Copyright by Kirsten Viering 2006 - Raizen Lab - The University of ...

e in the ˆz-direction, B = Bˆz.
The quantization axis of the atom is defined by the external magnetic field.
Hence in the atom frame we can expand the linear (π) polarized field in the ˆy-direction
into two circular polarized (σ + + σ − ) fields. These lead to transitions with a change
of ∆m = ±1 in the magnetic quantum number. While the expansion is possible in
ˆy-direction it is impossible in ˆz-direction, which coincides with the quantization axis.
Figure 6.1: Schematic of the possible Raman transitions leading to the effective Raman-
Rabi frequency β0−1
In this configuration it is simple to identify the possible paths leading to the
transition |F = 1, m = −1〉 → |F = 2, m = 0〉 which are schematically shown in fig.
6.1. Hence we can calculate the effective Raman-Rabi frequency β0−1 by adding the
individual Raman-Rabi frequencies of each path,
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