Polarization Dependence of Optical Coherence Signals between Magnetic Sublevels of Alkali-Atom Ground-State Hyperfine Structure

摘要

A method is proposed for calculating of coherence signals of alkali-atom ground-state sublevels, observed as modulation of absorption of the resonance radiation, as a function of the spectral composition, polarization, and direction of the probe beam. The optimum direction and polarization of the probe beam are shown to be dependent, in the general case, on the spectral composition of light and on the type of coherence to be detected. However, for the most typical case of unresolved hyperfine structure of the excited state, the coherence of adjacent magnetic sublevels is optimally detected in circularly polarized light directed across the magnetic field.