Optically Pumped Atoms

Covering the most important knowledge on optical pumping of atoms, this ready reference is backed by numerous examples of modelling computation for optical pumped systems. The authors show for the first time that modern scientific computing software makes it practical to analyze the full, multilevel system of optically pumped atoms. To make the discussion less abstract, the authors have illustrated key points with sections of MATLAB codes. To make most effective use of contemporary mathematical software, it is especially useful to analyze optical pumping situations in the Liouville space of density matrices rather than in the traditional Hilbert space of wave functions. This unique approach allows modelling under most experimental conditions, e.g. - magnetic resonance with one or more oscillating magnetic fields, - coherent population trapping or CPG resonances induce by modulated light, - magneto-optic forces on multilevel atoms, - various spin-relaxation processes etc. The reader of this book should have a basic understanding of quantum mechanics, atomic physics, optics and magnetic resonance. Some familiarity with MATLAB would be helpful to a reader interested in writing specialized programs based on the illustrative codes to analyze specialized optical-pumping phenomena.

William Happer, Chairman of the Marshall Institute and professor in the Department of Physics at Princeton University, is a specialist in modern optics, optical and radiofrequency spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, and spin-polarized atoms and nuclei. From 1991 to 1993, he served as Director of Energy Research in the Department of Energy and on his return to Princeton, he was named Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics and Chair of the University Research Board.

Yuan-Yu Jau obtained his Ph.D from Princeton University and continued to work with Professor Happer as a research associate and the Instructor in Physics. Dr. Jau is especially interested in AMO physics with specialty of atomic vapor-cell experiments and computer simulations of optically-pumped atomic systems.

Prof. Dr. THAD G. WALKER, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin