The aim of this paper is to present detailed theory of polarization spectroscopy of Na in the case of a slow relaxation rate of a lower state involved in a resonant transition. An interpretation of the signal in such a polarization spectroscopy is given by combining the theory of birefringence and dichroism with a first-order theory of velocity-selective optical pumping in a four-level system. Because of the high multiplicity of Zeeman levels, the signal is complicated by the occurrence of cross-over resonances in addition to the principal resonances. This interpretation is in good agreement with the experimental results which have been already published about the Na D 1 line.The aim of this paper is to present detailed theory of polarization spectroscopy of Na in the case of a slow relaxation rate of a lower state involved in a resonant transition. An interpretation of the signal in such a polarization spectroscopy is given by combining the theory of birefringence and dichroism with a first-order theory of velocity-selective optical pumping in a four-level system. Because of the high multiplicity of Zeeman levels, the signal is complicated by the occurrence of cross-over resonances in addition to the principal resonances. This interpretation is in good agreement with the experimental results which have been already published about the Na D 1 line.

Journal of the Physical Society of JapanFeb 1, 198131 citations

Optical bistability from three-level atoms with the use of a coherent nonlinear mechanism

J. Mlynek, Fedor M. Mitschke, R. Deserno +1 more

We report on studies on optical bistability from coherently driven $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$-type three-level atoms in a Fabry-Perot resonator. The nonlinear mechanism relies on transverse optical pumping and is due to population trapping in a coherent superposition of the ground-state sublevels. If, under appropriate conditions, a zero-field level-crossing resonance (Hanle resonance) occurs in the atomic system, the optical device is shown to display dispersive or absorptive bistability. Our theoretical studies are based on numerical solutions of the corresponding three-level Bloch equations in the presence of optical feedback. Experiments are performed on the ${D}_{1}$ line in a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot resonator using transverse optical Zeeman pumping of the $^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}$ ground state. The measurements are found to be in fair agreement with the theoretical predictions from our simple model.We report on studies on optical bistability from coherently driven $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$-type three-level atoms in a Fabry-Perot resonator. The nonlinear mechanism relies on transverse optical pumping and is due to population trapping in a coherent superposition of the ground-state sublevels. If, under appropriate conditions, a zero-field level-crossing resonance (Hanle resonance) occurs in the atomic system, the optical device is shown to display dispersive or absorptive bistability. Our theoretical studies are based on numerical solutions of the corresponding three-level Bloch equations in the presence of optical feedback. Experiments are performed on the ${D}_{1}$ line in a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot resonator using transverse optical Zeeman pumping of the $^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}$ ground state. The measurements are found to be in fair agreement with the theoretical predictions from our simple model.

Physical Review AMar 1, 198438 citations

{D}_{1}

line in a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot resonator using transverse optical Zeeman pumping of the

^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}

ground state. The measurements are found to be in fair agreement with the theoretical predictions from our simple model.