We have discovered an interference which results in the vanishing of some electric dipole transition amplitudes. A transition-matrix element $T$ between certain $S$ and $P$ sublevels with the same value of ${M}_{F}$ vanishes when an applied magnetic field satisfies ${X}_{s}+{X}_{p}=\ensuremath{-}2{M}_{F}$, where $X={\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{g}_{J}\frac{B}{A}$, and $A$ is the hfs constant. There must be an avoided crossing between the two states of the same ${M}_{F}$ which can only occur when one of the hyperfine manifolds has an inverted Zeeman effect. These conditions imply ${M}_{F}<0$ and $I>J$ . We observed the vanishing of $T$ in $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ for one of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}{M}_{F}=0$ optical transitions of the $3{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)$ manifold. Absorption of cw laser light was monitored by observing total fluorescence perpendicular to both the atomic and laser beams, and absorption vanished near an applied field of 155 G. $T$ vanishes for a large number of cases including rf and microwave frequencies and is a rather general consequence of angular momentum selection rules and perturbation theory. This phenomenon may have application in optical pumping, Lamb-shift measurements, and atomic weak neutral-current experiments.We have discovered an interference which results in the vanishing of some electric dipole transition amplitudes. A transition-matrix element $T$ between certain $S$ and $P$ sublevels with the same value of ${M}_{F}$ vanishes when an applied magnetic field satisfies ${X}_{s}+{X}_{p}=\ensuremath{-}2{M}_{F}$, where $X={\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{g}_{J}\frac{B}{A}$, and $A$ is the hfs constant. There must be an avoided crossing between the two states of the same ${M}_{F}$ which can only occur when one of the hyperfine manifolds has an inverted Zeeman effect. These conditions imply ${M}_{F}<0$ and $I>J$. We observed the vanishing of $T$ in $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ for one of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}{M}_{F}=0$ optical transitions of the $3{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)$ manifold. Absorption of cw laser light was monitored by observing total fluorescence perpendicular to both the atomic and laser beams, and absorption vanished near an applied field of 155 G. $T$ vanishes for a large number of cases including rf and microwave frequencies and is a rather general consequence of angular momentum selection rules and perturbation theory. This phenomenon may have application in optical pumping, Lamb-shift measurements, and atomic weak neutral-current experiments.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 19799 citations

Optical Transition and Selection Rules

Shu Hotta

Springer eBooksJan 1, 20231 citation

Optical Transition and Selection Rules

Shu Hotta

Springer eBooksJan 1, 20180 citations

One step beyond the electric dipole approximation: An experiment to observe the 5p → 6p forbidden transition in atomic rubidium

F. Ponciano-Ojeda, Santiago Hernández-Gómez, Cristian Mojica-Casique +8 more

An advanced undergraduate experiment to study the 5P3/2→6P3/2 electric quadrupole transition in rubidium atoms is presented. The experiment uses two external cavity diode lasers, one operating at the D2 rubidium resonance line and the other built with commercial parts to emit at 911 nm. The lasers produce the 5s→5p→6p excitation sequence in which the second step is the forbidden transition. Production of atoms in the 6P3/2 state is observed by detection of the 420 nm fluorescence that results from electric dipole decay into the ground state. Lines whose widths are significantly narrower than the Doppler width are used to study the hyperfine structure of the 6P3/2 state in rubidium. The spectra illustrate characteristics unique to electric dipole forbidden transitions, like the electric quadrupole selection rules; they are also used to show general aspects of two-color laser spectroscopy such as velocity selection and hyperfine pumping.An advanced undergraduate experiment to study the 5P3/2→6P3/2 electric quadrupole transition in rubidium atoms is presented. The experiment uses two external cavity diode lasers, one operating at the D2 rubidium resonance line and the other built with commercial parts to emit at 911 nm. The lasers produce the 5s→5p→6p excitation sequence in which the second step is the forbidden transition. Production of atoms in the 6P3/2 state is observed by detection of the 420 nm fluorescence that results from electric dipole decay into the ground state. Lines whose widths are significantly narrower than the Doppler width are used to study the hyperfine structure of the 6P3/2 state in rubidium. The spectra illustrate characteristics unique to electric dipole forbidden transitions, like the electric quadrupole selection rules; they are also used to show general aspects of two-color laser spectroscopy such as velocity selection and hyperfine pumping.

