Comparison of density matrix and spectral simulation approaches for the calculation of isotopic selectivities

Abstract

Isotopic selectivities were computed using density matrix and spectral simulation approaches for the two photon 2s 2S 1/2→4s 2S 1/2 (571.0733 nm) transition of lithium for our experimental conditions. Isotopic selectivities were also determined experimentally as a function of laser detuning for two different isotopic compositions of lithium. The experimentally determined isotopic selectivities were found to be in good agreement with the isotopic selectivities computed using spectral simulation and density matrix approaches for all the detunings. This indicates that the wing overlap of the unwanted isotope is adequately considered in both the models; and spectral simulation could be used to study the effect of isotope shifts and hyperfine structure on the isotopic selectivities and for optimisation of experimental parameters such as linewidth of the excitation laser and Doppler width of the atomic beam.