Effect of laser detuning frequency and polarization state on optical pumping efficient

The detecting principle of optical pumping cesium magnetometer sensor used for measurement of geomagnetic field is introduced. The population variation of the Zeeman sublevels with time in the laser-pumped cesium atoms is calculated from the approximate form of the optical Bloch equations, and the effect of laser detuning frequency and polarization state on the populations of Zeeman sublevels in cesium atoms is analyzed in detail. Matlab software is used to emulate the population variation curves in different laser detuning frequency and different polarization state. It is obtained from the curves that the polarization degree of cesium atoms is the most obvious and the optical pumping is the most efficient when the detuning frequency is 0 and the laser is left hand circularly polarized light. It is important to improve the detecting sensitivity and enhance the stability of optical pumping magnetometer sensor.