SEMICLASSICAL THEORY FOR THE INTERACTION DYNAMICS OF LASER-LIGHT AND SODIUM ATOMS INCLUDING THE HYPERFINE-STRUCTURE

The conventional J = 1/2<->J = 1/2 model is successful for the qualita tive description of the interaction of sodium atoms and laser light tu ned close to the atomic D-1 transition. However, time constants for dy namic effects due to optical pumping predicted by the model are about an order of magnitude too short compared to experimental observations. The inclusion of hyperfine states in the quantum-mechanical descripti on of the atom leads to a satisfactory model that also predicts the co rrect absorption due to atomic diffusion and allows for the descriptio n of effects related to population trapping. This hyperfine model is d erived in detail and compared with the J = 1/2<->J=1/2 approximation. [S1050-2947(97)00911-6].