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Physical Review A

Velocity-selective optical pumping and Doppler-free spectroscopy

M. Pinard, C.G. Aminoff, Franck Laloë

Published Jun 1, 1979• 78 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a spectroscopic method combining saturated absorption and Zeeman optical pumping. A weak expanded monochromatic laser beam creates a velocity-correlated orientation in an atomic level without optical saturation. A polarization-modulated counterpropagating detection beam provides signals related to simple atomic observables. Combination with magnetic resonance techniques is described. We have applied this method to metastable states of Ne, with nuclear or electronic orientation. Effects of velocity-changing, depolarization (Kastler- or Dehmelt-type pumping) or metastability exchange collisions are discussed.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.19.2366

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Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•Jan 1, 1985•57 citations
We describe a spectroscopic method combining saturated absorption and Zeeman optical pumping. A weak expanded monochromatic laser beam creates a velocity-correlated orientation in an atomic level without optical saturation. A polarization-modulated counterpropagating detection beam provides signals related to simple atomic observables. Combination with magnetic resonance techniques is described. We have applied this method to metastable states of Ne, with nuclear or electronic orientation. Effects of velocity-changing, depolarization (Kastler- or Dehmelt-type pumping) or metastability exchange collisions are discussed.
Optical pumping performed with a quasi monochromatic laser beam in an atomic gas introduces a redistribution of Zeeman populations selectively in a single velocity class. In the limit of low pumping intensity the rate theory is valid for a description of velocity-selective optical pumping (V.S.O.P.). Well-defined atomic observables (population, orientation, alignment) and their velocity-correlated collisional relaxation can be studied. Also, a modified scheme for the detection of second order effects of optical pumping allows one to observe light shift induced signals. In particular, V.S.O.P. and its combination with modulated pumping, magnetic depolarization (level crossing), and magnetic resonance techniques provide information about the atomic collision characteristics such as collision rates and kernels for velocity-changing collisions.
We consider optical pumping with a quasi monochromatic tunable light beam, in the low intensity limit where a rate equation regime is obtained The velocity selective optical pumping (V.S.O.P.) introduces a correlation between atomic velocity and internal variables in the ground (or metastable) state. The aim of this article is to evaluate these atomic observables (orientation, alignment, population) as a function of velocity, using a phenomenological description of the relaxation effect of collisions. The V.S.O.P. line shapes, obtained by scanning the pumping beam frequency and using a counterpropagating detection beam with the same frequency, are given in various circumstances. The combination of V.S.O.P. with modulated pumping, magnetic resonance, and level crossing methods is considered; the corresponding line shapes can provide useful information on the relaxation characteristics, such as collision rates and kernels.
Reports the optogalvanic detection of observables induced by optical pumping in metastable states of neon. As with optical methods signals are obtained which are related to electronic and nuclear orientation or alignment. Many optical pumping experiments may thus be performed using optogalvanic techniques, including the Hanle effect and 'velocity selective optical pumping' described. Different mechanisms are discussed from which optogalvanic signals related to non-scalar observables may originate. Profiles obtained from frequency sweeps of two polarisation-modulated counterpropagating pump beams indicate the dominant mechanism is a second-order pumping effect which induces a modulated depletion of the metastable state. No effect has been observed arising from a variation of the Penning collision cross section when the two metastable colliding atoms are oriented. The analogy between signals produced by optogalvanic and optical methods are pointed out.
A theoretical analysis of the D1 lines of alklai atoms in Doppler-free polarization spectroscopy, velocity-selective optical-pumping (VSOP) spectroscopy, and saturation spectroscopy is presented that uses the approximation of a single cycle of optical pumping in a four-level system. The similarities and differences among these three kinds of spectroscopy are made clear, and the magnitude and the sign of the resonances in each spectroscopic technique are calculated. The four-level system is as important as a three-level approximation, which has already been described in many papers. We deal with linear and circular optical anisotropies induced in polarization, VSOP, and saturation spectroscopy.
We have used an optogalvanic method to detect observables induced by optical pumping in metastable states of neon. As with optical methods signals are obtained due to electronic and nuclear orientation or alignment. Different mechanisms are discussed from which optogalvanic signals related to non-scalar observables may originate. Profiles obtained from frequency sweeps of two polarisation-modulated counterpropagating pump beams indicate the dominant mechanism is a second-order pumping effect which induces a modulated depletion of the metastable state.
The relative intensities of the Doppler-free signals of the 85Rb and Cs D2 lines in saturation spectroscopy, velocity-selective optical pumping (VSOP) spectroscopy, and polarization spectroscopy were calculated theoretically, taking into accont the optical pumping process in the Zeeman sublevels and arbitrary polarization combinations for pump and probe beams. Both circular and linear optical anisotropy induced by the pump beam were considered in the theoretical calculation. The magnitude and sign of the Doppler-free resonances in each spectroscopic method were quite different owing to the polarizations of the pump and probe beams. The theoretical results obtained from a single-cycle optical pumping in a four-level approximation were in good agreement with recent experimental reports.