Splitting of the electromagnetically induced transparency resonance on 85Rb atoms in strong magnetic fields up to the Paschen-Back regime

Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) resonance in strong magnetic fields of up to 1.7 kG has been investigated with the use of a 30-??m cell filled with an atomic rubidium vapor and neon as a buffer gas. The EIT resonance in the ?? system of the D₁ line of ⁸⁵Rb atoms has been formed with the use of two narrowband (??1 MHz) 795-nm diode lasers. The EIT resonance in a longitudinal magnetic field is split into five components. It has been demonstrated that the frequencies of the five EIT components are either blue- or red-shifted with an increase in the magnetic field, depending on the frequency ??_P of the probe laser. In has been shown that in both cases the ⁸⁵Rb atoms enter the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime in magnetic fields of >1 kG. The hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is manifested by the frequency slopes of all five EIT components asymptotically approaching the same fixed value. The experiment agrees well with the theory.     

Determination of copper content in soils and ores by laser-induced breakdown spectrometry

Features of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in potassium vapors at the D₁ line of the ³⁹K isotope are studied. EIT resonances with a subnatural width of 3.5 MHz have been recorded upon excitation by two independent narrow-band diode lasers in a 1-cm-long cell filled with a natural mixture of potassium isotopes and buffer gas. The splitting of EIT resonances in potassium vapors in longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields has been studied for the first time. The splitted components also have a subnatural width. The smallness of the coupling factor of the hyperfine structure in ³⁹K atoms leads to a transition to the Paschen—Back regime at relatively weaker magnetic fields than in the case of Cs, Rb, and Na atoms. Practical applications of the phenomena under study are noted. The theoretical model well explains the experiment.     

Narrow-band N-resonance formed in thin rubidium atomic layers

The narrow-band N-resonance formed in a ?? system of D ₁-line rubidium atoms is studied in the presence of a buffer gas (neon) and the radiations of two continuous narrow-band diode lasers. Special-purpose cells are used to investigate the dependence of the process on vapor column thickness L in millimeter, micrometer, and nanometer ranges. A comparison of the dependences of the N-resonance and the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) resonance on L demonstrates that the minimum (record) thickness at which the N-resonance can be detected is L = 50 ??m and that a high-contrast EIT resonance can easily be formed even at L ?? 800 nm. The N-resonance in a magnetic field for ⁸⁵Rb atoms is shown to split into five or six components depending on the magnetic field and laser radiation directions. The results obtained indicate that levels F _g = 2, 3 are initial and final in the N-resonance formation. The dependence of the N-resonance on the angle between the laser beams is analyzed, and practical applications are noted.     

Electromagnetically induced transparency resonances inverted in magnetic field

The phenomenon of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is investigated in a Λ-system of the ⁸⁷Rb D ₁ line in an external transverse magnetic field. Two spectroscopic cells having strongly different values of the relaxation rates γ_rel are used: an Rb cell with antirelaxation coating (L ~ 1 cm) and an Rb nanometric- thin cell (nanocell) with a thickness of the atomic vapor column L = 795 nm. For the EIT in the nanocell, we have the usual EIT resonances characterized by a reduction in the absorption (dark resonance (DR)), whereas for the EIT in the Rb cell with an antirelaxation coating, the resonances demonstrate an increase in the absorption (bright resonances (BR)). We suppose that such an unusual behavior of the EIT resonances (i.e., the reversal of the sign from DR to BR) is caused by the influence of an alignment process. The influence of alignment strongly depends on the configuration of the coupling and probe frequencies as well as on the configuration of the magnetic field.     

High-spatial-resolution monitoring of strong magnetic field using Rb vapor nanometric-thin cell

We have implemented the so-called λ-Zeeman technique (LZT) to investigate individual hyperfine transitions between Zeeman sublevels of the Rb atoms in a strong external magnetic field B in the range of 2500 ? 5000 G (recently it was established that LZT is very convenient for the range of 10 ? 2500 G). Atoms are confined in a nanometric thin cell (NTC) with the thickness L = λ, where λ is the resonant wavelength 794 nm for Rb D₁ line. Narrow velocity selective optical pumping (VSOP) resonances in the transmission spectrum of the NTC are split into several components in a magnetic field with the frequency positions and transition probabilities depending on the B-field. Possible applications are described, such as magnetometers with nanometric local spatial resolution and tunable atomic frequency references.     

