Resonances of coherent population trapping in samarium vapours

Resonances of coherent population trapping were detected in atomic vapours of the rare-earth element samarium, The coherent population trapping was pr oduced by two external-cavity diode lasers (672 and 686 nm) in a Lambda -sy stem formed by the three levels of Sm-154: the 4f(6)6s(2)(F-7(0)) ground st ate, the first fine-structure 4f(6)6s(2)(F-7(1)) sublevel of the ground sta te and the 4f(6)(F-7)6s6p(P-3(0))9F(1)(0) upper level. The dependence of th e spectral shapes and resonance contrasts on the polarisation of the laser beams and the direction of the applied magnetic field was studied. The obta ined results were analysed.