Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in the presence of radio-frequency field

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in rubidium atoms under radio-frequency fields, combining experimental measurements with theoretical modeling to understand atomic spin dynamics.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison between experimental NMOR signals and a density-matrix theoretical model in the presence of rf fields.

Findings

Good agreement between experiment and theory.

Insights into atomic spin polarization dynamics.

Enhanced understanding of NMOR under rf fields.

Abstract

We report measurements of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) for the D2 line of $^{87}$Rb atoms in an antirelaxation-coated vapor cell in the presence of a radio-frequency (rf) field. The experimental NMOR signals as a function of rf field frequency for various rf field powers are compared to a theoretical model based on the density-matrix formalism. The comparison between experiment and theory enables understanding of the ground-state atomic spin polarization dynamics, illustrated using plots of the probability distribution of the atomic angular momentum.