Laser energy-pooling processes in an optically thick Cs vapor near a dissipative surface
Stocker Yale Canada
Abstract
S 1/2) lines as a function of laser scanning through pumping resonance at the 852.2-nm line. We experimentally investigate the retrofluorescence from 420 to 930 nm, induced by a diode laser tuned either in the wings or in the center of the pumping resonance line. We present a detailed theoretical model of the retrofluorescence signal based on the radiative transfer equation, taking into account the evanescent wave of the excited atomic dipole strongly coupled with a dissipative surface. Based on theoretical and experimental results, we evaluate the effective nonradiative transfer rate A ¯ 62P3/2!62S1/2s f for atoms in the excited 6 2 P 3/2 level located in the near-field region of the surface of the cell. Values extracted from the energy-pooling process analysis are equivalent to those found directly from the 852.2-nm resonance retrofluorescence line. We show that the effective energy-pooling coefficients k 72P3/2 and k ˜ 72P1/2 are approximately equal. The agreement between theory and experiment is remarkably good, considering the simplicity of the model. © 2002 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 020.2070, 240.6490, 290.2200, 300.2530, 300.6490, 350.2450.