On the Theory of Relaxation of Optically Oriented Atomic Systems

V. P. Putyrskii

V. P. Putyrskii, T. G. Izyumova

Martin C. Fischer

G. V. Skrotskiǐ, T. G. Izyumova

Introduction 177 I. The Optical Orientation of Atoms 178 II. The Optical Detection of the Orientation of Atoms 181 III. The Effect of Relaxation Phenomena on the Process of Optical Pumping 183 IV. Phenomenological Theory of Optical Orientation of Atoms 188 V. Detection of Radio-Frequency Resonance by the Optical Method. Determination of the Hyperfine Structure Constant and of Nuclear and Electronic g Factors 190 VI. Practical Applications of the Method of Optical Orientation of Atoms 194 VII. Orientation Produced by Exchange Collisions 198 VIII. The Study of Relaxation Processes by the Optical Method 200 IX. Optical Pumping in Solids 201 Conclusion 203 Literature 203

Igor M. Sokolov

A theory is derived for the relaxation of hyperfine-level populations, which is caused by an interaction of atoms with solid surfaces during steady-state optical pumping. The relaxation rate is found through a joint solution of the optical-pumping equation and the transport equation for the optical radiation. Disorienting surfaces of various geometric configurations are considered: (a) two parallel planes; (b) the lateral surface of a cylinder; and (c) the entire surface of a cylinder: with weak pumping. Numerical values are found for the relaxation rates for Rb--He and Rb--Ar systems under various conditions. Analytic expressions are derived for the limiting cases of strong and weak pumping. The relaxation rate with steady-state pumping differs in most cases of practical importance from the rate given by the Franzen expression (W. Happer, Rev. Mod. Phys. 44, 169 (1972)); the differences are in magnitude, in the pressure dependence, and in the dependence on the size of the system.

Takashi Kushida, Shuichi Kinoshita