We demonstrate a new mechanism for optical spectral hole burning in which population is stored in electronic Zeeman sublevels. This is shown by optical pumping the ground-state Kramers doublet of the $^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}$ ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{H}}_{11/2}$ (6248.9 A\r{}) and $^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}$ ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{4}$ ${\mathrm{G}}_{5/2}$ (5777.1 A\r{}) transitions of ${\mathrm{LaF}}_{3}$ : ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ with a narrow-band cw dye laser. Experiments were carried out at 1.6 K in external fields of \ensuremath{\sim}100 G. The Zeeman shift of the resulting antiholes and holes makes an assignment of these structures possible. Hole recovery times of hundreds of milliseconds are shorter than expected at these low temperatures and fields and provide evidence for optical spectral diffusion caused by mutual spin flips in the ground state.We demonstrate a new mechanism for optical spectral hole burning in which population is stored in electronic Zeeman sublevels. This is shown by optical pumping the ground-state Kramers doublet of the $^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{11/2}$ (6248.9 A\r{}) and $^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{4}$${\mathrm{G}}_{5/2}$ (5777.1 A\r{}) transitions of ${\mathrm{LaF}}_{3}$:${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ with a narrow-band cw dye laser. Experiments were carried out at 1.6 K in external fields of \ensuremath{\sim}100 G. The Zeeman shift of the resulting antiholes and holes makes an assignment of these structures possible. Hole recovery times of hundreds of milliseconds are shorter than expected at these low temperatures and fields and provide evidence for optical spectral diffusion caused by mutual spin flips in the ground state.

Physical review. B, Condensed matterSep 1, 198733 citations

Optical pumping with laser-induced-fluorescence

James C. Camparo, S. B. Delcamp

Optics CommunicationsNov 1, 199511 citations

Pumping of atomic alkali lasers by photoexcitation of a resonance line blue satellite and alkali-rare gas excimer dissociation

Jason D. Readle, C. J. Wagner, J. T. Verdeyen +3 more

Photoassociation of alkali-rare gas atomic collision pairs provides an alternative approach to optically pumping atomic alkali lasers. Lasing on the 6 P21/2→6 S21/2 (D1) transition of Cs has been observed when the blue satellite of the 6 P23/2←6 S21/2 (D2) transition, peaking at ∼837 nm for mixtures of Cs vapor, Ar, and ethane, is pumped by a pulsed dye laser. For 50% output coupling, laser threshold with respect to absorbed pump energy is ∼40 μJ at T=435 K and the slope efficiency approaches 10%. The measured spectral breadth for the blue satellite (≳5 nm at 410 K) will accommodate cw pumping of the Cs laser with conventional semiconductor lasers.Photoassociation of alkali-rare gas atomic collision pairs provides an alternative approach to optically pumping atomic alkali lasers. Lasing on the 6 P21/2→6 S21/2 (D1) transition of Cs has been observed when the blue satellite of the 6 P23/2←6 S21/2 (D2) transition, peaking at ∼837 nm for mixtures of Cs vapor, Ar, and ethane, is pumped by a pulsed dye laser. For 50% output coupling, laser threshold with respect to absorbed pump energy is ∼40 μJ at T=435 K and the slope efficiency approaches 10%. The measured spectral breadth for the blue satellite (≳5 nm at 410 K) will accommodate cw pumping of the Cs laser with conventional semiconductor lasers.

Applied Physics LettersJun 22, 200942 citations

We demonstrate a new mechanism for optical spectral hole burning in which population is stored in electronic Zeeman sublevels. This is shown by optical pumping the ground-state Kramers doublet of the

^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}

${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{2}$

{\mathrm{H}}_{11/2}

(6248.9 A\r{}) and

^{4}\mathrm{I}_{9/2}

${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\leftrightarrows}}}^{4}$

{\mathrm{G}}_{5/2}

(5777.1 A\r{}) transitions of

{\mathrm{LaF}}_{3}

{\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}

with a narrow-band cw dye laser. Experiments were carried out at 1.6 K in external fields of \ensuremath{\sim}100 G. The Zeeman shift of the resulting antiholes and holes makes an assignment of these structures possible. Hole recovery times of hundreds of milliseconds are shorter than expected at these low temperatures and fields and provide evidence for optical spectral diffusion caused by mutual spin flips in the ground state.