Title :
Laser interactions with alkali atoms in the presence of a static magnetic field
Author :
Tremblay, P. ; Michaud, A. ; Beaubien, J. ; Levesque, M. ; Theriault, S. ; Breton, M. ; Cyr, N. ; Tetu, M. ; Villeneuve, B.
Author_Institution :
Dept. de Genie Electr., Laval Univ., Que., Canada
Abstract :
It is pointed out that atoms placed in the presence of a static magnetic field undergo shifts of their energy levels and changes in their transition probabilities. Even at quite low static magnetic field values, these effects are important and must be taken into account when considering optical pumping or absorption experiments with alkali atoms. Linear absorption experiments with /sup 85/Rb, /sup 87/Rb, and /sup 133/Cs are described, and optical frequency shifts are given for natural rubidium. It is confirmed that important changes in atomic energy levels and transition probabilities arise even at quite low magnetic fields for the n/sup 2/P states of alkali atoms.<>
Keywords :
atomic excited states; atomic photoexcitation; caesium; optical pumping; radiative lifetimes; rubidium; /sup 133/Cs; /sup 85/Rb; /sup 87/Rb; alkali atoms; atomic photoexcitation; laser interactions; linear absorption experiments; n/sup 2/P states; optical frequency shifts; optical pumping; static magnetic field; transition probabilities; Absorption; Atom lasers; Atom optics; Atomic beams; Energy states; Frequency; Laser transitions; Magnetic field measurement; Magnetic fields; Optical pumping;
Conference_Titel :
Precision Electromagnetic Measurements, 1990. CPEM '90 Digest., Conference on
Conference_Location :
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DOI :
10.1109/CPEM.1990.110089
