Abstract

We compare the interactions of spin-polarized Na with glass surfaces that are either bare or silicone coated. For this purpose, we reflect a laser beam that is resonant with the Na atoms from the interface, using an angle of incidence close to the critical angle of total internal reflection. Polarization-selective detection of the reflected light provides information about the ground-state orientation of the atoms, which is created by optical pumping with a second laser beam. Our theoretical description treats the atomic vapor as a homogeneous anisotropic medium characterized by a macroscopic magnetization. Comparative experimental studies performed with silicone-coated and bare glass surfaces provide evidence that wall relaxation can be observed by reflection spectroscopy.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

Wall relaxation of spin-polarized sodium measured by reflection spectroscopy

Stefan Grafström and Dieter Suter
Opt. Lett. 20(20) 2134-2436 (1995)

Spin relaxation of rubidium atoms in an octadecyltrichlorosilane anti-relaxation and anti-reflection coated vacuum multipass cell

Shuguang Li, Pengfeng Dai, Jinsheng Liu, Zekai Xu, and Kelvin Chida
Opt. Mater. Express 12(11) 4384-4398 (2022)

Magnetic resonance line shapes in optical pumping and light-shift experiments in alkali atomic vapors

J. Skalla, S. Lang, and G. Wäckerle
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12(5) 772-781 (1995)

Quantum reflection: atomic matter-wave optics in an attractive exponential potential

C. Henkel, C. I. Westbrook, and A. Aspect
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(2) 233-243 (1996)

Near-field effect in surface optics

O. N. Gadomsky and K. V. Krutitsky
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 13(8) 1679-1690 (1996)