Optical Pumping & EIT

Using of optical pumping

Optical pumping is widely used to prepare atoms, ions or molecules in a selected quantum mechanical state. This can be either a specific electronic state (like in a gas or solid state laser itself) or a magnetic state. The latter is a prerequisite for laser magnetic field measurement and for monitoring the lung with NMR/MRT techniques involving the inhalation of spin polarized He gas.

Excitation of electronic or magnetic states with lasers

  • Optical pumping
  • Electromagnetically induced transparency
  • Photon storage & slow light
  • TOPTICA’s added value
Picture of the lung obtained by NMR of inhaled optically pumped He3 (Courtesy of E. Otten and W. Heil, University of Mainz).
Picture of the lung obtained by NMR of inhaled optically pumped He3 (Courtesy of E. Otten and W. Heil, University of Mainz).

What is EIT?

Electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT) refers to a phenomenon where the absorption of light (usually a laser beam) can be varied or even controlled by shining in another laser beam. EIT with phase coherent lasers has interesting consequences. Light can be slowed down to a speed of a walking human being or – using a special sequence of light pulses – even completely stopped and reemitted on demand.

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