Spin-exchange frequency shift in alkali-metal-vapor cell frequency standards

Journal Article · Wed Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20786951

Micalizio, Salvatore; Godone, Aldo; Levi, Filippo ^[1]; Vanier, Jacques ^[2]

---

1. Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale Galileo Ferraris, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin (Italy)
2. Universite de Montreal, Montreal (Canada)

In this paper we calculate the effect of spin-exchange collisions in alkali-metal vapors. In the framework of the high-energy approximation, we evaluate the spin-exchange cross sections related to the line broadening and to the frequency shift of the ground state hyperfine transition. We do the calculation for the four isotopes, {sup 23}Na, {sup 39}K, {sup 87}Rb, and {sup 133}Cs. The results are used in particular to evaluate the spin-exchange frequency shift in Rb vapor cell frequency standards used in many applications. It turns out that, due to possible fluctuations in the atomic density, spin exchange may affect significantly the medium and long term frequency stability of the frequency standard.

• OSTI ID: 20786951
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 73, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.73.033414; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
APPROXIMATIONS
ATOM COLLISIONS
CESIUM 133
CROSS SECTIONS
DENSITY
FLUCTUATIONS
GROUND STATES
LINE BROADENING
POTASSIUM 39
RUBIDIUM 87
SODIUM 23
SPIN EXCHANGE
STABILITY
VAPORS