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Applied Optics

Optical determination of alkali metal vapor number density using Faraday rotation

Z. Wu, Masao Kitano, W. Happer, M. Hou, J. M. Daniels

Published Dec 1, 1986• 75 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a convenient and reliable method for measuring the number density of the alkali metal vapor. The method is based on the diamagnetic Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization of nearly resonant light by the alkali metal vapor, and it is suitable for optically thick vapor where the conventional integrated absorption technique fails.

DOI
10.1364/ao.25.004483

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[The Measuring Method of Atomic Polarization of Alkali Metal Vapor Based on Optical Rotation and the Analysis of the Influence Factors].

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High sensitivity measurements of inertia and magnetic field could be achieved by utilizing a category of devices, which manipulate the atomic spins in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free regime. The alkali cell which contains the alkali metal vapor is used to sense magnetic field and inertia. The atomic number density of alkali vapor and the polarization of alkali metal vapor are two of the most important parameters of the cell. They play an important role in the research on atomic spins in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free regime. Besides, optical polarization plays an important role in quantum computing and atomic physics. We propose a measurement of alkali vapor polarization and alkali number density by detecting the optical rotation in one system. This method simplifies existing experimental equipment and processes. A constant bias magnetic field is applied and the Faraday rotation angle is detected by a bunch of the probe beam to deduce alkali-metal density. Then the magnetic field is closed and a bunch of the pump laser is utilized to polarize alkali-metal. Again, the probe beam is utilized to obtain the polarization of alkali metal. The alkali density obtained at first is used to deduce the polarization. This paper applies a numerical method to analyze the Faraday rotation and the polarization rotation. According to the numerical method, the optimal wavelength for the experiment is given. Finally, the fluctuation of magnetic field and wavelength on signal analysis are analyzed.

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Abstract An efficient method is proposed for quantifying rubidium vapor density by analyzing the spin‐exchange rate between alkali metals. This method effectively addresses two primary challenges in measuring alkali vapor density. First, it overcomes the limitation of absorption spectroscopy to measure vapor density under optically thick conditions, typically restricted to temperature higher than 420K, equivalent to alkali vapor density exceeding . Second, it mitigates the risk of disrupting shielding functionality due to the application of a strong magnetic field, often in the range of several tens of Gauss or higher, when employing the Faraday rotation for vapor‐density measurement. The spin‐exchange rate between atoms, inherently related to the vapor density, is evident in the electron‐paramagnetic‐resonance spectrum of spin‐polarized , thereby providing a possibility for measuring alkali vapor density. To eliminate overlap between two Lorentzian curves resulting from two decomposed components of an oscillating field, a small rotating magnetic field with identical amplitude and frequency but a 90‐degree phase shift along both the x and y axes is applied. This method is successfully employed to measure vapor density in the temperature range of 373–433 K, with the measured outcomes closely matching the saturation vapor curve.

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Optical determination of alkali metal vapor number density in the vicinity (∼10^-5 cm ) of cell surfaces

