Authors: N Whiting P Nikolaou N A Eschmann M J Barlow R Lammert J Ungar W Hu L Vaissie B M Goodson
Publish Date: 2012/03/02
Volume: 106, Issue: 4, Pages: 775-788
Abstract
Nextgeneration laser diode arrays with integrated ‘onchip’ volume holographic gratings can provide high power with spectrally narrowed output that can be tuned about the rubidium D1 line—without causing significant changes to the laser’s flux or spectral profile These properties were exploited to independently evaluate the effects of varying the laser centroid wavelength and power on batchmode Rb/129Xe spinexchange optical pumping SEOP as functions of xenon partial pressure and cell temperature Locally optimized SEOP was often achieved with the laser tuned to either the red or blue side of the Rb D1 line global optimization of SEOP was observed at lower cell temperatures and followed the D1 absorption profile which was asymmetrically broadened and redshifted from the nominal wavelength The complex dependence of the optimal wavelength for laser excitation on the cell temperature and Xe density appears to result from an interplay between cell illumination and the Rb/129Xe spinexchange rate as well as Xecelldependent changes to the Rb absorption lineshape that are in qualitative agreement with expectations based on previous work Romalis et al Phys Rev A 564569–4578 1997 but significantly greater in magnitude These nextgeneration lasers provide a ∼2–3fold improvement in 129Xe polarization compared to conventional broadband lasersWe would like to thank Drs B Saam U of Utah G Schrank PNNL M McCarroll SIUC and A Coy Magritek for helpful conversations and correspondence G Moroz SIUC for expert machining and the late K Owens UMSL for glassblowing NW is currently supported by the NSF International Research Fellowship Program OISE0966393 BMG is a Cottrell Scholar of Research Corporation Work at SIUC was supported by NSF CAREER CHE0349255 REU DMR0552800 Research Corporation and SIU ORDA MTC MJB acknowledges the generous support of the School of Medical Surgical Sciences University of Nottingham and GE HealthcareAmersham
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