Optical magnetometer with submicron spatial resolution based on Rb vapors

It is shown experimentally that use of fluorescence and transmission spectra obtained from nanocells with the thickness of column of rubidium atomic vapor L = λ/2 and L = λ, respectively (λ = 794 nm is the wavelength of laser radiation close to resonance with D ₁-line transition of Rb atoms), by means of a narrowband diode laser allows spectral separation and study of variations of probabilities of atomic transitions between ground and excited states of hfs of D ₁ lines of ⁸⁵Rb and ⁸⁷Rb atoms in the range of magnetic fields from 10 to 5000 G. Small thickness of atomic vapor column (∼390 nm and ∼794 nm) allows applying permanent magnets simplifying essentially creation of strong magnetic fields. Advantages of this technique are discussed as compared with the technique of saturated absorption. The obtained results show that a nanocell with submicrom thickness of vapor column may serve as a basis for designing a magnetometer with submicron local spatial resolution which is important in case of measuring strongly inhomogeneous magnetic fields. Experimental data are in good agreement with the theoretical results.     

Study of EIT resonances in an anti-relaxation coated Rb vapor cell

We study the sign of resonances obtained in electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Resonances of both kinds—bright (corresponding to enhanced absorption) and dark (corresponding to reduced absorption)—are obtained when the frequency of a probe beam is scanned. The experimental results, presented earlier, use magnetic sublevels of a hyperfine transition in the D₁ line of ⁸⁷Rb along with a magnetic field of 27 G. The atoms are contained in a vapor cell at room temperature, and with anti-relaxation coating on the walls. A quantitative theoretical model, which reproduces the experimental results quite well, is presented for the first time. The model solves the density matrix of the sublevels involved, and uses two regions—one with both the light and magnetic field, and the second without light and just a magnetic field. This ability to have both bright and dark resonances promises applications in sub- and super-luminal propagation of light.     

Local atomic and magnetic structures of nanocrystalline Fe75Cr10B15 alloy

The crystal, local atomic and magnetic structures of Fe₇₅Cr₁₀B₁₅ alloys annealed at 440?C473°C for 5 min have been studied using X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. At the annealing temperature T _a = 440°C, nanocrystals of the ??-Fe phase (??1%) precipitate in the amorphous matrix of the alloy. The complete crystallization of the amorphous alloy occurs at T _a = 473°C with the formation of ??-Fe nanocrystals 26 ± 2 nm in size and nanocrystals of tetragonal boride t-Fe₃B 47 ± 2 nm in size. It has been found that chromium atoms are located in nanocrystals of the ??-Fe and y-Fe₃B types. The distribution functions of hyperfine fields in the nanocrystalline Fe₇₅Cr₁₀B₁₅ alloy reconstructed from the M?ssbauer spectra (at T _a = 473°C) show that there are three allowed states of iron atoms in the ??-Fe phase and three equally probable crystallographic nonequivalent states of iron in the t-(Fe,Cr)₃B phase. The chromium concentration x in the ??-Fe(Cr) phase is found to be ??10 at %. The substitution of chromium atoms for iron atoms in t-Fe₃B substantially decreases local magnetic moments of the iron atoms.     

High contrast <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> line electromagnetically induced transparency in nanometric-thin rubidium vapor cell

The electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) on the atomic D ₁ line of rubidium is studied using a nanometric-thin cell with atomic vapor column length in the range of L=400–800 nm. It is shown that the reduction of the cell thickness by four orders as compared with an ordinary cm-size cell still allows to form an EIT resonance for L=λ=794 nm with the contrast of up to 40%. Further reduction of thickness to L=λ/2 leads to significant reduction of EIT contrast, verifying that the key parameter for EIT in wavelength-scale-thickness cells is not the value of L itself but L/λ ratio. Remarkable distinctions of EIT formation in nanometric-thin and ordinary cells are demonstrated. Well-resolved splitting of the EIT resonance in a magnetic field for L=λ can be used for magnetometry with nanometric spatial resolution. The presented theoretical model well describes the observed results.     

V.L. Ginzburg’s elliptic screw polarization modes in an optical medium with linear birefringence and twist: Determination of their parameters by the method of Jones matrices

The effect of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) has been experimentally implemented for the first time for the (4S _1/2–4P _1/2–4S _1/2) Λ-system of potassium atom levels in a nanocell with a 770-nm-thick column of atomic vapor. It is shown that, at such a small thickness of the vapor column, the EIT resonance can be observed only when the coupling-laser frequency is in exact resonance with the frequency of the corresponding atomic transition. The EIT resonance disappears even if the coupling-laser frequency differs slightly (by ~50 MHz) from that of the corresponding atomic transition, which is due to the high thermal velocity of K atoms. The EIT resonance and related velocity selective optical pumping resonances caused by optical pumping (formed by the coupling) can be simultaneously recorded because of the small (~462 MHz) hyperfine splitting of the lower 4S _1/2 level.     

