title: Conversion of laser-frequency noise to optical-rotation noise in cesium vapor.
abstract: We have studied the noise in the optical rotation of a linearly polarized laser beam transmitted through a spin-polarized (133)Cs vapor as a function of its frequency detuning from the optical resonance. Our measurements demonstrate the direct conversion of the laser-frequency noise into optical rotation noise by the dispersive response of the atomic vapor. We describe this noise-conversion process in terms of a simple model that can be used to optimize the performance of atomic devices, such as atomic magnetometers, that use optical rotation as their operational signal.
authors.affiliation: Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA. jimenezm@nist.gov
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Martínez
authors.forename: Svenja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knappe
authors.forename: W Clark
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kitching