ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Quantum beats of the Na(3 2P3/2–3 2S1/2) transition and their change with the magnetic field were observed in pure Na vapor and Na+He gas by using a picosecond laser system. The energies of the hyperfine and Zeeman sublevels of the 3 2P3/2 and 3 2S1/2 states were calculated by using the reported hyperfine constants and g factors, and the theoretical curve of the quantum beats was calculated. The results were in good agreement with the observed profile of the quantum beats in phase of modulation, but the difference of the amplitudes increased with time. By comparing the amplitude of the theoretical curve of the quantum beats with that of the experimental curve, we determined the relaxation time of coherence. The decay of amplitude of the modulation was found to become faster as the pressure of the foreign gas (He) was increased. The decay of amplitude, i.e., the decay of coherence arises from the dephasing, which occurs from the fluctuation of the level energies induced by the interatomic interaction.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.456477
