| Popis: |
Relaxation constants ${T}_{1}$ and ${T}_{2}$ have been computed for experiments involving optical pumping and optical detection in alkali metal vapor. The calculations have been performed for several possible spin relaxation mechanisms; namely, magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, spin exchange, and the optical pumping process itself. For all of these mechanisms a reorientation experiment will approximately predict a spin resonance line width (equivalent to the statement ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\approx}{T}_{2}$ for spin-\textonehalf{} particles.) However, a spin reorientation experiment of the type originally performed by Dehmelt, employing circularly polarized light, gives approximate results because of the nonexponential character of the reorientation. A more suitable experiment is one employing hyperfine population differences and unpolarized light. |
