6533b826fe1ef96bd128537b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Electric-Field-Induced Symmetry Breaking of Angular Momentum Distribution in Atoms

Ruvin FerberKaspars BlushsAndrey JarmolaFlorian GahbauerM. TamanisMarcis Auzinsh

subject

PhysicsAngular momentumMagnetic momentAtomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)FOS: Physical sciencesGeneral Physics and AstronomyElectron electric dipole momentPhysics - Atomic PhysicsTotal angular momentum quantum numberQuantum electrodynamicsAngular momentum of lightAngular momentum couplingOrbital angular momentum of lightAngular momentum operatorAtomic physics

description

We report the experimental observation of alignment to orientation conversion in the 7D_3/2 and 9D_3/2 states of Cs in the presence of an external dc electric field, and without the influence of magnetic fields or atomic collisions. Initial alignment of angular momentum states was created by two-step excitation with linearly polarized laser radiation. The appearance of transverse orientation of angular momentum was confirmed by the observation of circularly polarized light. We present experimentally measured signals and compare them with the results of a detailed theoretical model based on the optical Bloch equations.

https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.97.043002