Influence of atomic motion on the shape of two-photon resonance in gas

A gas of three-level atoms with Λ configuration of energy levels was taken as an example to demonstrate that the influence of particle motion on the two-photon resonances extends further than the residual Doppler shift (k ₁?k ₂)v. In particular, a narrow dip in the absorption spectrum (“dark” resonance) undergoes substantial narrowing, as compared to the atoms at rest. The width of this resonance is studied nonperturbatively as a function of the intensities of probe and strong fields.     

EIT resonance features in strong magnetic fields in rubidium atomic columns with length varying by 4 orders

Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) resonances are investigated with the ⁸⁵Rb D₁ line (795 nm) in strong magnetic fields (up to 2 kG) with three different types of spectroscopic vapor cells: the nano-cell with a thickness along the direction of laser light L ≈ 795 nm, the micro-cell with L = 30 μm with the addition of a neon buffer gas, and the centimeter-long glass cell. These cells allowed us to observe systematic changes of the EIT spectra when the increasing magnetic field systematically decoupled the total atomic electron and nuclear angular moments (the Paschen-Back/Back-Goudsmit effects). The observations agree well with a theoretical model. The advantages and disadvantages of a particular type of cell are discussed along with the possible practical applications.     

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and optical pumping processes formed in Cs sub-micron thin cell

The Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) effect in a Λ-system formed by Cs atoms (6S_1/2 ? 6P_3/2 ? 6S_1/2) confined in an extremely thin cell (ETC) (atomic column thickness L varies in the range of 800 nm –3 µm is studied both experimentally and theoretically. It is demonstrated that when the coupling laser frequency is in exact resonance with the corresponding atomic transition, the EIT resonance parameters weakly depend on L, which allows us to detect the effect at L = λ = 852 nm. EIT process reveals a striking peculiarity in case of the coupling laser detuned by Δ from the atomic transition, namely the width of the EIT resonance rapidly increases upon an increase in Δ (an opposite effect is observed in centimeter-scale cells). The strong broadening of the EIT resonance for large values of detunings Δ is caused by the influence of atom-wall collisions on dephasing rate of coherence. The influence of the coupling laser on the velocity selective optical pumping/saturation resonances formed in ETC has been also studied. The theoretical model well describes the observed results.     

Quartet of resonance peaks of dislocation displacements in NaCl crystals during their magnetic processing in the low-frequency EPR scheme

Resonance relaxation displacements of dislocations have been studied in NaCl crystals placed in crossed ultralow magnetic fields have been studied in the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) scheme, i.e., in the static magnetic field B = (26–261) μT and the perpendicular radio-frequency field (with the amplitudes of 2.5 and 6 μT in the frequency range ν = (0.5–7.3) MHz). The spectrum (quartet) of equidistant resonance peaks of the dislocation mean paths l(ν) has been observed. In the most part of the studied field interval B, the frequencies of the EPR peaks correspond to the Zeeman splitting of the levels with four g-factors close to 2 and the difference of the neighboring values Δg = 0.09. The equidistance is violated only at the lowest fields, B < 50 μT, and frequencies ν < 0.7 MHz.     

Studying the regime of complete decoupling of the bond between the electron and nuclear moments at the <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript>-line of the <Superscript>39</Superscript>K potassium isotope using a spectroscopic microcell

Atomic transitions of the ³⁹K potassium isotope in strong (up to 1 kG) longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields have been studied with a high spectral resolution. It has been shown that crossover resonances are almost absent in the saturated absorption spectrum of potassium vapors in a 30-μm-thick microcell. This, together with the small spectral width of atomic transitions (~30 MHz), allows one to use the saturated absorption spectrum for determining frequencies and probabilities of individual transitions. Among the alkali metals, potassium atoms have the smallest magnitude of the hyperfine splitting of the lower level. This allows one to observe the break of the coupling between the electronic and nuclear angular momentums at comparatively low magnetic fields B > 500 G, i.e., to implement the hyperfine Paschen–Back regime (HPB). In the HPB regime, four equidistantly positioned transitions with the same amplitude are detected in circularly polarized light (σ⁺). In linearly polarized light (π) at the transverse orientation of the magnetic field, the spectrum consists of eight lines which are grouped in two groups each of which consists of four lines. Each group has a special distinguished G-transition and the transition that is forbidden in the zero magnetic field. In the HPB regime, the probabilities of transitions in a group and derivatives of their frequency shifts with respect to the magnetic field asymptotically tend to magnitudes that are typical for the aforesaid distinguished G-transition. Some practical applications for the used microcell are mentioned.     

