RADIATION TRAPPING IN A SATURATED ATOMIC VAPOR IN CYLINDRICAL GEOMETRIES

We treat radiation trapping in a saturated atomic vapor in a cylindric al vapor cell. When saturation (i.e. stimulated emission) sets in, the Holstein equation of radiation trapping becomes nonlinear, and the ab sorption coefficient can become inhomogeneous. We first present a new method for the efficient computation of the reabsorption rate with an inhomogeneous distribution of absorbers in a cylinder. We then use thi s method as the basis of an algorithm for the computation of trapping in a saturated vapor.