Absorption profiles of alkali-metal<i>D</i>lines in the presence of a static magnetic field

Abstract

When atoms are placed in a static magnetic field, they undergo shifts of their energy levels and changes in their transition probabilities. These two effects must be taken into account when considering absorption profiles of alkali-metal D lines, which result from the contribution of many transitions influenced by the laser spectrum and Doppler broadening. The model presented here gives the D-line absorption coefficients of alkali-metal vapors in the presence of an arbitrary static magneitc field. They are evaluated considering various laser polarizations. Experimental measurements of D-line absorption profiles for $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$, $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$, and $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ isotopes show excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.