Abstract
A technique to selectively excite spin-polarized alkali atoms in one of the two ground-state hyperfine levels is demonstrated, which can separately create the transverse spin component of spin-polarized alkali atoms in either ground-state hyperfine level. The principle of this technique is analyzed, and the experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of this technique. This technique can be used to accurately measure spin relaxation and polarization of alkali atoms in either ground-state hyperfine level. An example of its applications to measure the transverse relaxation time is presented.
Highlights
For an ensemble of alkali atoms in the presence of a static magnetic field, the atomic populations of the ground-state Zeeman sublevels are almost the same in equilibrium, and the expectation value of the total angular momentum of alkali atoms is approximately equal to zero
We report a technique to selectively excite spin-polarized alkali atoms in different ground-state hyperfine levels
By controlling the direction of an applied rotating magnetic field, we can choose to excite magnetic dipole transitions and create the transverse spin component of alkali atoms in either hyperfine level as shown in Fig. 2(c) and (d). This technique can be used to accurately measure spin relaxation and polarization of alkali atoms in either ground-state hyperfine level, which is helpful for the research of optical pumping and relaxation mechanisms
Summary
For an ensemble of alkali atoms in the presence of a static magnetic field, the atomic populations of the ground-state Zeeman sublevels are almost the same in equilibrium, and the expectation value of the total angular momentum of alkali atoms is approximately equal to zero. By controlling the direction of an applied rotating magnetic field, we can choose to excite magnetic dipole transitions and create the transverse spin component of alkali atoms in either hyperfine level as shown in Fig. 2(c) and (d). This technique can be used to accurately measure spin relaxation and polarization of alkali atoms in either ground-state hyperfine level, which is helpful for the research of optical pumping and relaxation mechanisms. This technique can be applied into the Mx magnetometer to improve the measuring precision of external magnetic fields
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