The Absolute Oscillator Strength of the Resonance Transition in the Sodium Atom

W. R. MacGillivray

Tadashi Okino, Akio Yamagishi, Humio Inaba

The effect of resonance imprisonment on the atomic lifetime which is remarkable in resonance D lines of sodium vapor is largely dependent on the optical thickness of the vapor and on the oscillator strength of the transition. The measurement of resonance imprisonment of sodium D 1 and D 2 lines was made using a N 2 laser-pumped narrow-band dye laser which enables excitation of the D 1 and D 2 lines separately. The measured results were compared with the theories given by Milne and Holstein, each of which shows partial agreement with the results in different vapor pressure regions.

Alexander Z. Devdariani, Andrey N. Klyucharev

Wojciech Gawlik, J. Kowalski, Ronny Neumann +1 more

A new method for measuring oscillator strengths using the resonant Faraday effect in monochromatic light, i.e. the effect of rotation of the polarisation plane of resonance monochromatic radiation in atomic media, is suggested. As well as discussing the general principles of the method, an experimental test with sodium D 1 and D 2 lines is described. This test yields the most accurately known value of relative oscillator strength f D2 /f D1 =1.985+or-0.004.

Philip Hemmer, C. C. Leiby, Shaoul Ezekiel

Preliminary results on the stabilization of a 1772-MHz oscillator to a resonance Raman transition in an atomic beam of sodium are presented. Short-term stability of 5.6 x 10(-11) (tau = 100 sec) for a 15-cm Ramsey interaction-region separation has been achieved. Sources of frequency drift are briefly discussed.

Margaret N. Lewis, Louis C. Green