Magneto-optical effects and rf magnetic field detection in cold rubidium atoms

Krystian Sycz,Wojciech Gawlik,Adam M Wojciechowski

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/497/1/012006

Abstract

We present the results of our latest experiments on atomic coherences in cold atoms. Interaction of atoms with a near-resonant, linearly polarized light leads to an effective creation of long-lived ground-state Zeeman coherences which is observed through the nonlinear Faraday effect or free induction decay signals of the Larmor precession. Both optically and radio-frequency induced Zeeman coherences are observed, with relaxation rates around a 100 Hz.

Highlights

Ever since the first experiments with laser cooling of neutral atoms, there is a growing interest in the field of cold and ultra-cold diluted gases, see, e.g., references [1, 2, 3]
In this work we report on our latest experiments on nonlinear magneto-optical effects in lasercooled rubidium samples released from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) [15]
Nonlinear Faraday effect When a linearly polarized, resonant laser beam is directed at the atomic cloud in a longitudinal magnetic field, its polarization plane undergoes rotation due to the para- and diamagnetic Faraday effects

Summary

Introduction

Ever since the first experiments with laser cooling of neutral atoms, there is a growing interest in the field of cold and ultra-cold diluted gases, see, e.g., references [1, 2, 3]. Interaction of atoms with a near-resonant, linearly polarized light leads to an effective creation of long-lived ground-state Zeeman coherences [16] which can be observed through the nonlinear, or paramagnetic Faraday effect [17]. 22nd International Laser Physics Worksop (LPHYS 13) Journal of Physics: Conference Series 497 (2014) 012006 a) experiments show that high rotation angles of above ten degrees and coherence lifetimes of a few milliseconds can be achieved with cold atoms released from the MOT in a simple magnetically shielded setup.

Results

Conclusion