A method for the quantitative study of atomic transitions in a magnetic field based on an atomic vapor cell with L=lambda

TL;DR

This paper introduces the Lambda-Zeeman method for studying atomic hyperfine transitions in a nanocell with thickness equal to the resonant wavelength, enabling precise magnetic field measurements and atomic frequency references.

Contribution

It presents a novel experimental approach using a nanocell with L=lambda to analyze hyperfine transitions under magnetic fields, enhancing resolution and potential applications.

Findings

Narrow resonances split into multiple components in a magnetic field

Frequency positions depend on the magnetic field strength

Potential for high-resolution magnetometry and atomic references

Abstract

We describe the so-called "Lambda-Zeeman method" to investigate individual hyperfine transitions between Zeeman sublevels of atoms in an external magnetic field of 0.1 mT - 0.25 T. Atoms are confined in a nanocell with thickness L = Lambda, where Lambda is the resonant wavelength (794 nm or 780 nm for D1 or D2 line of Rb). Narrow resonances in the transmission spectrum of the nanocell are split into several components in a magnetic field; their frequency positions and probabilities depend on the B-field. Possible applications are described, such as magnetometers with nanometric spatial resolution and tunable atomic frequency references.