Physical Review A

Preparation of a single-state atomic beam by optical pumping and radiative deflection

P. L. Gould, George A. Ruff, Peter J. Martin, David E. Pritchard

Published Aug 1, 1987• 14 citations

Abstract

A simple technique for producing a single-state sodium atomic beam is described. A single laser both optically pumps the F=2 ground-state atoms into ${m}_{F}$=+2 and deflects the pumped atoms away from residual F=1 atoms. Data demonstrating the technique are presented, and a practical design for an apparatus based on these principles is described.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.36.1478

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Physical Review A

Preparation of a single-state atomic beam by optical pumping and radiative deflection

P. L. Gould, George A. Ruff, Peter J. Martin, David E. Pritchard

Published Aug 1, 1987• 14 citations

Publisher

Abstract

A simple technique for producing a single-state sodium atomic beam is described. A single laser both optically pumps the F=2 ground-state atoms into

{m}_{F}

=+2 and deflects the pumped atoms away from residual F=1 atoms. Data demonstrating the technique are presented, and a practical design for an apparatus based on these principles is described.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.36.1478

Related papers

Quantitative analysis of the deflection of a sodium beam by laser radiation

Bernardo Jaduszliwer, GF Shen, Benjamin B. Bederson

We have performed experimental and theoretical studies of the deflection of a sodium atomic beam by a laser tuned to the 3 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${S}_{1/2}$ ,F=2--3 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${P}_{3/2}$ ,F=3 transition. The intensity profile of the deflected beam was measured at different laser power levels and for different laser polarizations. Calculations using a constant force derived from a two-level atom yield deflections which are too large. The results of more realistic simulation calculations agree very well with the measured deflection. Those calculations incorporate the atomic-beam spatial and velocity distributions as well as the laser frequency distribution and polarization state. Optical pumping, loss of atoms to the nonresonant F=1 ground state, and Doppler shifting of the atoms out of resonance are all considered, as also are the statistics and angular distributions of the spontaneous photons.We have performed experimental and theoretical studies of the deflection of a sodium atomic beam by a laser tuned to the 3 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${S}_{1/2}$,F=2--3 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${P}_{3/2}$,F=3 transition. The intensity profile of the deflected beam was measured at different laser power levels and for different laser polarizations. Calculations using a constant force derived from a two-level atom yield deflections which are too large. The results of more realistic simulation calculations agree very well with the measured deflection. Those calculations incorporate the atomic-beam spatial and velocity distributions as well as the laser frequency distribution and polarization state. Optical pumping, loss of atoms to the nonresonant F=1 ground state, and Doppler shifting of the atoms out of resonance are all considered, as also are the statistics and angular distributions of the spontaneous photons.

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G. S. Summy, Benjamin T. H. Varcoe, W. R. MacGillivray +1 more

An experimental demonstration of the state-dependent nature of the forces exerted on an atom by resonant radiation is reported. Sodium atoms, which are contained in a highly collimated beam, are initially prepared in a particular ground hyperfine substate by optical pumping. They are then deflected by resonant laser radiation of known polarization. Measurements of the magnitude of the deflection show a dependence on the way the atoms were initially prepared, confirming the predictions of a recently developed theoretical model. The experimental data show good agreement with calculations of the theory using a full quantum electrodynamic description of the sodium transition involved.An experimental demonstration of the state-dependent nature of the forces exerted on an atom by resonant radiation is reported. Sodium atoms, which are contained in a highly collimated beam, are initially prepared in a particular ground hyperfine substate by optical pumping. They are then deflected by resonant laser radiation of known polarization. Measurements of the magnitude of the deflection show a dependence on the way the atoms were initially prepared, confirming the predictions of a recently developed theoretical model. The experimental data show good agreement with calculations of the theory using a full quantum electrodynamic description of the sodium transition involved.

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Efficient transverse deflection of neutral atomic beams using spontaneous resonance-radiation pressure

