Abstract

The Faraday Anomalous Dispersion Optical Filter (FADOF) has been recently demonstrated by us.^[1] The FADOF is an ultra-high background rejection optical filter, with intrinsically wide field-of-view, fast response time, high throughput, and is an imaging device. The FADOF consists of an atomic vapor cell, subjected to a longitudinal magnetic field, sandwiched between crossed polarizers. If the magnetic field strength, cell length and vapor density are properly adjusted, then a narrow spectral band in the wings of the resonance lines will be transmitted through the vapor cell with high efficiency, have a polarization rotation of 90, and because of the polarization rotation this narrow spectral band will be transmitter with high efficiency. A general theoretical model has also been developed by us,^[2] as well as theoretical calculations for several filter systems.^[3] We will present first detailed theoretical model for the FADOF. The results of theoretical calculations for the Rb 780-nm transition and the Cs 852-nm, will the presented. The calculations predict that throughputs of > 90%, signal bandwidths of < 1 GHz, can be attained. This performance can be achieved for magnetic fields of < 100 Gauss, and temperatures of 100°C, for a cell length of 1 inch.

© 1992 IQEC