Cylindrical Vector Beams for Rapid Polarization-Dependent Measurements in Atomic Systems

摘要

We demonstrate the use of cylindrical vector beams - beams with spatially varying polarization - for detecting and preparing the spin of a warm rubidium vapor in a spatially dependent manner. We show that a modified probe vector beam can serve as an atomic spin analyzer for an optically pumped medium, which spatially modulates absorption of the beam. We also demonstrate space- variant atomic spin by optical pumping with the vector beams. The beams are thus beneficial for making single-shot polarization-dependent measurements, as well as for providing a means of preparing samples with position-dependent spin.