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Physical Review A

Subnatural optical pumping dips

Charles M. Klimcak, James C. Camparo, Robert Cook, R. P. Frueholz

Published Aug 1, 1986• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

The technique of optical pumping dips has been employed to generate subnatural structure in a $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ ${D}_{1}$ line (natural width 5.6 MHz). Structure as narrow as 1.4 MHz was observed. These experiments represent the first observation of subnatural spectral structure generated without requiring atomic coherence. Additionally, line shapes observed in these studies may be analyzed to yield transition dipole moments without requiring internal standards or an absolute calibration of fluorescence collection efficiency in the experimental apparatus.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.34.1575

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Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations
The technique of optical pumping dips has been employed to generate subnatural structure in a 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb D1{D}_{1}D1​ line (natural width 5.6 MHz). Structure as narrow as 1.4 MHz was observed. These experiments represent the first observation of subnatural spectral structure generated without requiring atomic coherence. Additionally, line shapes observed in these studies may be analyzed to yield transition dipole moments without requiring internal standards or an absolute calibration of fluorescence collection efficiency in the experimental apparatus.
Recent experiments have shown that optical pumping can produce line shapes with subnatural structure, and that this structure could prove to be useful for extracting oscillator strengths. A key question, however, regarding the optical-pumping technique's potential usefulness is how well it allows the determination of resonance line center. In the present paper we address this question theoretically by considering laser optical pumping and probing of an atomic beam. From the analysis (i) we find that depending on laser polarization the optical-pumping subnatural feature is either a dip or a signal enhancement, (ii) we derive the rigorously correct formula relating the dip width to the transition oscillator strength for an alkali-like atom exhibiting a homogeneous line shape, and (iii) we show that, compared to shot-noise-limited laser-induced fluorescence, the optical-pumping technique of signal enhancement is capable of a 15% improvement in the ability to find resonance line center.
Several authors have recently discussed and observed optical-pumping dips in inhomogeneously broadened spectral lines. We have observed a qualitatively similar, but fundamentally distinct phenomenon: optical-pumping dips in a homogeneously broaded D1{D}_{1}D1​ line of 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb. To our knowledge this represents the first observation of homogeneous-optical-pumping dips.
Optical resonances with subnatural linewidth as narrow as 2.6 MHz have been observed with excellent signal-to-noise ratio in the Na D1{D}_{1}D1​ line (natural width 10 MHz) in a polarization spectroscopy experiment. The new, subnatural resonances arise from Zeeman coherences which are produced by a strong probe beam and destroyed by a velocity-selective optical Hanle effect.
Recently, Narducci et al.1 studied V-configuration three-level atoms and predicted that quantum fluctuations associated with a "strong" optical transition driven by a coherent field can be stabilized through excitation of a coupled "weak" transition. This stabilization is manifest in a narrowing, to subnatural values, of the fluorescence linewidths associated with the strong transition as the weak transition is driven more and more strongly. We have experimentally investigated this problem and provide the first demonstration of the effect. In the experiment, a beam of Ba atoms was intercepted by two copropagating cw laser beams. One of the beams, of Rabi frequency Ω1, was tuned into resonance with the strong, 553.5 nm, 1S0→3P1 transition, while the other beam, of Rabi frequency Ω2, was tuned into resonance with the weak, 791.1 nm, 1S0→3P1 transition. The fluorescence spectrum of the strong transition was recorded for the case when Ω1≈35 MHz and Q2≈45 MHz and, it was found that the spectrum was three-peaked. Most interestingly, the measured linewidth (FWHM) for the central peak was 16 MHz, or 2 MHz less than the 18 MHz natural width of the strong transition even before the substantial instrumental broadening (≈8 MHz) of the peak was deconvolved.