Abstract
Recently separation of the two naturally occurring Rb isotopes (28% 87Rb and 72% 85Rb) has been achieved1 using the light-induced drift (LID) effect;2 enrichment up to 95% 87Rb has been observed. In those experiments a high-power (~ 150mW) single-frequency dye laser was used. In the case of single-frequency excitation such power is required since most of the Rb atoms are trapped in the non- resonant hyperfine (hf) ground level due to optical hf pumping.3 Here we demonstrate that the Rb isotopes can be separated equally well using a low-power (3.3 mW) AlGaAs diode laser which has strong relaxation oscillation sidebands. The presence of these sidebands greatly increases LID by eliminating optical hf pumping.
© 1988 Optical Society of America
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