We have studied polarization effects in the photoassociation of two colliding ultra-cold Na-atoms. In a first step the two colliding atoms absorb a laser photon to associate to a singly excited molecule in a bound state of the 0g− or 1g potential. In a second step the excited molecule absorbs a second photon and is further excited to a bound level in a doubly excited potential (0u− or 1u which are autoionizing). By measuring the produced ions with parallel and perpendicular polarizations of the two laser beams used possible polarization effects can be studied. We find strong polarization effects if a 0g− state is used as the intermediate state and very little or no effects at all if a 1g state is used.We have studied polarization effects in the photoassociation of two colliding ultra-cold Na-atoms. In a first step the two colliding atoms absorb a laser photon to associate to a singly excited molecule in a bound state of the 0g− or 1g potential. In a second step the excited molecule absorbs a second photon and is further excited to a bound level in a doubly excited potential (0u− or 1u which are autoionizing). By measuring the produced ions with parallel and perpendicular polarizations of the two laser beams used possible polarization effects can be studied. We find strong polarization effects if a 0g− state is used as the intermediate state and very little or no effects at all if a 1g state is used.

AIP conference proceedingsJan 1, 20020 citations

Zeeman effect in the polarization spectroscopy of Na

S. Nakayama, George William Series, Wojciech Gawlik

Optics CommunicationsSep 1, 198036 citations

Alignment in two-step pulsed laser excitation of Rydberg levels in light atoms: The example of sodium

Keith B. MacAdam, Michael A. Morrison

Aligned atomic Rydberg states of sodium can be prepared using two-step excitation from the ground state by linearly polarized pulsed lasers. Information that is normally inaccessible, e.g., sublevel partial cross sections in charge-transfer experiments, can be obtained when aligned targets are used. The calculations of orbital alignment must carefully allow for fine and hyperfine structure, laser linewidths, pulse widths and delays, sublevel coherences, and other factors. In this paper we derive the orbital alignments and time-averaged d-state sublevel populations for 3 $^{2}$ ${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow}3 $^{2}$ ${\mathit{P}}_{\mathit{J}1}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow}n $^{2}$ D excitations in Na using angular-momentum and density-matrix methods. We consider both quadrupole alignment ${\mathit{A}}^{(2)}$ and hexadecapole alignment ${\mathit{A}}^{(4)}$ , with excitation through either ${\mathit{J}}_{1}$ =1/2 or 3/2 intermediate states considered on the same footing. We show sublevel populations for \ensuremath{\Vert} ${\mathit{M}}_{\mathit{L}}$ \ensuremath{\Vert}=0, 1, and 2 analytically and graphically. Finally, we formulate the experimental design problem quantitatively in order to ascertain how to optimize the choice of polarizer angles for extraction of sublevel partial cross sections. Although perhaps the commonest instance, two-step excitation of Na(nd) is but one of a large number of interesting cases, and this study is further intended to illustrate and guide the application of these methods to other light atoms.Aligned atomic Rydberg states of sodium can be prepared using two-step excitation from the ground state by linearly polarized pulsed lasers. Information that is normally inaccessible, e.g., sublevel partial cross sections in charge-transfer experiments, can be obtained when aligned targets are used. The calculations of orbital alignment must carefully allow for fine and hyperfine structure, laser linewidths, pulse widths and delays, sublevel coherences, and other factors. In this paper we derive the orbital alignments and time-averaged d-state sublevel populations for 3 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3 $^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{\mathit{J}1}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n $^{2}$D excitations in Na using angular-momentum and density-matrix methods. We consider both quadrupole alignment ${\mathit{A}}^{(2)}$ and hexadecapole alignment ${\mathit{A}}^{(4)}$, with excitation through either ${\mathit{J}}_{1}$=1/2 or 3/2 intermediate states considered on the same footing. We show sublevel populations for \ensuremath{\Vert}${\mathit{M}}_{\mathit{L}}$\ensuremath{\Vert}=0, 1, and 2 analytically and graphically. Finally, we formulate the experimental design problem quantitatively in order to ascertain how to optimize the choice of polarizer angles for extraction of sublevel partial cross sections. Although perhaps the commonest instance, two-step excitation of Na(nd) is but one of a large number of interesting cases, and this study is further intended to illustrate and guide the application of these methods to other light atoms.

Physical Review AAug 1, 19939 citations

Fine and hyperfine structure in highly excited states of sodium

M. D. Levenson, M. M. Salour

Physics Letters AJul 1, 197427 citations

^{2}

{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}

\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3

^{2}

{\mathit{P}}_{\mathit{J}1}

\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n

^{2}

D excitations in Na using angular-momentum and density-matrix methods. We consider both quadrupole alignment

{\mathit{A}}^{(2)}

and hexadecapole alignment

{\mathit{A}}^{(4)}

, with excitation through either

{\mathit{J}}_{1}

=1/2 or 3/2 intermediate states considered on the same footing. We show sublevel populations for \ensuremath{\Vert}

{\mathit{M}}_{\mathit{L}}

\ensuremath{\Vert}=0, 1, and 2 analytically and graphically. Finally, we formulate the experimental design problem quantitatively in order to ascertain how to optimize the choice of polarizer angles for extraction of sublevel partial cross sections. Although perhaps the commonest instance, two-step excitation of Na(nd) is but one of a large number of interesting cases, and this study is further intended to illustrate and guide the application of these methods to other light atoms.