Introduction

The experiment manual has 5 sections (and can be found here):

1. Introduction
2. Theory
3. Apparatus
4. Experiment
5. Getting Started

    The Introduction is only one page, and well worth the read. It’s basically a much better introduction than the above paragraph.

    Section 2 introduces the theory required to understand how the experiment works. This section should be considered mandatory reading for any experiment performed with this apparatus (except 2G. Ignore 2G). Students should be familiar with concepts in atomic structure such as fine and hyperfine splitting, and the effects that a magnetic field has on these atomic states. The most important equations are highlighted. Figures 2D-2 and 2D-3 are incredibly important.

    Section 3 describes the apparatus. A discharge lamp excites Rubidium into a higher-energy state. When the atoms relax by spontaneous emission, then emit a photon, thereby providing the resonant radiation we require. The light from the discharge lamp is focused and passed through a quarter wave plate to achieve circular polarization. The atomic transitions the light can drive will then be ∆M±1, which allows one to pump atoms into a single hyperfine state. Light that passes through the rubidium is detected with a silicon photodiode. It is very likely that all the components for the experiment are already aligned and ready for use. This section explains all of these components in detail, and introduces the user to the controls for the experiment. Pay careful attention to which knobs control which magnetic field! Figure 1 shows where the most relevant controls are situated on the instrument box.

    Section 4 describes the various experiment students could perform with the apparatus. One may be tempted to start with the first experiment in this section, but DON’T!! This experiment requires the user to change the temperature of the Rubidium cell, then collect data, and thermal equilibrium is a time-consuming business. Instead, students are suggested to start with experiment 4B, then do 4C if students would like to perform a second experiment with this apparatus. These two experiments complement each other nicely and give the student a pretty thorough crash course in atomic structure. There is an example data set in each section to give you an idea of what your data will look like.

    Section 5 contains instructions for how to initially set up the apparatus and get the first spectrum. Since you are not the lab technician unboxing the apparatus, you shouldn’t concern yourself too much with this section.