Abstract
Transmission of light through an atomic sample placed between crossed polarizers in a magnetic field is jointly determined by Faraday rotation and net absorption: Transmission increases with rotation and decreases with absorption. Both rotation and absorption are proportional to the atomic density hence, in a certain range of the two effects may compete, yielding a distinct density dependence of the transmitted light. We have studied such dependence in rubidium vapor for of approximately to with resonant laser light. We present interpretation of the competition effect and discuss its possible application for atomic density determination.
© 2005 Optical Society of America
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