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Optics Letters

Elimination of line-shape distortion in laser absorption spectroscopy in atomic beams

Bruce W. Peuse, Mara Goff Prentiss, Shaoul Ezekiel

Published Mar 1, 1983• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Line shapes observed when direct laser absorption is used in an atomic beam of sodium show asymmetries not present in fluorescence detection. Such line-shape distortion, which can be explained by resonant light diffraction by the atoms in the atomic beam, may be eliminated by imaging the fields in the interaction region at the surface of a detector located outside the beam apparatus.

DOI
10.1364/ol.8.000154

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Line shapes observed when direct laser absorption is used in an atomic beam of sodium show asymmetries not present in fluorescence detection. Such line-shape distortion, which can be explained by resonant light diffraction by the atoms in the atomic beam, may be eliminated by imaging the fields in the interaction region at the surface of a detector located outside the beam apparatus.
The detection of optical resonances by observation of the fluorescence light emitted from a fast atomic beam of Na interacting with a collinear laser beam is limited in sensitivity by optical pumping processes. In the experiment reported here, we take advantage of the optical pumping by using a second collinear laser beam, achieving then a gain in fluorescence signal. The effects of the lasers power and polarization on line shapes have been studied in the single laser excitation case as well as in the two laser beams one.
Resonant light diffraction by an atomic beam of sodium has been uncovered by careful measurements of the spatial dependence of the absorption. Recently developed modulation techniques made such measurements possible. Both on-resonance and off-resonance excitations as well as the influence of intense fields have been studied. The observed spatial behavior is in good agreement with a preliminary calculation based on the interference between the field scattered by the atoms and the excitation field.
The use of highly monochromatic light permits the selective excitation of atoms in vapors if excitation and detection of the fluorescence is carried out collinearly. The atoms capable of absorbing light then form an atomic beam of well-defined velocity along the direction of the laser beam, but no velocity selection occurs perpendicular to it. The potential of the technique for Doppler-free atomic spectroscopy and for the study of excited atom collisions is demonstrated by using the Na D1 line as an example.
The use of highly monochromatic light permits the selective excitation of atoms in vapors if excitation and detection of the fluorescence is carried out collinearly. The atoms capable of absorbing light then form an atomic beam of well-defined velocity along the direction of the laser beam, but no velocity selection occurs perpendicular to it. The potential of the technique for Doppler-free atomic spectroscopy and for the study of excited atom collisions is demonstrated by using the Na D1 line as an example.