Abstract

We present an application of the Faraday effect to produce a narrowband dichroic beam splitter using an alkali metal vapor. Two Raman beams detuned in frequency by the ground-state hyperfine splitting in ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ are produced using an electro-optic modulator and then separated using the Faraday effect in an isotopically pure ${}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ thermal vapor. An experimental transmission spectra for the beam splitter is presented along with a theoretical calculation. The performance of the beam splitter is then demonstrated and characterized using a Fabry–Perot etalon. For a temperature of 70°C and a longitudinal magnetic field of 80 G, a suppression of one frequency of 18 dB is achieved, limited by the quality of the polarizers.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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