Szymon Pustelny

Microwave transitions and nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in anti-relaxation-coated cells

Using laser optical pumping, widths and frequency shifts are determined for microwave transitions between ground-state hyperfine components of {sup 85}Rb and {sup 87}Rb atoms contained in vapor cells with alkane anti-relaxation coatings. The results are compared with data on Zeeman relaxation obtained in nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) experiments, a comparison important for quantitative understanding of spin-relaxation mechanisms in coated cells. By comparing cells manufactured over a forty-year period we demonstrate the long-term stability of coated cells, an important property for atomic clocks and magnetometers.

Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with frequency-modulated light in the geophysical field range

Recent work investigating resonant nonlinear magneto-opticalrotation (NMOR) related to long-lived (tau_rel approx 1s) ground-stateatomic coherences has demonstrated potential magnetometric sensitivitiesexceeding (10-11 G Hz-1/2) for small (<1 micro G) magnetic fields. Inthe present work, NMOR using frequency-modulated light (FM NMOR) isstudied in the regime where the longitudinal magnetic field is in thegeophysical range (sim 500mG), of particular interest for manyapplications. In this regime a splitting of the FM NMOR resonancedue tothe nonlinear Zeeman effect is observed. At sufficiently high lightintensities, there is also a splitting of the FM NMOR resonances due toac Stark shifts induced by the optical field, as well as evidence ofalignment-to-orientation conversion type processes. The consequences ofthese effects for FM-NMOR-based atomic magnetometry in the geophysicalfield range are considered.

Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with amplitude modulated light

We study the possibility of creating quantum superposition states in alkali atoms. Our methodology is based on the phenomenon of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR). The effect of magneto-optical rotation occurs whenever the resonant light propagates through the medium immersed in a longitudinal magnetic field and manifests itself as a rotation of the polarization plane of light. The effect is strongly enhanced by the nonlinearity of light-atom interaction and allows state-of-the art atomic magnetometry. On the other hand, the nonlinear magneto-rotation provides means to controllably affect and detect atoms quantum state. We present the work on this topic and report on some characteristics of superposition quantum states such as lifetimes or efficiency of its creation in various conditions.

Magnetometry based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with amplitude-modulated light

Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR), an all-optical technique now finding its use in sensitive magnetometry, is light-intensity-dependent rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized light upon its propagation through a medium placed in a magnetic field. NMOR technique enables measurements of magnetic field from 0 to 50 muT with the expected sensitivity of 10-14 T Hz-1/2.

Detecting Domain Walls of Axionlike Models Using Terrestrial Experiments

M. Pospelov, 2 S. Pustelny, 4, ∗ M. P. Ledbetter, D. F. Jackson Kimball, W. Gawlik, and D. Budker 6 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 1A1, Canada Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, ON N2J 2W9, Canada Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Reymonta 4, 30-059 Kraków, Poland Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7300 Department of Physics, California State University East Bay, Hayward, California 94542-3084, USA Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720

Controlling atomic vapor density in paraffin-coated cells using light-induced atomic desorption

Atomic-vapor density change due to light induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is studied in paraffincoated rubidium, cesium, sodium and potassium cells. In the present experiment, low-intensity probe light is used to obtain an absorption spectrum and measure the vapor density, while light from an argon-ion laser, array of light emitting diodes, or discharge lamp is used for desorption. Potassium is found to exhibit significantly weaker LIAD from paraffin compared to Rb and Cs, and we were unable to observe LIAD with sodium. A simple LIAD model is applied to describe the observed vapor-density dynamics, and the role of the cell’s stem is explored through the use of cells with lockable stems. Stabilization of Cs vapor density above its equilibrium value over 25 minutes is demonstrated. The results of this work could be used to assess the use of LIAD for vapor-density control in magnetometers, clocks, and gyroscopes utilizing coated cells.

Room temperature femtotesla radio-frequency atomic magnetometer

A radio-frequency tunable atomic magnetometer with a sensitivity of about 1 fT/Hz1/2 in a range of 10–500 kHz is demonstrated. The magnetometer is operated in the orientation configuration in which atoms are pumped to the stretched atomic state by a scheme based on indirect optical pumping using only one unmodulated, low-power laser. The magnetometer operates with cesium atoms, which have sufficient vapor pressure near room temperature to enable high magnetometric sensitivities. The technique enables a compact and robust module to be constructed that could become an in-the-field device.

Electromagnetically induced transparency versus nonlinear Faraday effect: Coherent control of light-beam polarization

We report on experimental and theoretical study of the nonlinear Faraday effect under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency at the

Influence of magnetic-field inhomogeneity on nonlinear magneto-optical resonances

5{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{P}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{D}_{5/2}

Pump-probe nonlinear magneto-optical rotation with frequency-modulated light

two-photon transition in rubidium vapor. These transitions realize the inverted