Polarization-dependent sensitivity of level-crossing, coherent-population-trapping resonances to stray magnetic fields

Coherent-population-trapping resonances within the degenerate two-level system of the F=2 -> F'=1 transition of the Rb-87 D-1 line were investigated in an uncoated Rb vapor cell by means of level-crossing-type experiments. Tuning over the two-photon resonance is achieved sweeping a magnetic field around zero value. The influence of transverse magnetic fields on the amplitude and the width of the resonances, recorded in fluorescence and absorption, were investigated in the cases of excitation with linear, circular, and elliptical laser light polarization. A theoretical analysis was performed for the case of linearly polarized excitation, the results of which are in good agreement with the experiment. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.