The Effect of an Antirelaxation Coating on Absorption in the D2 Lines of Alkali Metals

Abstract

The specific features of absorption in a cell with an antirelaxation coating related to optical pumping and a finite rate of laser-frequency scanning are studied. The internal state of an atom in such cells is likely to remain unaltered after a collision with a wall. This results in optical pumping of an atomic ensemble over all velocities and the entire cell volume. Both the frequency corresponding to the maximum absorption in the D₂ line of ¹³³Cs and the absorption maximum itself depend on the sign of laser-frequency scanning. A theoretical model attributing the power dependence of asymmetry of the absorption contour of the ¹³³Cs D₂ line to the presence of cyclic transition levels in the system is presented.