Polarization spectroscopy to determine alignment depolarization of the [formula omitted] atoms using a pump-probe laser technique

Abstract

We have experimentally investigated alignment depolarization cross section of the excited J = 3 / 2 133Cs atoms, by collisions with ground level krypton atoms, from a two-photon two-color linear polarization spectra. To measure the linear polarization degree of the 6 s 2 S 1 / 2 → 6 p 2 P 3 / 2 → 10 s 2 S 1 / 2 double-resonance transition, a nanosecond pulse pump-probe laser technique was employed. Alignment was optically induced by linear polarization of the pump laser. By analyzing the intensity of the cascade fluorescence signal, monitored from the 9 p 2 P 1 / 2 → 6 s 2 S 1 / 2 transition at 361.73 nm, in the presence of Kr pressures ranging from 7 mbar to 133 mbar a depolarization cross section value of 294 ( 45 ) Å 2 is obtained.