Multidirectional Doppler pumping: A new method to prepare an atomic beam having a large fraction of excited atoms
Hendrik J. Gerritsen, Gerard Nienhuis
We discuss some problems associated with obtaining an atomic beam with a large fraction of excited−state atoms. We show, e.g., that for sodium atoms to be pumped up into the 32P1/2 state, they must experience a minimum of three optical frequencies near the D1 line. In order to achieve this with only one optical frequency, the following method is proposed: A strong laser beam impinges three times on an atomic beam, each time under a different angle, in such a way that for one velocity class the Doppler shift generates the three frequencies needed. The effects of the polarization of the laser beams are discussed.
Applied Physics Letters•Mar 15, 1975•19 citations