Orientation and Alignment of Sodium Atoms by Means of Polarized Resonance Radiation

Abstract

Sodium atoms have been oriented by means of circularly polarized resonance radiation. The amount of orientation agrees with that calculated from the intensity of the light source used. The polarization of the light scattered from the sodium sample varies in the expected manner when the light intensity and applied magnetic field are varied. Illumination with unpolarized resonance radiation is shown to result in alignment of the sodium atoms. The largest degree of orientation achieved corresponds to an average value for the nuclear, electronic, and total angular momenta of ${\overline{M}}_I=0.180=0.120I$, ${\overline{M}}_S=0.035=0.070S$, ${\overline{M}}_F=0.216=0.108F$, respectively.