Absorption spectroscopy and Stokes polarimetry in a ⁸⁷Rb vapour in the Voigt geometry with a 1.5 T external magnetic field

Abstract

This paper provides details of a spectroscopic investigation of a thermal 87Rb atomic vapour. The experiment was conducted with an external magnetic field of 1.5 T in the Voigt geometry. Very good quantitative agreement between experimental data and theory is found for all four Stokes parameters—with RMS errors of ∼1.5% in all cases. From the fits to our experimental data a value for the magnetic field strength is extracted, along with the angle between the magnetic field and the polarisation of the light. The effects of the cell window birefringence on the optical rotation signals are characterised. This allows us to carry out precise measurements at a high field strength and arbitrary geometries, allowing further development of possible areas of application for atomic magnetometers.

Laser spectroscopy of hot atomic vapours: from ’scope to theoretical fit

“…The Faraday geometry is used frequently, not least because of its utility in constructing optical isolators (OIs)-devices that allow light to propagate only in one direction [190,191]. There are many studies of the Voigt effect in atomic vapours [168,169,[192][193][194]. The general case with arbitrary angle between the magnetic field and the axis of propagation is more difficult to treat mathematically, and there are far fewer experimental studies of this case [195,196].…”

A simple, powerful diode laser system for atomic physics

“…The invention of the laser [1] was a landmark moment for the scientific world and the ability to generate monochromatic, coherent light has opened avenues for research in many fields including atomic physics [2], telecommunications [3,4], and measurement science [5,6]. Its use in atomic physics precipitated the fields of laser spectroscopy [7,8] and laser cooling, which have led to applications in frequency and timing metrology [9][10][11], magnetometry [12,13] and inertial sensing [14][15][16][17].…”

A simple, powerful diode laser system for atomic physics

“…The invention of the laser 1 was a landmark for the scientific world and the ability to generate monochromatic, coherent light has opened avenues for research in many fields including atomic physics 2 , telecommunications 3,4 , and measurement science 5,6 . Its use in atomic physics precipitated the fields of laser spectroscopy 7,8 and laser cooling, which have led to applications in frequency and timing metrology [9][10][11] , magnetometry 12,13 and inertial sensing [14][15][16][17] .…”