title: Cylindrical vector beams for rapid polarization-dependent measurements in atomic systems.
abstract: We demonstrate the use of cylindrical vector beams - beams with spatially varying polarization - for detecting and preparing the spin of a warm rubidium vapor in a spatially dependent manner. We show that a modified probe vector beam can serve as an atomic spin analyzer for an optically pumped medium, which spatially modulates absorption of the beam. We also demonstrate space-variant atomic spin by optical pumping with the vector beams. The beams are thus beneficial for making single-shot polarization-dependent measurements, as well as for providing a means of preparing samples with position-dependent spin.
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA. coldatoms@nrl.navy.mil
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Fatemi
mesh_terms: D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D012413:Rubidium