Display of 8521-Å line of cesium utilizing a swept GaAs laser

Matching of GaAs lasers to the 8521-Å cesium line is reported here for the first time. The GaAs laser is frequency-modulated so that it operates as an "optical sweep generator" whose sweep rate can be adjusted. The sweep generator feature of the GaAs laser permits the use of oscilloscope display of the line shape. The present work represents a unique method with which the Doppler linewidth measurements of
²
p_{3/2}
of Cs 133 have been made. Typical linewidths of 600 MHz are reported for Cs at room temperature. In addition, the effect of radiation trapping in the flourescence is investigated for different cesium atom densities. Thereby an estimated value for the radiation lifetime of
²
p_{3/2}
of Cs is found by means of decay experiment.