Features of two-photon resonances of nonlinear magnetooptical rotation of the plane of polarization for the initial population of fine-structure levels in alkali atoms

Abstract

The features of nonlinear magnetooptical effects of fine-structure levels of an alkali atom, including effects in strong magnetic fields, as well as under conditions of two-photon resonance, are considered. The spectra of magnetooptical rotation and of magnetic circular dichroism have been obtained for the first time for the nontrivial initial population of magnetic sublevels of excited electronic states of an alkali atom, as well as under conditions of two-photon resonance. The decrease in the amplitude of resonances of initially populated fine-structure levels is explained by population transfer, taking place in strong fields. This transfer affects the rotation of the plane of polarization. The lower the initial population, the more pronounced the population transfer. Numerical experiments have shown that analysis of the resonance shapes in the spectra of magnetooptical rotation can yield information on the initial population of magnetic sublevels of excited electronic states of atoms.