State selection in a cesium beam by laser-diode optical pumping

Abstract

In this paper the optical pumping of a cesium beam is investigated. The rate equation model is used to calculate the population difference created by laser diode(s) illuminating the beam. The finite laser and atomic linewidths are taken into account in order to analyze leakage effects on neighboring transitions. One-laser and two-laser pumping is considered and the best-suited two-laser configurations for preparing the cesium atoms in a single ${m}_{F}$=0 sublevel are specified. Experimental results on both the leakage effect and the population difference achieved agree with theoretical predictions.