Optical pumping of Rb in the presence of high-pressure sup 3 He buffer gas
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia (Canada)
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia (Canada) TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
- TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
A cryogenic technique has been used to produce polarized {sup 3}He targets of up to relative density {ital p}=12 atm ({approx}3{times}10{sup 20} {sup 3}He atoms/cm{sup 3}; {ital p}=1 atm corresponds to 760 Torr or 101.3 kPa pressure at 273 K). In these targets {sup 3}He nuclei are polarized by spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped rubidium atoms. From transmission measurements at wavelengths of 790--800 nm, we have determined pressure shifts, linewidths, and line-shape asymmetries for the Rb 5{ital S}{sub 1/2}{r arrow}5{ital P}{sub 1/2} {ital D}1 transition. The Rb spin-destruction rate was found to exhibit a quadratic increase versus {sup 3}He pressure, which indicates the importance of Rb-{sup 3}He-{sup 3}He collision processes. The transmission results for circularly polarized light are well described by a model that predicts the dependence of the average Rb polarization on Rb density, {sup 3}He pressure, light intensity, and cell geometry. The Rb-{sup 3}He spin-exchange cross section, {l angle}{sigma}{sub SE}{ital v}{r angle}=6.1{times}10{sup {minus}20} cm{sup 3} s{sup {minus}1}, was found to be independent of {sup 3}He pressure up to {ital p}=12.1 atm. Maximum {sup 3}He polarizations of 72--79% were observed with cells of 17 cm{sup 3} volume that contained {sup 3}He at {ital p}=6--9 atm.
- OSTI ID:
- 5151824
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review A. General Physics; (United States), Vol. 44:5; ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
HELIUM 3 TARGET
POLARIZED TARGETS
RUBIDIUM
OPTICAL PUMPING
HIGH PRESSURE
POLARIZED BEAMS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PRODUCTION MECHANISMS
SPIN EXCHANGE
THREE-BODY PROBLEM
ALKALI METALS
BEAMS
ELEMENTS
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
METALS
PUMPING
TARGETS
640301* - Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics- Beams & their Reactions