Polarization of the fluorescent light of Ne atoms interacting with a laser beam measurement of several relaxation times

The fluorescent light from two atomic levels is studied assuming that the atoms are subjected to a gas discharge, to a static magnetic field, and, simultaneously, to a laser beam having the transition frequency between the atomic levels. Calculations are developed in the formalism of irreducible tensor operators. One takes into account the existence of isotropic relaxations and cascade effects due to spontaneous emission between the upper and the lower levels. Following Lamb, the laser beam is described classically by its electric field, and its effects are calculated by perturbation theory. It is predicted that the σ component of fluorescent light exhibits the Hanle effect, which allows one to measure the relaxation rates and of the population and of the alignment of the emitting level, respectively. Experimental agreement with the theoretical analysis has been found for the , and levels of Ne. Among the experimental results obtained by this method are the natural widths and the collision cross sections for population (quenching collision) and for alignment. Several transition probabilities are also derived. Furthermore, the theory of coherent imprisonment of the fluorescent line has been found valid even if laser pumping light is used.