Ground-state Hanle effect based on atomic alignment

Abstract

We have studied the ground-state Hanle effect (GSHE) excited by linearly polarized laser light on the D 1 line of cesium atoms. We have solved algebraically the Liouville equation using the irreducible tensor formalism, and derive an analytical expression for the resonance line shapes in a magnetic field of arbitrary direction. The model predictions are in excellent agreement with experimental observations in various field geometries. Our model is valid for arbitrary F → F transitions in the low-power limit. We discuss the relation between the GSHE and electromagnetically induced transparency or absorption. Our approach allows a full understanding of the mechanism of the GSHE and provides tools for quantifying the resonance contrast, a crucial parameter for metrological applications of level crossing resonances.

In situ calibration of magnetic field coils using free-induction decay of atomic alignment

“…F 0 hyperfine transition introduced in [2]. The numerical values of the constants j 0 , L, and a F;F 0 are irrelevant for the procedure outlined below.…”

“…As discussed in [2], the laser power transmitted through an (optically thin) atomic medium is given by…”

“…The most elegant way around these complications is a field calibration method that uses the atomic sample itself, and in fact such methods have been deployed in the past [1,2]. Using the atomic sample proper for the calibration has furthermore the distinct advantage that the aforementioned volume averages are intrinsically taken into account.…”

Steady-state solutions for atomic multipole moments in an arbitrarily oriented static magnetic field

“…(8) of Ref. [15], where the steady-state longitudinal alignment m 2,0 was derived to describe ground-state Hanle resonances observed with linearly polarized light.…”

Relaxation mechanisms affecting magneto-optical resonances in an extremely thin cell: Experiment and theory for the cesiumD1line

“…The Bloch equations were first applied to modeling dark resonances in a sodium beam [11]. In the linear regime at low powers analytical descriptions of such resonances are possible [12]. However, as the absorption of laser radiation becomes nonlinear, numerical models are normally used, and over time these models have been extended to include the coherent properties of the exciting laser radiation, the simultaneous interaction of all hyperfine sublevels in the ground and excited states with the laser radiation, magnetic-field-induced mixing of magnetic sublevels, and the Doppler effect [13].…”