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arXiv:physics/0408009 · Physical Review A

Microwave transitions and nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in anti-relaxation-coated cells

Dmitry Budker, Leo W. Hollberg, Derek F. Jackson Kimball, John E. Kitching, Szymon Pustelny, Valeriy V. Yashchuk

Published Jan 27, 2005• 129 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts are determined for microwave transitions between ground-state hyperfine components of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms contained in vapor cells with alkane antirelaxation coatings. The results are compared with data on Zeeman relaxation obtained in nonlinear magneto-optical rotation experiments, a comparison important for quantitative understanding of spin-relaxation mechanisms in coated cells. By comparing cells manufactured over a $40\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}\text{year}$ period we demonstrate the long-term stability of coated cells, an important property for atomic clocks and magnetometers.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.71.012903

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Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts are determined for microwave transitions between ground-state hyperfine components of 85Rb^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb and 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms contained in vapor cells with alkane antirelaxation coatings. The results are compared with data on Zeeman relaxation obtained in nonlinear magneto-optical rotation experiments, a comparison important for quantitative understanding of spin-relaxation mechanisms in coated cells. By comparing cells manufactured over a 40\penalty1000-year40\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}\text{year}40\penalty1000-year period we demonstrate the long-term stability of coated cells, an important property for atomic clocks and magnetometers.
Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts are determined for microwave transitions between ground-state hyperfine components of {sup 85}Rb and {sup 87}Rb atoms contained in vapor cells with alkane anti-relaxation coatings. The results are compared with data on Zeeman relaxation obtained in nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) experiments, a comparison important for quantitative understanding of spin-relaxation mechanisms in coated cells. By comparing cells manufactured over a forty-year period we demonstrate the long-term stability of coated cells, an important property for atomic clocks and magnetometers.
Nonlinear magneto-optical Faraday rotation (NMOR) on the potassium D1 and D2 lines was used to study Zeeman relaxation rates in an antirelaxation paraffin-coated $3\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{cm}$-diameter potassium vapor cell. Intrinsic Zeeman relaxation rates of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{NMOR}∕2\ensuremath{\pi}=2.0(6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$ were observed. The relatively small hyperfine intervals in potassium lead to significant differences in NMOR in potassium compared to rubidium and cesium. Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts were also determined for transitions between ground-state hyperfine sublevels of 39K^{39}\mathrm{K}39K atoms contained in the same paraffin-coated cell. The intrinsic hyperfine relaxation rate of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{expt}}^{\mathit{hf}}∕2\ensuremath{\pi}=10.6(7)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$ and a shift of $\ensuremath{-}9.1(2)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$ were observed. These results show that adiabatic relaxation gives only a small contribution to the overall hyperfine relaxation in the case of potassium, and the relaxation is dominated by other mechanisms similar to those observed in previous studies with rubidium.
An alkene-based antirelaxation coating for alkali-metal vapor cells exhibiting Zeeman relaxation times up to 77 s was recently identified by Balabas et al. The long relaxation times, two orders of magnitude longer than in paraffin- (alkane-) coated cells, motivate revisiting the question of what the mechanism is underlying wall-collision-induced relaxation and renew interest in applications of alkali-metal vapor cells to secondary frequency standards. We measure the width and frequency shift of the ground-state hyperfine $m{}_{F}=0\ensuremath{\rightarrow}m{}_{F}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ transition (clock resonance) in vapor cells with 85{}^{85}85Rb and 87{}^{87}87Rb atoms, with an alkene antirelaxation coating. We find that the frequency shift is slightly larger than for paraffin-coated cells and that the Zeeman linewidth scales linearly with the hyperfine frequency shift.
It is predicted theoretically that the combination of elliptically polarized radiation and an antirelaxation coating of the walls of a vacuum cell containing alkali metal vapor provides an asymmetric shape of the magneto-optical resonance. The cause of the asymmetry is the optical pumping of the ground-state hyperfine component which is not destroyed upon collision of the atom with the wall. The effect is most pronounced when the laser frequency is tuned to the resonance with the the F → F + 1 transition.