Polarimetric Properties of the D 2 Lines of Alkali Atoms

E. Roueff

Yu. L. Malinkevich

Ivan Hromada, William F. Holmgren, Raisa Trubko +1 more

Vineet Bharti, Ajay Wasan

We present a six-level atomic system using a density matrix approach to show variation of the optical properties in an -type Doppler-broadened system for the D2 line of alkali atoms with the nuclear spin I = 3/2, i.e. 87 Rb, 23 Na and 7 Li. The variation in optical properties arises due to the presence of multiple excited states with varying separations. These excited states cause asymmetry in absorption profiles. This asymmetric nature is more prominent for an atom with more closely spaced hyperfine levels in the excited state. In room temperature atomic vapour, the enhanced absorption at the line centre starts to disappear with a decrease in hyperfine separation. We also discuss the transient behaviour of considered atoms, which is in good agreement with an absorption profile in each case. This approach opens a possibility of realizing the optical switching application in a realistic atom.

Maurizio E. Musso, Laurentius Windholz

I. S. Mesenzova, Denis V. Brazhnikov, S M Ignatovich +2 more

• The frequency standards are widely used in high-resolution spectroscopy, precision physics experiments • Metrology, location, geophysics, space exploration • One of the main methods of laser spectroscopy is method of saturated absorption in a gas of alkali metal atoms