Optical pumping
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Optical pumping is a process in which light is used to raise ("pump") electrons from a lower energy level in an atom or molecule to a higher one. It is commonly used in laser construction, to pump the active laser medium so as to achieve population inversion.
Optical pumping is also used to cyclically pump electrons to the highest energy Zeeman splitting level for a given hyperfine splitting. "Highest energy" here means the level with the highest [m_F] values where the moment of Nuclear moment (I) is most aligned and directed along with the total angular momentum of the electron (J=L+S).
The pumping effect is realized with the help of quantum selection rules.
An optical pumping experiment is commonly found in basic physics undergraduate laboratories, using rubidium gas isotopes and displaying the ability of radiofrequency (MHz) electromagnetic radiation to effectively pump and unpump these isotopes.
See also
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