Nonlinear optical approach to matrix-element spectroscopy of the 5s²S_1/2→ 5p²P_j→ 5d²D_j′transitions in⁸⁷Rb

Abstract

We present in this paper results of a nonlinear optical spectroscopy approach to measurement of excited-state transition matrix elements. Recent advances in the quality of excited-state transition matrix elements have permitted renormalization of earlier measurements of transition amplitudes associated with the 5s 2S1/2 → 5p 2Pj → 5d 2D3/2 two-photon transitions in atomic 87Rb. Previous measurements were made to high precision, but further improvement of the accuracy was limited by uncertainties in data describing the influence of energetically distant transitions. Availability of more reliable matrix elements, including relativistic all-order calculations of transition matrix elements in alkali atoms, has since significantly improved the situation. In the present paper, we show that theoretical relative transition amplitudes for the excited state 5p 2Pj → 5d 2D3/2 doublet (ratio = 1.098(9)) are now in excellent agreement with experiment (ratio = 1.090(6)). This result, combined with our recent work on caesium, shows that it is possible to determine relative line strengths, for transitions connecting atomic excited states, with precision previously found only in state-of-the-art measurements of alkali resonance doublets. Detailed discussion of the experimental technique and supporting data, including polarization measurements on the 5s 2S1/2 → 5p 2Pj → 5d 2D5/2 transitions, is also presented.

Critically evaluated theoretical energies, lifetimes, hyperfine constants, and multipole polarizabilities inRb87

“…[53] using the CCSD method starting from the Dirac-Coulomb-Breit Hamiltonian. The relativistic many-body calculations of atomic properties for alkalimetal atoms were presented by Safronova et al [54][55][56][57][58]. Those calculations were carried out using the relativistic single-double (SD) method in which single and double excitations of Dirac-Fock wave functions are included to all orders of perturbation theory and provided accurate values of removal energies, electric-dipole matrix elements, hyperfine constants, and static polarizabilities [54][55][56][57][58].…”

Spontaneous decay of an atom excited in a dense and disordered atomic ensemble: Quantum microscopic approach

“…For simplicity thereafter in the paper we will consider the case of only one atom excited. Note that possibilities of two-photon excitation 5s S − 2(1/2) → 5p P −2(j) → 5d D −2(j) ′ of rubidium atoms have been already studied in experiment [52].…”

An experiment on multiple pathway quantum interference for the advanced undergraduate physics laboratory

“…By using two independently tuned diode lasers instead of one, thus performing two-color two-quantum spectroscopy, one can add other degrees of freedom to the experiments, these being the polarization states of the two exciting light sources and an adjustable energy splitting between the two quanta needed to drive the transition. This technique has been utilized in many atomic and molecular physics studies [14][15][16][17], including the precise measurement of relative atomic transition probabilities. It has also been been the focus of several research projects completed in our laboratory [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…This technique has been utilized in many atomic and molecular physics studies [14][15][16][17], including the precise measurement of relative atomic transition probabilities. It has also been been the focus of several research projects completed in our laboratory [17][18][19][20][21][22]. The experiments were motivated primarily by the need for atomic physics benchmarks with which to measure the precision of high level atomic physics structure calculations, particularly in atomic Cs [23,24].…”

“…The dependence on the relative polarizations of the two light sources can lead to much greater precision in the relative transition amplitudes, but requires very good experimental control of the laser frequencies and polarizations. As mentioned earlier, this approach has been used to obtain precise relative transition amplitudes in a number of cases [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”