Polarization spectroscopy to determine alignment depolarization of the 133Cs6p2P3/2 atoms using a pump-probe laser technique

We have experimentally investigated alignment depolarization cross section of the excited J=3/2J=3/2133Cs atoms, by collisions with ground level krypton atoms, from a two-photon two-color linear polarization spectra. To measure the linear polarization degree of the 6s2S1/2→6p2P3/2→10s2S1/26s2S1/2→6p2P3/2→10s2S1/2 double-resonance transition, a nanosecond pulse pump-probe laser technique was employed. Alignment was optically induced by linear polarization of the pump laser. By analyzing the intensity of the cascade fluorescence signal, monitored from the 9p2P1/2→6s2S1/29p2P1/2→6s2S1/2 transition at 361.73 nm, in the presence of Kr pressures ranging from 7 mbar to 133 mbar a depolarization cross section value of 294(45) Å2 is obtained.