The Expected Performance of an Optical Pumping Light Source, and the Kinetics of Optical Pumping of 23S13He

Abstract

A practical light source for optical pumping necessarily excites transitions other than those which it is desired should be excited. It is shown that a pumping light source for 23S13He may be characterized by three parameters, which describe the transition rates for Δm = ±1, and 0, transitions under standard conditions. Expressions are derived relating these parameters to the geometry of the light source. The equation which describes the flow of angular momentum into 3He is formulated, using these parameters, the light flux, the lifetime of the metastable atoms, and collisional mixing in the 23P states. This equation is solved to give the polarization which may be attained, and the rate at which the polarization is built up. A modification of this equation is also given, which takes into account moderate trapping of resonance radiation. An expression is also derived which relates the polarization of 3He to the intensity of the scattered pumping light.