Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation of frequency-modulated light resonant with a low-<i>J</i>transition

Abstract

A low-light-power theory of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation of frequency-modulated light resonant with a $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ transition is presented. The theory is developed for a Doppler-free transition and then modified to account for Doppler broadening and velocity mixing due to collisions. The results of the theory are shown to be in qualitative agreement with experimental data obtained for the rubidium $D1$ line.