Experimental reshaping of laser polarization modes in sodium vapor

Hideaki Niki, S. Adachi, Yasukazu Izawa +2 more

B. Röhricht, A. W. McCord, Massimo Brambilla +4 more

H. Nölle, A. Horn, Jana Hüve +5 more

M. W. Hamilton, Weston J. Sandle

R. Holzrter, S. Dangel, B. Röhricht +4 more

We investigate experimentally several dynamical effects as they occur when one or two polarized resonant laser beams of a few milliwatts of power and about a 100-µm beam waist penetrate a glass cell filled with sodium vapor of 3 × 1018 m-3 density and 250 Torr of argon buffer gas.

B. Röhricht, Patrik Eschle, S. Dangel +1 more

Abstract A variety of surprising effects arise from the nonlinear light-matter interaction of circularly polarized laser light propagating through sodium vapor. We present experimental evidence for an asymmetry in the absorption of left hand and right hand circularly polarized light as well as for the creation of a collimated light beam of apposite polarization within the light-matter interaction region. Both effects are not yet explained by common theories.