Spin Polarization of Atoms by Laser Driven Two Photon and Excimer Transitions

Abstract

Spin polarization of atoms by one-photon optical pumping has been an important tool ever since its discovery by Brossel and Kastler [1] and by Hawkins and Dicke [2]. In some situations the use of two-photon optical pumping to produce spin polarization would be advantageous. For exampl, one might use two-photon optical pumping with wavelengths between 2000 Å and 3000 Å to spin polarize Xe¹²⁹, Xe¹³¹, Kr⁸³ and other noble gases for which direct one-photon optical pumping of the ground state necessitates the use of vacuum ultraviolet photons. The localization of the spin polarization produced by nonlinear two-photon pumping near the focus of the pumping beam would have important advantages for remote sensing applications.