Observation of Fine-Structure Quantum Beats Following Stepwise Excitation in Sodium D States
S. Haroche, M. Groß, Mark P. Silverman · Physical Review Letters · 1974
We report the observation of fine-structure and Zeeman quantum beats in highly excited sodium $D$ states prepared, for the first time in a quantum-beat experiment, by stepwise excitation using two synchronously pulsed dye lasers. We have used this new technique to measure the previously unknown fine-structure intervals of levels $9D$ and $10D$ of sodium, the values being, respectively, 124.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5 and 91.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 MHz.