Study of atomic spectral lines in a magnetic field with use of a nanocell with the thickness L = λ

Abstract

We propose a technique which we call “L = λ Zeeman technique” (LZT) for investigation of the transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the hfs structure of alkali metal atoms in external magnetic fields. The technique is based on the employment of a nanocell with the thickness of the Rb atom vapor column equal to the wavelength of the laser radiation, 780 nm, resonant with the atomic rubidium D2 transition. At the laser intensities of about 1 mW/cm2 in the transmission spectrum of the nanocell narrow (∼ 30 MHz) resonant peaks of reduced absorption appear localized exactly on the atomic transitions. In magnetic fields these peaks are split and their amplitudes and frequency positions depend on the magnetic field strength. The theoretical model well describes the experimental results.