Extreme increase in atomic transition probability of the Cs D-2 line in strong magnetic fields under selective reflection

Selective reflection of 852-nm laser radiation from the interface between cesium vapor and the sapphire window of a 30-micrometer-thick microcell was used to record an extreme increase in the probability of the F-g = 3. F-e = 5 transitions associated with the Cs-atom D-2 lines in magnetic fields with inductions ranging from 300 to 3200 Gauss. We showed that a group of seven transitions F-g = 3, m(F) = -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3. F-e = 5, m(F) = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4 was formed in accordance with the selection rules Delta m(F) = +1 for sigma(+) - circularly-polarized radiation. These seven transitions have much higher probabilities in 500-1000 Gauss magnetic fields, with three of the transitions having probabilities higher than all of the other transitions originating from the level F-g = 3. In magnetic fields with induction greater than 3000 Gauss, this group of seven transitions at the high-frequency end of the spectrum is completely separate from the group of transitions with F-g = 3. F-e = 4. Comparison of the frequencies and probabilities of these seven atomic transitions with those for the transitions F-g = 3. F-e = 5 showed good agreement between theory and experiment. We also discuss potential practical applications for these transitions. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America