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We describe a method for determining the number density of the alkali metal vapor by use of an evanescent wave in a single total internal reflection. The method is simple to use, and it has the following useful features: It is most suitable for determining the number density of dense (>1013 cm-3) alkali metal vapor and it permits the measurement of the alkali metal vapor number density in the vicinity (∼10-5 cm) of cell surfaces. Using this method, we measured the number density of Rb metal vapor in the vicinity (∼10-5 cm) of the cell wall in cells that contain only Rb metal and no buffer gas; we found that there is no systematic difference between the Rb number density near the surface and that in the bulk.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Dec 1, 2001•18 citations
We present a convenient and reliable method for measuring the number density of the alkali metal vapor. The method is based on the diamagnetic Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization of nearly resonant light by the alkali metal vapor, and it is suitable for optically thick vapor where the conventional integrated absorption technique fails.
High sensitivity measurements of inertia and magnetic field could be achieved by utilizing a category of devices, which manipulate the atomic spins in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free regime. The alkali cell which contains the alkali metal vapor is used to sense magnetic field and inertia. The atomic number density of alkali vapor and the polarization of alkali metal vapor are two of the most important parameters of the cell. They play an important role in the research on atomic spins in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free regime. Besides, optical polarization plays an important role in quantum computing and atomic physics. We propose a measurement of alkali vapor polarization and alkali number density by detecting the optical rotation in one system. This method simplifies existing experimental equipment and processes. A constant bias magnetic field is applied and the Faraday rotation angle is detected by a bunch of the probe beam to deduce alkali-metal density. Then the magnetic field is closed and a bunch of the pump laser is utilized to polarize alkali-metal. Again, the probe beam is utilized to obtain the polarization of alkali metal. The alkali density obtained at first is used to deduce the polarization. This paper applies a numerical method to analyze the Faraday rotation and the polarization rotation. According to the numerical method, the optimal wavelength for the experiment is given. Finally, the fluctuation of magnetic field and wavelength on signal analysis are analyzed.
A new method to measure the spin polarization of optically pumped alkali-metal atoms is demonstrated. Unlike the conventional method using far-detuned probe light, the near-resonant light with two specific frequencies was chosen. Because the Faraday rotation angle of this approach can be two orders of magnitude greater than that with the conventional method, this approach is more sensitive to the spin polarization. Based on the results of the experimental scheme, the spin polarization measurements are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of this approach.
Abstract The actual vapor density characterizing the alkali metal spin-exchange rate remains a compelling issue for spin-exchange optical pumping. Based on the deduced relationship between the Faraday rotation angle and the rubidium vapor number density using the electrodynamics theory, we report a measurement of the number density for rubidium vapor sealed inside a cell based on a Faraday modulator. The measurement relies on the optical rotation angle due to rubidium vapor under a bias magnetic field (∼0.08 T) produced by a samarium–cobalt magnet. A Faraday modulator with a lock-in amplifier is used to accurately measure the tiny optical rotation angle in a temperature range of 387–468 K. In addition, a synchronization verification is performed by the photoelastic modulator (PEM). The recurring data showed that the two methods are consistent with each other. Compared with the PEM method, the Faraday modulator detection system does not need to adjust the optical axis difference of 45° in the PEM detection system, thereby reducing the complexity of the experiment and the error caused by the alignment of the optical axis, which showed that the Faraday modulator detection method more advantageous in measuring the alkali metal density.
Abstract An efficient method is proposed for quantifying rubidium vapor density by analyzing the spin‐exchange rate between alkali metals. This method effectively addresses two primary challenges in measuring alkali vapor density. First, it overcomes the limitation of absorption spectroscopy to measure vapor density under optically thick conditions, typically restricted to temperature higher than 420K, equivalent to alkali vapor density exceeding . Second, it mitigates the risk of disrupting shielding functionality due to the application of a strong magnetic field, often in the range of several tens of Gauss or higher, when employing the Faraday rotation for vapor‐density measurement. The spin‐exchange rate between atoms, inherently related to the vapor density, is evident in the electron‐paramagnetic‐resonance spectrum of spin‐polarized , thereby providing a possibility for measuring alkali vapor density. To eliminate overlap between two Lorentzian curves resulting from two decomposed components of an oscillating field, a small rotating magnetic field with identical amplitude and frequency but a 90‐degree phase shift along both the x and y axes is applied. This method is successfully employed to measure vapor density in the temperature range of 373–433 K, with the measured outcomes closely matching the saturation vapor curve.
Optically pumped alkali metal atoms currently provide a sensitive solution for magnetic microscopic measurements. As the most practicable plan, Faraday rotation of linearly polarized light is extensively used in spin polarization measurements of alkali metal atoms. In some cases, near-resonant Faraday rotation is applied to improve the sensitivity. However, the near-resonant linearly polarized probe light is elliptically polarized after passing through optically pumped alkali metal vapor. The ellipticity of transmitted near-resonant probe light is numerically calculated and experimentally measured. In addition, we also analyze the negative impact of elliptical polarization on Faraday rotation measurements. From our theoretical estimate and experimental results, the elliptical polarization forms an inevitable error in spin polarization measurements.
We describe a method for determining the number density of the alkali metal vapor by use of an evanescent wave in a single total internal reflection. The method is simple to use, and it has the following useful features: It is most suitable for determining the number density of dense (>1013 cm-3) alkali metal vapor and it permits the measurement of the alkali metal vapor number density in the vicinity (∼10-5 cm) of cell surfaces. Using this method, we measured the number density of Rb metal vapor in the vicinity (∼10-5 cm) of the cell wall in cells that contain only Rb metal and no buffer gas; we found that there is no systematic difference between the Rb number density near the surface and that in the bulk.