The electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) phenomenon has been investigated in a $Lambda$-system of the $^{87}$Rb D$_1$ line in an external transverse magnetic field. Two spectroscopic cells having strongly different values of the relaxation
rates $gamma_{rel}$ are used: a Rb cell with antirelaxation coating ($Lsim$1 cm) and a Rb nanometric-thin cell (nano-cell) with thickness of the atomic vapor column $L$=795nm. For the EIT in the nano-cell, we have the usual EIT resonances characterized by a reduction in the absorption (i.e. dark resonance (DR)), whereas for the EIT in the Rb cell with an antirelaxation coating, the resonances demonstrate an increase in the absorption (i.e. bright resonances). We suppose that such unusual behavior of the EIT resonances (i.e. the reversal of the sign from DR to BR) is caused by the influence of alignment process. The influence of alignment strongly depends on the configuration of the coupling and probe frequencies as well as on the configuration of the magnetic field.
A one-dimensional nano-metric-thin cell (NC) filled with potassium metal has been built and used to study optical atomic transitions in external magnetic fields. These studies benefit from the remarkable features of the NC allowing one to use $lambda
/2$- and $lambda$-methods for effective investigations of individual transitions of the K D_1 line. The methods are based on strong narrowing of the absorption spectrum of the atomic column of thickness L equal to $lambda/2$ and to $lambda$(with $lambda = 770un{nm}$ being the resonant laser radiation wavelength). In particular, for a $pi$-polarized radiation excitation the $lambda$-method allows us to resolve eight atomic transitions (in two groups of four atomic transitions) and to reveal two remarkable transitions that we call Guiding Transitions (GT). The probabilities of all other transitions inside the group (as well as the frequency slope versus magnetic field) tend to the probability and to the slope of GT. Note that for circular polarization there is one group of four transitions and GT do not exist. Among eight transitions there are also two transitions (forbidden for $B$ = 0) with the probabilities undergoing strong modification under the influence of magnetic fields. Practically the complete hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is observed at relatively low ($sim 1un{kG}$) magnetic fields. Note that for K $D_2$ line GT are absent. Theoretical models describe the experiment very well.
An efficient $lambda/2$-method ($lambda$ is the resonant wavelength of laser radiation) based on nanometric-thickness cell filled with rubidium is implemented to study the splitting of hyperfine transitions of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb $D_2$ lines in a
n external magnetic field in the range of $B =3$~kG -- 7~kG. It is experimentally demonstrated that at $B > 3$~kG from 38 (22) Zeeman transitions allowed at low $B$-field in $^{85}$Rb ($^{87}$Rb) spectra in the case of $sigma^+$ polarized laser radiation there remain only 12 (8) which is caused by decoupling of the total electronic momentum $textbf{J}$ and the nuclear spin momentum $textbf{I}$ (hyperfine Paschen-Back regime). Note that at $B > 4.5$~kG in the absorption spectrum these $20$ atomic transitions are regrouped in two completely separate groups of $10$ atomic transitions each. Their frequency positions and fixed (within each group) frequency slopes, as well as the probability characteristics are determined. A unique behavior of the atomic transitions of $^{85}$Rb and $^{87}$Rb labeled $19$ and $20$ (for low magnetic field they could be presented as transitions $F_g=3, m_F=+3 rightarrow F_e=4, m_F=+4$ and $F_g=2, m_F=+2 rightarrow F_e=3, m_F=+3$, correspondingly) is stressed. The experiment agrees well with the theory. Comparison of the behavior of atomic transitions for $D_2$ line compared with that of $D_1$ line is presented. Possible applications are described.
The existence of cross-over resonances makes saturated-absorption spectra very complicated when external magnetic field B is applied. It is demonstrated for the first time that the use of micrometric-thin cells (MTC, $Lapprox40,mu$m) allows applicati
on of SA for quantitative studies of frequency splittings and shifts of the Rb atomic transitions in a wide range of external magnetic fields, from 0.2 up to 6 kG (20-600 mT). We compare the SA spectra obtained with the MTC with those obtained with other techniques, and present applications for optical magnetometry with micrometer spatial resolution and a broadly tunable optical frequency reference.
Magnetic field-induced giant modification of probabilities for seven components of 6S1/2 (Fg=3) - 6P3/2 (Fe=5) transition of Cs D2 line forbidden by selection rules is observed experimentally for the first time. For the case of excitation with circul
arly-polarized laser radiation, the probability of Fg=3,mF=-3 - Fe=5,mF=-2 transition becomes the largest among 25 transitions of Fg=3 - Fe=2,3,4,5 group in a wide range of magnetic field 200 - 3200 G. Moreover, the modification is the largest among D2 lines of alkali metals. A half-wave-thick cell (length along the beam propagation axis L=426 nm) filled with Cs has been used in order to achieve sub-Doppler resolution which allows for separating the large number of atomic transitions that appear in the absorption spectrum when an external magnetic field is applied. For B > 3 kG the group of seven transitions Fg=3 - Fe=5 is completely resolved and is located at the high frequency wing of Fg=3 - Fe=2,3,4 transitions. The applied theoretical model very well describes the experimental curves.
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.
The sub-natural-width $N$-type resonance in {Lambda}-system, on the $D_2$ line of Cs atoms is studied for the first time in the presence of a buffer gas (neon) and the radiations of two continuous narrow band diode lasers. $L$ = 1 cm long cell is use
d to investigate $N$-type process. The $N$-type resonance in a magnetic field for $^{133}$Cs atoms is shown to split into seven or eight components, depending on the magnetic field and laser radiation directions. The results obtained indicate that levels $F_g$ = 3, 4 are initial and final in the N resonance formation. The experimental results with magnetic field agree well with the theoretical curves.
