Cylindrical vector beams for rapid polarization-dependent measurements in atomic systems

摘要

We demonstrate the use of cylindrical vector beams - beams with spatiallyvarying polarization - for detecting and preparing the spin of a warm rubidiumvapor in a spatially dependent manner. We show that a modified probe vectorbeam can serve as an atomic spin analyzer for an optically pumped medium, whichspatially modulates absorption of the beam. We also demonstrate space-variantatomic spin by optical pumping with the vector beams. The beams are thusbeneficial for making singleshot polarization-dependent measurements, as wellas for providing a means of preparing samples with position-dependent spin.