American Journal of PhysicsDec 19, 20175 citations

Use of an electric-dipole forbidden transition to optically probe the Autler Townes effect

F. Ramírez-Martínez, F. Ponciano-Ojeda, Santiago Hernández-Gómez +7 more

We study the Autler Townes (AT) effect derived from a strong electric dipole transition stimulated by a resonant laser beam and probing it by means of a weak electric quadrupole transition with a controlled frequency detuning in a ladder configuration. The experiment was carried out for a $^{87}$ Rb atomic gas at room temperature in a velocity-selective scheme. The AT effect was monitored via the splitting of the fluorescence spectra associated with the spontaneous decay to the ground state. The theoretical description incorporates the modification of standard few-level schemes introduced by forbidden electric-dipole transitions selection rules. We develop an analytic ladder three-level scheme to approximate the cyclic $5\mathrm{S}_{1/2} \mathrm{F}=2\rightarrow 5\mathrm{P}_{3/2} F=3 \rightarrow 6\mathrm{P}_{3/2} \mathrm{F}=1,2,3\rightarrow 5 \mathrm{S}_{1/2}\mathrm{F}=2$ path. Other levels that could have effects on the fluorescence are included via a fourth level with effective parameters. Doppler effects and finite bandwidths of the laser beams are included in the theoretical model to closely reproduce the experimental results.We study the Autler Townes (AT) effect derived from a strong electric dipole transition stimulated by a resonant laser beam and probing it by means of a weak electric quadrupole transition with a controlled frequency detuning in a ladder configuration. The experiment was carried out for a $^{87}$Rb atomic gas at room temperature in a velocity-selective scheme. The AT effect was monitored via the splitting of the fluorescence spectra associated with the spontaneous decay to the ground state. The theoretical description incorporates the modification of standard few-level schemes introduced by forbidden electric-dipole transitions selection rules. We develop an analytic ladder three-level scheme to approximate the cyclic $5\mathrm{S}_{1/2} \mathrm{F}=2\rightarrow 5\mathrm{P}_{3/2} F=3 \rightarrow 6\mathrm{P}_{3/2} \mathrm{F}=1,2,3\rightarrow 5 \mathrm{S}_{1/2}\mathrm{F}=2$ path. Other levels that could have effects on the fluorescence are included via a fourth level with effective parameters. Doppler effects and finite bandwidths of the laser beams are included in the theoretical model to closely reproduce the experimental results.

arXiv:1909.01293Sep 3, 20190 citations

Selection rules for electromagnetic transitions of an atom in a strong light field

B. A. Zon, Boris G. Katsnelson

Optics and SpectroscopyMay 1, 19762 citations

We have discovered an interference which results in the vanishing of some electric dipole transition amplitudes. A transition-matrix element

T

between certain

S

and

P

sublevels with the same value of

{M}_{F}

vanishes when an applied magnetic field satisfies ${X}_{s}+{X}_{p}=\ensuremath{-}2{M}_{F}$, where $X={\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{g}_{J}\frac{B}{A}$, and

A

is the hfs constant. There must be an avoided crossing between the two states of the same

{M}_{F}

which can only occur when one of the hyperfine manifolds has an inverted Zeeman effect. These conditions imply

{M}_{F}<0

and

I>J

. We observed the vanishing of

T

^{23}\mathrm{Na}

for one of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}{M}_{F}=0$ optical transitions of the $3{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{P}_{\frac{1}{2}}(F=1)$ manifold. Absorption of cw laser light was monitored by observing total fluorescence perpendicular to both the atomic and laser beams, and absorption vanished near an applied field of 155 G.

T

vanishes for a large number of cases including rf and microwave frequencies and is a rather general consequence of angular momentum selection rules and perturbation theory. This phenomenon may have application in optical pumping, Lamb-shift measurements, and atomic weak neutral-current experiments.

^{87}

Rb atomic gas at room temperature in a velocity-selective scheme. The AT effect was monitored via the splitting of the fluorescence spectra associated with the spontaneous decay to the ground state. The theoretical description incorporates the modification of standard few-level schemes introduced by forbidden electric-dipole transitions selection rules. We develop an analytic ladder three-level scheme to approximate the cyclic

5\mathrm{S}_{1/2} \mathrm{F}=2\rightarrow 5\mathrm{P}_{3/2} F=3 \rightarrow 6\mathrm{P}_{3/2} \mathrm{F}=1,2,3\rightarrow 5 \mathrm{S}_{1/2}\mathrm{F}=2

path. Other levels that could have effects on the fluorescence are included via a fourth level with effective parameters. Doppler effects and finite bandwidths of the laser beams are included in the theoretical model to closely reproduce the experimental results.