John E. Bjorkholm, Richard R. Freeman, D. B. Pearson

We report the efficient transverse deflection of all atoms in a well-collimated sodium atomic beam by the spontaneous radiation pressure of a beam of resonance light which illuminates the atomic beam at right angles. Our results are obtained using two cw single-mode dye lasers to excite the two ground-state levels of sodium; this enables all atoms to interact with the light and it also eliminates optical pumping of the ground state. We obtained deflection angles greater than 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ rad which was ten times the divergence angle of the undeflected atomic beam; these deflections are due to the spontaneous scattering of more than 200 photons by each atom. The distribution of deflection angles is well described by a simple calculation. Fitting theory to experiment indicates that a fractional atomic excitation of 24 percent was obtained at an intensity of approximately 1 W/ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ . When single-frequency light was used, only a fraction of the atoms were deflected, and the deflection angles were much smaller due to optical pumping.We report the efficient transverse deflection of all atoms in a well-collimated sodium atomic beam by the spontaneous radiation pressure of a beam of resonance light which illuminates the atomic beam at right angles. Our results are obtained using two cw single-mode dye lasers to excite the two ground-state levels of sodium; this enables all atoms to interact with the light and it also eliminates optical pumping of the ground state. We obtained deflection angles greater than 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ rad which was ten times the divergence angle of the undeflected atomic beam; these deflections are due to the spontaneous scattering of more than 200 photons by each atom. The distribution of deflection angles is well described by a simple calculation. Fitting theory to experiment indicates that a fractional atomic excitation of 24 percent was obtained at an intensity of approximately 1 W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. When single-frequency light was used, only a fraction of the atoms were deflected, and the deflection angles were much smaller due to optical pumping.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 198121 citations

Production and diagnosis of a highly spin-polarized Na beam

Gregory W. Schinn, Xianming L. Han, Alan Gallagher

We describe optically pumping a beam of sodium atoms to >96% mS and >92% mS, mI state selection. (We have accurately measured the population of every mS, mI state in the optically pumped beam.) For the optical pumping both ground hyperfine states are pumped, using single-mode cw dye-laser radiation tuned to the 3S1/2–3P1/2 transition that is phase modulated in a LiTaO3 crystal to produce first-order sidebands at approximately the 1772-MHz hyperfine splitting of the ground state. The z-directed optical pumping is performed in a z-directed magnetic field of ~5 G. The state-selected atoms then move, in ~1 cm, into an ~200 G, z-directed field. The downstream probe laser beam is scanned through the 3S1/2 (mS, mI) → 3P3/2 (mS′, mI) transitions, which are spectroscopically resolved at 200 G, and the fluorescence intensities portray the residual populations in each of the eight 3S1/2 states.We describe optically pumping a beam of sodium atoms to >96% mS and >92% mS, mI state selection. (We have accurately measured the population of every mS, mI state in the optically pumped beam.) For the optical pumping both ground hyperfine states are pumped, using single-mode cw dye-laser radiation tuned to the 3S1/2–3P1/2 transition that is phase modulated in a LiTaO3 crystal to produce first-order sidebands at approximately the 1772-MHz hyperfine splitting of the ground state. The z-directed optical pumping is performed in a z-directed magnetic field of ~5 G. The state-selected atoms then move, in ~1 cm, into an ~200 G, z-directed field. The downstream probe laser beam is scanned through the 3S1/2 (mS, mI) → 3P3/2 (mS′, mI) transitions, which are spectroscopically resolved at 200 G, and the fluorescence intensities portray the residual populations in each of the eight 3S1/2 states.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BJan 1, 199112 citations

Polarization of an atomic sodium beam by laser optical pumping

Jack T. Cusma, L. W. Anderson

A highly polarized $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ atomic beam is produced by optical pumping with the use of either a multimode cw dye laser or a single-mode ring dye laser followed by a double-passed acousto-optic modulator. Electron-spin polarizations of 0.72 to 0.90 are obtained.A highly polarized $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ atomic beam is produced by optical pumping with the use of either a multimode cw dye laser or a single-mode ring dye laser followed by a double-passed acousto-optic modulator. Electron-spin polarizations of 0.72 to 0.90 are obtained.

Physical Review AAug 1, 198330 citations

A simple technique for producing a single-state sodium atomic beam is described. A single laser both optically pumps the F=2 ground-state atoms into

{m}_{F}

=+2 and deflects the pumped atoms away from residual F=1 atoms. Data demonstrating the technique are presented, and a practical design for an apparatus based on these principles is described.

We have performed experimental and theoretical studies of the deflection of a sodium atomic beam by a laser tuned to the 3

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{S}_{1/2}

,F=2--3

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{P}_{3/2}

,F=3 transition. The intensity profile of the deflected beam was measured at different laser power levels and for different laser polarizations. Calculations using a constant force derived from a two-level atom yield deflections which are too large. The results of more realistic simulation calculations agree very well with the measured deflection. Those calculations incorporate the atomic-beam spatial and velocity distributions as well as the laser frequency distribution and polarization state. Optical pumping, loss of atoms to the nonresonant F=1 ground state, and Doppler shifting of the atoms out of resonance are all considered, as also are the statistics and angular distributions of the spontaneous photons.

{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}

. When single-frequency light was used, only a fraction of the atoms were deflected, and the deflection angles were much smaller due to optical pumping.

A highly polarized

^{23}\mathrm{Na}

atomic beam is produced by optical pumping with the use of either a multimode cw dye laser or a single-mode ring dye laser followed by a double-passed acousto-optic modulator. Electron-spin polarizations of 0.72 to 0.90 are obtained.