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Physical Review

Optical Pumping of Neon P23 Metastable Atoms

L. D. Schearer

Published Apr 5, 1969• 26 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The $^{3}P_{2}$ metastable atoms of neon have been optically oriented. This represents the first case of the optical pumping of non-$S$ state atoms. The optical-pumping process is described, and depolarization cross sections for collisions with ground-state neon and ground-state helium atoms measured. The cross section for collisional depolarization with helium is 4.30 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.22 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, and with neon is 166 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ at 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The metastable $^{3}P_{2}$ atoms of Ar and Xe have also been optically pumped. As the polarizability of the noble-gas buffer increases, the collisional depolarization cross section approaches the diffusion cross section.

DOI
10.1103/physrev.180.83

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Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1976•13 citations
The 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ metastable atoms of neon have been optically oriented. This represents the first case of the optical pumping of non-SSS state atoms. The optical-pumping process is described, and depolarization cross sections for collisions with ground-state neon and ground-state helium atoms measured. The cross section for collisional depolarization with helium is 4.30 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.22 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 10\ensuremath−17{10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}10\ensuremath−17 cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2, and with neon is 166 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 10\ensuremath−17{10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}10\ensuremath−17 cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 at 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The metastable 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ atoms of Ar and Xe have also been optically pumped. As the polarizability of the noble-gas buffer increases, the collisional depolarization cross section approaches the diffusion cross section.
The relaxation times of optically oriented metastable atoms of Ne, Ar, and Xe in buffers of noble gases have been measured, and depolarization cross sections obtained. The cross sections range from 0.43 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 for ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{m}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Xe}$ collisions to 190 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 for ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{m}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He}$.
Cross sections for random collisional reorientation of J within the sublevels of the 62P326^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}62P23​​ excited state of cesium have been measured using the D2{D}_{2}D2​ optical-pumping technique. The measured cross sections ${{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{M}}^{2}$ are: Cs-He (3.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2, Cs-Ne (2.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2, Cs-Ar (6.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2, Cs-Kr (9.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.9)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2, Cs-Xe (11.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2. Simplified equations for D1{\mathrm{D}}_{1}D1​ and D2{\mathrm{D}}_{2}D2​ pumping with zero, partial, and complete excited-state mixing are derived for a hypothetical alkali atom with zero nuclear spin. The calculations are extended to cesium atoms with nuclear spin 72\frac{7}{2}27​ pumped by ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$ D2{\mathrm{D}}_{2}D2​ radiation. The equilibrium value 〈Sz〉0{〈{S}_{z}〉}_{0}〈Sz​〉0​ and the time dependence 〈Sz(t)〉〈{S}_{z}(t)〉〈Sz​(t)〉 of the electronic spin polarization are computed for various degrees of excited-state mixing. 〈Sz(t)〉〈{S}_{z}(t)〉〈Sz​(t)〉 is found to be nearly single-exponential in the zero- and the complete-mixing cases, but shows a distinct double-exponential behavior in the intermediate region. 〈Sz〉0{〈{S}_{z}〉}_{0}〈Sz​〉0​ is shown to be dependent on the degree of mixing, and to change sign as the degree of mixing increases. Measurements were performed with a new transmission technique by passing a separate ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$-polarized D2{\mathrm{D}}_{2}D2​ pumping beam and an alternately ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$- and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-polarized D1{\mathrm{D}}_{1}D1​ testing beam through the cesium absorption cell. The cross sections for collisionally induced mixing were evaluated by measuring the buffer pressure at which 〈Sz〉0{〈{S}_{z}〉}_{0}〈Sz​〉0​ passed through zero.
We present total absolute collision cross sections for neon in the 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ metastable state with ground state, thermal atoms and molecules using a recently developed experimental technique. The technique utilizes a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and involves the measurement of MOT population dynamics to determine the cross section. Collision cross section measurements are presented for metastable neon in the 3P2^{3}P_{2}3P2​ state with He, Ne, Ar, H2{\mathrm{H}}_{2}H2​, O2{\mathrm{O}}_{2}O2​, and N2{\mathrm{N}}_{2}N2​. The average thermal energy of the collision ranges from 11to27meV11\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}27\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}11to27meV. The measurements made using this technique have small errors, of the order of 10% of the measured cross section; the technique is capable of producing benchmark collision cross sections.
Collisions between rare-gas atoms in the 3 P 2 metastable state and in the ground state were studied. The metastable atoms were created by a discharge and oriented by optical pumping, and pressure broadening of their magnetic-resonance curves was measured. For xenon, mixtures of even and odd isotopes were used, leading to a determination of the cross section for metastability-exchange collisions. For krypton the results are reported for the disorientation of the metastable state in the natural gas. In addition the disorientation cross section has been measured of the krypton metastable state through collisions with helium.
We present progress towards measurements of total absolute collision cross sections of the 3P2 metastable state and the 3D3 excited state of neon with ground state noble gases utilizing a metastable neon magneto optical trap. The measurement is achieved by observing the decay rate of the trap as a function of added partial pressure of a noble gas. This technique will enable benchmark cross sections to be measured there by providing stringent tests of current quantum mechanical scattering calculations.
Cross sections for relaxation of circular and linear polarization of 62P326^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}62P23​​ cesium atoms, induced in collisions with ground-state He, Ne, Ar, and Xe, have been determined by Zeeman scanning techniques. A fluorescence cell containing low-pressure cesium vapor together with a buffer gas was irradiated with circularly or linearly polarized 8521-\AA{} Cs resonance radiation, producing excited and polarized Cs atoms which became depolarized in subsequent collisions with the buffer-gas atoms. The resulting depolarization of the cesium resonance fluorescence was monitored in relation to buffer-gas pressure (0-10 Torr) and to the strength of the ambient magnetic field (0-10 kG). At low fields at which the nuclear spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{I}}$ is coupled to the electronic angular momentum $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{J}}$, the measurements yielded depolarization cross sections Q(circ.)Q(\mathrm{circ}.)Q(circ.) and Q(lin.)Q(\mathrm{lin}.)Q(lin.), which agree within experimental error with theoretical values calculated for spin-coupled conditions. At kilogauss fields with $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{I}}$ and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{J}}$ decoupled, the experiments produced cross sections for disorientation and disalignment, which are also in satisfactory agreement with the appropriate theoretical predictions. The results indicate that the nuclear spin has a more pronounced effect on the collisional relaxation of the atomic dipole than of the quadrupole.