abstract Selective reflection of a laser radiation from an interface formed by a dielectric window and a potassium atomic vapour confined in a nano-cell with 350 nm gap thickness is implemented for the first time to study the atomic transitions of K D 2 line in external magnetic fields. In moderate B -fields, there are 44 individual Zeeman transitions which reduce to two groups (one formed by σ + , the other one by σ − circularly-polarised light), each containing eight atomic transitions, as the magnetic field increases. Each of these groups contains one so-called ‘guiding’ transition whose particularities are to have a probability (intensity) as well as a frequency shift slope (in MHz G −1 ) that are constant in the whole range of 0–10 kG magnetic fields. In the case of π -polarised laser radiation, among eight transitions, two are forbidden at B = 0, yet their probabilities undergo a giant modification under the influence of a magnetic field. We demonstrate that for B -fields > 165 G a complete hyperfine Paschen–Back regime is observed. Other peculiarities of K D 2 line behaviour in magnetic field are also presented. We show a very good agreement between theoretical calculations and experiments. The recording of the hyperfine Paschen–Back regime of K D 2 line with high spectral resolution is demonstrated for the first time.
It has been investigated the D1 line transitions of 39K atoms in external magnetic fields using nanocells for the cases of sigma+ and pi polarizations of laser radiation. For the first time it is demonstrated the decoupling of electronic total angular momentum J and nuclear momentum I (complete hyperfine Paschen-Back regime) in external magnetic field. For 39K the decoupling takes place at B >> 165 G. In the case of linear polarization it is shown that for B > 400 G the transmission spectrum consists of 2 groups of transitions and each group contains of one so-called "Guiding transition" (GT). The GT indicates the asymptotic value of all transitions probabilities in the group and the frequency shifts derivatives value (frequency slopes) in magnetic field.For the first time it is demonstrated the absence of cross-over resonances in the spectrum of saturated absorption. For that Rb filled micro-cell has been used with atomic vapor thickness 30-40 µm. The use of micro cell allowed the investigation of individual atomic transitions in strong external magnetic fields 30 - 6000 G ) using the saturated absorption technique. It is experimentally and theoretically manifested that at certain values of the external magnetic fields (300 - 2000 G) the probabilities of the Cs D2 line Fg=3 --> Fe=5 atomic transitions experience huge increase. These probabilities, which are forbidden at zero magnetic field, exceed the probabilities of allowed atomic transitions.
Simple and efficient λ-method and λ/2-method (λ is the resonant wavelength of laser radiation) based on a nanometric-thickness cell filled with rubidium (Rb) are implemented to study the splitting of hyperfine transitions of an Rb85 and Rb87D1 line in an external magnetic field in the range of B=0.5–0.7 T. It is experimentally demonstrated from 20 (12) Zeeman transitions allowed at low B-field in Rb85 (Rb87) spectra in the case of σ+ polarized laser radiation, only 6 (4) remain at B>0.5 T, caused by decoupling of the total electronic momentum J and the nuclear spin momentum I (hyperfine Paschen–Back regime). The expressions derived in the frame of completely uncoupled basis (J,mJ;I,mI) describe the experimental results extremely well for Rb85 transitions at B>0.6 T (that is a manifestation of hyperfine Paschen–Back regime). A remarkable result is that the calculations based on the eigenstates of the coupled (F,mF) basis, which adequately describe the system for a low magnetic field, also predict reduction of the number of transition components from 20 to 6 for Rb85 and from 12 to 4 for Rb87 spectrum at B>0.5 T. Also, the Zeeman transition frequency shifts, frequency intervals between the components and their slope versus B, are in agreement with the experiment.
Atomic transitions of the 39 K potassium isotope in strong (up to 1 kG) longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields have been studied with a high spectral resolution. It has been shown that crossover resonances are almost absent in the saturated absorption spectrum of potassium vapors in a 30-μm-thick microcell. This, together with the small spectral width of atomic transitions (~30 MHz), allows one to use the saturated absorption spectrum for determining frequencies and probabilities of individual transitions. Among the alkali metals, potassium atoms have the smallest magnitude of the hyperfine splitting of the lower level. This allows one to observe the break of the coupling between the electronic and nuclear angular momentums at comparatively low magnetic fields B > 500 G, i.e., to implement the hyperfine Paschen–Back regime (HPB). In the HPB regime, four equidistantly positioned transitions with the same amplitude are detected in circularly polarized light (σ + ). In linearly polarized light (π) at the transverse orientation of the magnetic field, the spectrum consists of eight lines which are grouped in two groups each of which consists of four lines. Each group has a special distinguished G-transition and the transition that is forbidden in the zero magnetic field. In the HPB regime, the probabilities of transitions in a group and derivatives of their frequency shifts with respect to the magnetic field asymptotically tend to magnitudes that are typical for the aforesaid distinguished G-transition. Some practical applications for the used microcell are mentioned.
It is shown that the use of spectroscopic cells of micron thickness (L = 10–50 μm) allows one to effectively study the behavior of individual levels of the Cs D 2 line in strong magnetic fields up to 9 kG. In particular, the absorption spectrum of Cs excited by circularly polarized light in fields above 8 kG consists of two fully separated groups, each containing eight atomic transitions. The intensities of atomic transitions and their frequency slopes (vs. magnetic field) in each group are almost the same. The physical explanation for the observed features is given; in particular, it is shown that one of the 54 possible atomic transitions in moderate magnetic fields (denoted F g = 4, m F = 4 → F e = 5, m F = 5) has unique characteristics that make it possible to predict the intensities and frequency slopes of seven atomic transitions in the same group. Practical applications of devices based on micrometric-thin cells in strong magnetic fields are considered.
Abstract Atomic transitions of 39K, D2 line are studied in strong longitudinal magnetic fields, up to 1000 G, with a high spectral resolution. The saturated absorption (SA) method was used in a micro-cell filled with K vapors with a thickness of L= 30 µm. A double differentiation of the SA spectrum was carried out, which made it possible to obtain narrow (~50 MHz) atomic lines and study individual transition frequency and probabilistic behavior. Among alkali metals, the K atoms have the smallest hyperfine splitting of the ground levels. This allows one to observe the break of the coupling between the electronic total angular momentum J and nuclear I angular momentums at relatively low magnetic fields B > 300 G. In the case of using circularly polarized radiation (σ+ or σ–), two groups (each consisting of four) equidistantly located total eight atomic transitions are recorded in strong magnetic fields. The experimental results are well described by a known theoretical model.