No Arabic abstract
We have shown that it is possible to model accurately optical phenomena in intense laser fields by taking into account the intensity distribution over the laser beam. We developed a theoretical model that divided an intense laser beam into concentric regions, each with a Rabi frequency that corresponds to the intensity in that region, and solved a set of coupled optical Bloch equations for the density matrix in each region. Experimentally obtained magneto-optical resonance curves for the $F_g=2longrightarrow F_e=1$ transition of the $D_1$ line of $^{87}$Rb agreed very well with the theoretical model up to a laser intensity of around 200 mW/cm$^2$ for a transition whose saturation intensity is around 4.5 mW/cm$^2$. We have studied the spatial dependence of the fluorescence intensity in an intense laser beam experimentally and theoretically. An experiment was conducted whereby a broad, intense pump laser excited the $F_g=4longrightarrow F_e=3$ transition of the $D_2$ line of cesium while a weak, narrow probe beam scanned the atoms within the pump beam and excited the $D_1$ line of cesium, whose fluorescence was recorded as a function of probe beam position. Experimentally obtained spatial profiles of the fluorescence intensity agreed qualitatively with the predictions of the model.
We present a spectroscopic method for mapping two-dimensional distributions of magnetic field strengths (magnetic scalar potential lines) using CCD recordings of the fluorescence patterns emitted by spin-polarized Cs vapor in a buffer gas exposed to inhomogeneous magnetic fields. The method relies on the position-selective destruction of spin polarization by magnetic resonances induced by multi-component oscillating magnetic fields, such that magnetic potential lines can directly be detected by the CCD camera. We also present a generic algebraic model allowing the calculation of the fluorescence patterns and find excellent agreement with the experimental observations for three distinct inhomogeneous field topologies. The spatial resolution obtained with these proof-of-principle experiments is on the order of 1 mm. A substantial increase of spatial and magnetic field resolution is expected by deploying the method in a magnetically shielded environment.
We investigate a solid-state, reversible, alkali-ion battery (AIB) capable of regulating the density of alkali atoms in a vacuum system used for the production of laser-cooled atoms. The cold-atom sample can be used with in-vacuum chronoamperometry as a diagnostic for the voltage-controlled electrochemical reaction that sources or sinks alkali atoms into the vapor. In a combined reaction-diffusion-limited regime, we show that the number of laser-cooled atoms in a magneto-optical trap can be increased both by initially loading the AIB from the vapor for longer, and by using higher voltages across the AIB when atoms are subsequently sourced back into the vapor. The time constants associated with the change in atom number in response to a change in AIB voltage are in the range of 0.5 s - 40 s. The AIB alkali reservoir is demonstrated to survive oxidization during atmospheric exposure, simplifying reservoir loading prior to vacuum implementation as a replacement for traditional resistively-heated dispensers. The AIB capabilities may provide an improved atom number stability in next-generation atomic clocks and sensors, while also facilitating fast loading and increased interrogation times.
Simple and efficient lambda-method and lambda/2-method (lambda is the resonant wavelength of laser radiation) based on nanometric-thickness cell filled with rubidium are implemented to study the splitting of hyperfine transitions of 85Rb and 87Rb D_1 line in an external magnetic field in the range of B = 0.5 - 0.7 T. It is experimentally demonstrated from 20 (12) Zeeman transitions allowed at low B-field in 85Rb (87Rb) spectra in the case of sigma+ polarized laser radiation, only 6 (4) remain at B > 0.5 T, caused by decoupling of the total electronic momentum J and the nuclear spin momentum I (hyperfine Paschen-Back regime). The expressions derived in the frame of completely uncoupled basis (J, m_J ; I, m_I) describe very well the experimental results for 85Rb transitions at $B > 0.6 T (that is a manifestation of hyperfine Paschen-Back regime). A remarkable result is that the calculations based on the eigenstates of coupled (F, m_F) basis, which adequately describe the system for low magnetic field, also predict reduction of number of transition components from 20 to 6 for 85Rb, and from 12 to 4 for 87Rb spectrum at B > 0.5 T. Also, the Zeeman transitions frequency shift, frequency interval between the components and their slope versus $B$ are in agreement with the experiment.
We study the dynamics of neutral cold atoms in an $L$-shaped crossed-beam optical waveguide formed by two perpendicular red-detuned lasers of different intensities and a blue-detuned laser at the corner. Complemented with a vibrational cooling process this setting works as a one-way device or atom diode.
Autoionization of Rydberg states of HfF, prepared using the optical-optical double resonance (OODR) technique, holds promise to create HfF+ in a particular Zeeman level of a rovibronic state for an electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) search. We characterize a vibronic band of Rydberg HfF at 54 cm-1 above the lowest ionization threshold and directly probe the state of the ions formed from this vibronic band by performing laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) on the ions. The Rydberg HfF molecules show a propensity to decay into only a few ion rotational states of a given parity and are found to preserve their orientation qualitatively upon autoionization. We show empirically that we can create 30% of the total ion yield in a particular |J+,M+> state and present a simplified model describing autoionization from a given Rydberg state that assumes no angular dynamics.