Study and characterization by magnetophonon resonance of the energy structuring in GaAs/AlAs quantum-wire superlattices

We present the characterization of the band structure of GaAs/AlAs quantum-wire 1D superlattices performed by magnetophonon resonance with pulsed magnetic fields up to 35 T. The samples, generated by the ‘atomic saw method’ from original quantum-well 2D superlattices, underwent substantial modifications of their energy bands built up on the X-states of the bulk. We have calculated the band structure by a finite element method and we have studied the various miniband structures built up of the massesm_tandm_lof GaAs and AlAs at the point X. From an experimental point of view, the main result is that in the 2D case we observe only resonances when the magnetic fieldBis applied along the growth axis whereas in the 1D case we obtain resonances in all magnetic field configurations. The analysis of the maxima (or minima forB//E) in the resistivity ρ_xyas a function ofBallows us to account, qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, for the band structure theoretically expected.     

Magnetic properties of the novel nanocomposite (Zn0.15Ni0.85Fe2O4)0.15/(SiO2)0.85 at room temperature

The value of the effective magnetic anisotropy constant of the ferrimagnetic nanoparticles Zn_0.15Ni_0.85Fe₂O₄ embedded in a SiO₂ silica matrix, determined through ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), is much higher than the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant. The higher value of the anisotropy constant is due to the existence of surface anisotropy. However, even if the magnetic anisotropy is high, the ferrimagnetic nanoparticles with a 15% concentration, which are isolated in a SiO₂ matrix, display a superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior at room temperature and at a frequency of the magnetization field equal to 50 Hz. The FMR spectrum of the novel nanocomposite (Zn_0.15Ni_0.85Fe₂O₄)_0.15/(SiO₂)_0.85, recorded at room temperature and a frequency of 9.060 GHz, is observed at a resonance field (B_0r) of 0.2285 T, which is substantially lower than the field corresponding to free electron resonance (ESR) (0.3236 T). Apart from the line corresponding to the resonance of the nanoparticle system, the spectrum also contains an additional weaker line, identified for a resonance field of ∼0.12 T, which is appreciably lower than B_0r. This line was attributed to magnetic ions complex that is in a disordered structure in the layer that has an average thickness of 1.4 nm, this layer being situated on the surface of the Zn_0.15Ni_0.85Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles that have a mean magnetic diameter of 8.9 nm.     

Resonance magnetoplasticity in ultralow magnetic fields

Resonance relaxation displacements of dislocations in NaCl crystals placed in crossed static and alternating ultralow magnetic fields in the electron paramagnetic resonance scheme are discussed. The Earth’s magnetic field B_Earth ≈ 50μT and other fields in the range of 26–261 μT are used as the static field. New strongly anisotropic properties of the effect have been revealed. Frequency spectra including numerous peaks of paths at low pump frequencies beginning with 10 kHz, as well as the quartet of equidistant peaks at high frequencies (~1.4 MHz at B=B_Earth), have been measured. The effect is also observed in the pulsed pump field with a resonance duration of ~0.5 μs. Resonance changes have been detected in the microhardness of ZnO, triglycine sulfate, and potassium hydrogen phthalate crystals after their exposure in the Earth’s magnetic field in the same electron paramagnetic resonance scheme.     

Experimental implementation of a four-level N-type scheme for the observation of electromagnetically induced transparency

A nondegenerate four-level N-type scheme was experimentally implemented to observe electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) at the ⁸⁷Rb D ₂ line. Radiations of two independent external-cavity semiconductor lasers were used in the experiment, the current of one of them being modulated at a frequency equal to the hyperfine-splitting frequency of the excited 5P _3/2 level. In this case, apart from the main EIT dip corresponding to the two-photon Raman resonance in a three-level L-scheme, additional dips detuned from the main dip by a frequency equal to the frequency of the HF generator were observed in the absorption spectrum. These dips were due to an increase in the medium transparency at frequencies corresponding to the three-photon Raman resonances in four-level N-type schemes. The resonance shapes are analyzed as functions of generator frequency and magnetic field.     

On the shape of cross resonances in counterpropagating wave spectroscopy

Physical processes that generate cross resonances are studied. It is revealed that not only populational, but also coherent, effects can make a contribution to formation of cross resonances. The effects of coherent processes, lifetimes of levels, the parameter of radiation branching from the upper level, and light fields?? characteristics are shown to be qualitatively different for the ??-, V-, and J = 1 ? J = 1 types of transition. Conditions for the change in the sign of cross resonances are found and a situation wherein the cross resonance has a purely coherent nature is shown.