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Interaction Of Light With Atoms In External Fields

Dmitry Budker, Derek F Kimball, David P. DeMille

Published Jul 24, 2008• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract When linearly polarized light propagates through a medium immersed in a magnetic field, the plane of light polarization at the output is rotated (Fig. 4.1); this effect was observed by Michael Faraday almost one hundred and fifty years ago (Faraday 1855). In 1898, the Italian physicists D. Macaluso and O. M. Corbino discovered that Faraday rotation was resonantly enhanced near atomic absorption lines (Macaluso and Corbino 1898).

DOI
10.1093/oso/9780199532421.003.0004

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Abstract When linearly polarized light propagates through a medium immersed in a magnetic field, the plane of light polarization at the output is rotated (Fig. 4.1); this effect was observed by Michael Faraday almost one hundred and fifty years ago (Faraday 1855). In 1898, the Italian physicists D. Macaluso and O. M. Corbino discovered that Faraday rotation was resonantly enhanced near atomic absorption lines (Macaluso and Corbino 1898).
Nonlinear in laser power, near-resonant light-atom interaction leads to a number of spectacular modifications of a well-known effect -polarization plane rotation in a magnetic field applied along the direction of light propagation.In particular, the rotation can be enhanced by up to nine orders of magnitude compared to the linear case.Faraday effect [ 1 ] is the rotation of the plane of linear light polarization by a medium in a magnetic field applied in the direction of light propagation.In 1898, Macaluso and Corbino eJ, studying absorption spectra of the alkali atoms in the presence of magnetic fields, discovered that the Faraday effect in the vicinity of resonance absorption lines also had a distinct resonant character.The essence of the Macaluso-Corbino effect can be illustrated by considering a simple case of a F= 1 ~ F'=O transition (Fig. 1 ).Linearly polarized light incident on the sample can be resolved into two counter-rotating circular components ( cr~.In the absence of a magnetic field, the M=±l sublevels are degenerate and the optical resonance
Results of a fairly straightforward experiment on resonant magneto-optical rotation by rubidium-87 atoms revealed strong time-dependence of the polarization plane of light emerging from atomic vapors following a sudden irradiation with a laser beam. The rotation of the plane appears as a not direct consequence of the influence of the magnetic field on atoms. Reported measurements conducted using a vapor cell without any buffer gas or an anti-relaxation wall coating show that transmitted light has initially the same (linear) polarization as the incident one. Rotation of the polarization plane caused by an axial magnetic field develops in time scales similar to the pace of establishing the optical pumping/relaxation equilibrium in the atomic ensemble. The traditional passive Faraday rotation picture providing working description for the resonant magneto-optical effects in steady-state conditions does not explain the observed sequence of evolution of the polarization. The picture has to be augmented with analysis of time dependence in the spatial distribution of relevant quantum states within the atomic ensemble as well as longitudinal and transversal intensity profiles of the light beam. Isolation of external effects caused by the optical pumping and relaxation processes from consequences of internal atomic coherences should uncover more details of mechanisms of the latter in the presence of magnetic field. Plentitude of data available from time-dependent polarization measurements provides strong incentives for further development and tests of comprehensive models of coherent interactions of atomic ensembles with radiation and possibly a base for additional advance in understanding and applications of these phenomena.
Three calculations of optical Faraday rotation are presented in which a linearly polarized field is incident on a medium of harmonic oscillators in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field. The rotation of the plane of polarization of the field is evaluated using classical oscillators and the Lorentz force equation, quantum oscillators and the Heisenberg equations of motion, and quantum oscillators and a Schrödinger equation approach. It is shown that a simple argument, based on the assumption that a circularly polarized field drives either Δm=1 or Δm=−1 transitions on absorption (m is the magnetic quantum number), leads to an incorrect result for the Verdet constant.
The existence of a novel resonance in the modulation of the fluorescence light emitted by an atom or a molecule when coherently excited by a rapidly rotating linearly polarized light beam is predicted. Such resonances are experimentally observed due to a transfer of coherence from light to atoms or molecules, via either stimulated emission or absorption of light, without having to shift the positions of the levels by an external perturbation. These resonances directly permit the measurement of energy level lifetimes, even in the case where usual magnetic resonance methods would require the use of large magnetic fields.
Large Faraday rotations can be generated by circular birefringence of atomic samples in an axial magnetic field in the vicinity of atomic resonance lines. More generally, magneto-optical effects in atomic samples include circular dichroism in addition to birefringence, resulting in a modification of the ellipticity as well as the polarization alignment. Usually such effects are investigated for homogeneous linear polarizations, but the mechanisms apply also to polarization structures such as vector vortices. We investigate the effect of optical activity of a rubidium vapor in the hyperfine Paschen–Back regime along the D2 line, for the example of azimuthally polarized input light. We show that for low atomic densities, circular birefringence dominates over dichroism, and azimuthal polarization is rotated toward radial polarization. The rotation angle increases with increasing optical densities. At high vapor temperatures, dichroism becomes more and more relevant, leading to intricate variations of both alignment and ellipticity. Our results shine new light on the interplay between different magneto-optic effects at strong magnetic fields. Their highly sensitive response to detuning may find applications in spectroscopy and quantum sensing.