Physical Review A
Magnetically induced polarization switching for the F17 −7 F00 570.68-nm transition of Sm i in a Fabry-Perot cavity
Christian G. Parigger, Peter Hannaford, Weston J. Sandle, R. J. Ballagh
Abstract
Preliminary results of experimental and theoretical behavior of a ${J}_{\mathrm{lower}=1}$ to ${J}_{\mathrm{upper}=0}$ ${(}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{0}^{0}$, 570.68 nm in Sm i) transition in a laser-driven optical cavity are reported. Unlike a J=(1/2) to J=(1/2) transition, polarization asymmetry in the switching does not spontaneously appear in the absence of a magnetic field, owing to the effect of Zeeman coherence in the J=1 level. However, with a longitudinal magnetic field, polarization asymmetry in the switching does develop for symmetric driving; we describe this new effect as magnetically induced polarization switching.