Collisionally induced depolarization of 2P1/2 alkali atoms fluorescence: validity criteria of weak-pumping and broad-line approximations

Abstract

The dependence of the circular polarization of the fluorescence of alkali atoms on the intensity and spectral composition of the σ+-polarized exciting D1 line has been investigated by considering the stationary solutions of rate equations for populations of the Zeeman sublevels. The calculations were performed for pumping-light intensities corresponding to those of classical light sources, e.g., radio frequency or microwave discharge lamps, and commonly accepted values of cross sections for collisional relaxation of ground-state and excited atoms. The systematic errors of cross sections for collisional disorientation of 2P1/2 alkali atoms due to the neglect of intensity and spectral composition of the exciting light are estimated.