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Journal of the Optical Society of America

Lifetime measurements in the excited S states of K, Rb, and Cs by the cascade Hanle effect*

Basim R. Bulos, R. Gupta, W. Happer

Published May 1, 1976• 35 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The cascade Hanle-effect technique has been described in detail. It has been used to measure the radiative lifetimes of several excited S states in heavy alkali metal atoms. We obtained the following measurements (in nanoseconds): τ(K, 6 2S1/2) = 68 ± 9, τ(Rb, 7 2S1/2) = 91 ± 11, τ(Cs, 8 2S1/2) = 96 ± 14, and τ(Cs, 9 2S1/2) = 231 ± 35.

DOI
10.1364/josa.66.000426

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C. Tai, W. Happer, R. Gupta

The hyperfine structure of the second-excited $D$ states of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$, $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$, and $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ has been measured by the method of cascade-radio-frequency spectroscopy and cascade-level crossing. The sign of the magnetic-dipole coupling constant $A$ is determined by the method of cascade-decoupling and cascade-radio-frequency spectroscopy with narrow-band excitation. Lifetimes $\ensuremath{\tau}$ of some of these states are measured by the cascade-Hanle effect. We find that for $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=14.43\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.23$ MHz, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}7.44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$ MHz, $\ensuremath{\tau}(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=205\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40$ nsec; for $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=4.18\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20$ MHz, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}2.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20$ MHz; for $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$, $A(6^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=16.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15$ MHz, $A(6^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}3.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0$ MHz, $\ensuremath{\tau}(6^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15$ nsec.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1975•46 citations
The cascade Hanle-effect technique has been described in detail. It has been used to measure the radiative lifetimes of several excited S states in heavy alkali metal atoms. We obtained the following measurements (in nanoseconds): τ(K, 6 2S1/2) = 68 ± 9, τ(Rb, 7 2S1/2) = 91 ± 11, τ(Cs, 8 2S1/2) = 96 ± 14, and τ(Cs, 9 2S1/2) = 231 ± 35.
A Hanle experiment has been used to determine the following radiative lifetimes (in nsec) of rubidium: ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{6\mathit{D}3/2}$=298\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{7\mathit{D}3/2}$=345\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}9, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{8\mathit{D}3/2}$=586\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{9\mathit{D}3/2}$=638\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}17. These data were taken at a temperature of 293 K and are not corrected for effects due to blackbody radiation. The effect of the hyperfine interaction on the Hanle signal is discussed in detail for an excited state of arbitrary angular momentum.
A technique for measuring the excited state lifetime τex of optical transitions in alkali atoms is presented. It is a form of pump-probe technique based on time-resolved optical transmission through the atomic vapor cell. This technique can serve as an alternative to the traditionally used time-resolved photofluorescence methods when measuring alkali vapor cells with heavily quenched fluorescence, where the τex is expected to be on the order of a few nanoseconds, and the highly sensitive fluorescence detectors with sub-nanosecond temporal resolution that are required may not be available. We use this technique to measure the τex of Rb atoms in vapor cells with different buffer gas pressures.
An experiment is described which utilizes the Hanle technique for measurement of atomic excited-state lifetimes, with particular application to the P13 state of mercury. The components for the experiment are comparatively inexpensive or readily constructed, and the technique is one of the few which directly illustrate features of the interaction between radiation and free atoms. A simple classical description of the effect is given, followed by a more detailed quantum description, as well as constructional details of an experimental arrangement suitable for an advanced undergraduate or graduate laboratory.
The hyperfine structure of the second-excited DDD states of 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb, 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb, and 133Cs^{133}\mathrm{Cs}133Cs has been measured by the method of cascade-radio-frequency spectroscopy and cascade-level crossing. The sign of the magnetic-dipole coupling constant AAA is determined by the method of cascade-decoupling and cascade-radio-frequency spectroscopy with narrow-band excitation. Lifetimes $\ensuremath{\tau}$ of some of these states are measured by the cascade-Hanle effect. We find that for 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=14.43\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.23$ MHz, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}7.44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$ MHz, $\ensuremath{\tau}(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=205\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40$ nsec; for 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=4.18\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20$ MHz, $A(5^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}2.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.20$ MHz; for 133Cs^{133}\mathrm{Cs}133Cs, $A(6^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=16.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15$ MHz, $A(6^{2}D_{\frac{5}{2}})=\ensuremath{-}3.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0$ MHz, $\ensuremath{\tau}(6^{2}D_{\frac{3}{2}})=57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15$ nsec.