https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2004-00083-5
Efficient long-term laser excitation of a collimated beam of potassium atoms on the D2 line
1
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Kaiserslautern, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
2
Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Via Buonarotti 2, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Corresponding authors: a ruf@physik.uni-kl.de - b hotop@physik.uni-kl.de
Received:
10
March
2004
Published online:
29
June
2004
With the aim to provide a reliable scheme for efficient laser excitation of
the potassium D2 line over long periods of time, we have developed a robust
stabilization of a single mode laser of frequency
onto a crossover peak in the saturation
spectrum of the 39K(D2) line (4s 2S
P
. The two hyperfine transitions 
(frequency 
and 
(frequency 
are simultaneously excited by the first order sidebands 
of the laser beam (f0), generated by its
electro-optical modulation at the frequency 
. In this way stable excitation of the two transitions
on their proper frequencies is achieved and hyperfine pumping compensated.
PACS: 39.30.+w – Spectroscopic techniques / 32.80.Bx – Level crossing and optical pumping / 42.60.Fc – Modulation, tuning, and mode locking
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2004
