We consider the effects of optical pumping on the conversion of laser-frequency modulation into intensity modulation by an atomic absorption line in a vapor of alkali atoms driven in a Λ-configuration. It is found that, due to optical pumping in combination with the excited-state hyperfine structure, the absorption line shape is distorted substantially as the Fourier frequency of the FM is changed. The most significant effect of the distortion is a shift of the apparent line center, which depends on how the frequency of the modulation compares with the optical pumping rate. This shift has implications for locking lasers to atomic transitions and also for FM–AM noise conversion in atomic vapors.

[Optical Society of America ]

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Optical-pumping noise in laser-pumped, all-optical microwave frequency references (JOSAB)
• Characterization of coherent population-trapping resonances as atomic frequency references (JOSAB)
• High-resolution spectroscopy of hyperfine Zeeman components of the sodium D₁ line by coherent population trapping (JOSAB)
• Dark-state imaging for two-dimensional mapping of a magnetic field (OL)
• Subkilohertz linewidths measured by heterodyne-detected coherent population trapping in sodium vapor (OL)

Related Conference Papers

• Implementation of the Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm with Rovibrational Molecular Wave Packets
• Implementation of the Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm with Rovibrational Molecular Wave Packets
• Optically induced spin orientation of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond
• Optically induced spin orientation of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond
• Robust control of realistic quantum gates
• Robust control of realistic quantum gates
• Sub-Doppler and Subnatural Narrowing of an Absorption Line
• Sub-Doppler and Subnatural Narrowing of an Absorption Line