Observation of the spin polarization of Cs atoms during optical orientation of metastable helium atoms in alkali-helium plasma

Abstract

We are the first to experimentally observe a magnetic-resonance signal of 62S1/2 Cs atoms by absorption of light from a helium lamp that was used to optically orient metastable 23S1 He atoms. The amplitude of the cesium signal proved to be almost three orders of magnitude lower than the amplitude of the magnetic resonance of 23S1 He atoms. Particular features of the creation and observation of the collisional polarization of cesium under conditions of alkali-helium plasma have been discussed.