PRODUCTION OF POLARIZED 7Li ATOMIC BEAM IN STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD BY OPTICAL PUMPING

The production of a polarized ⁷Li atomic beam in a strong magnetic field was experimentally studied by laser optical pumping of a single ground hyperfine F level. It was shown that nearly complete negative and partial positive polarizations of ⁷Li atoms could be realized under appropriate conditions by this pumping scheme, which was in agreement with the rate equation calculations. Based on the analyses of transition probabilities, the maximum polarizations for various transitions and light polarizations were given.