Optical pumping rates in an alkali vapour in the presence of a buffer gas

Abstract

General equations are derived for the computation of 〈Fz〉 in an alkali vapour submitted to optical pumping withD1 orD2 line, in an absorption cell without wall coating and with a buffer gas. Extensive numerical computations have been performed in view of ascertaining the relative importance of the relevant parameters, and some conclusions are drawn about the possible uses of optical pumping in the study of the excited state collisional mixing and in the construction of polarized targets.