Physical Review A
Parameters of adiabatic rapid passage in the 0-0 hyperfine transition of Rb87
James C. Camparo, R. P. Frueholz
Abstract
The parameters of adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) in the ground-state 0-0 hyperfine transition of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ have been investigated. These parameters relate to how adiabatic and how rapid the passage through resonance must be in order to maximize the degree of population reversal. We find both experimentally and theoretically that the adiabaticity requirement is rather weak; and that once satisfied, it is more important to pass through the resonance rapidly. Furthermore, interpreting our results in the Bloch-vector model of ARP, we find that the Bloch vector is only required to precess a half revolution about the effective field in order to follow a 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} change in the direction of that field. The applicability of the present results to ARP in general is discussed.