Abstract
The time-dependent population dynamics of hyperfine (HF) levels of n2p3/2 states is examined for cyclic transitions in alkali atoms. We study a slow and cold atomic beam of Na (n = 3) and Cs (n = 6), taking into account the long interaction time of light with atoms (~200 μs) inside the resonant laser beam. Simple analytical expressions for the populations of the excited states and for the intensities of the absorption lines are derived for a three-level system model. We show that at moderate pump laser power the mixing of HF levels is sufficient to form a flow of population from a cyclic transition to partially open transitions. We discuss various phenomena associated with the evolution of optical pumping that cannot be explained by general analysis of two-level system model.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1038-1048 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Optics and Spectroscopy |
| Volume | 119 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 9 2015 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Government of the Russian Federation Grant 074-U01, with partial funding from the European Commission projects EU FP7 IAPP COLDBEAM and EU FP7 Centre of Excellence FOTONIKA-LV (REGPOT-CT-2011-285912-FOTONIKA), and the US Office of Naval Research Grant No. N00014-12-1-0514.