Collision- and stochastic-fluctuation-induced Hanle resonances in four-wave light mixing in samarium

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Abstract
A broadband multimode dye laser, detuned from the λ=570.68 nm resonance line of Sm atoms, was used to provide three incident beams in the standard phase-conjugate four-wave-mixing geometry. The phase-conjugate output intensity was measured as a function of polarization and external magnetic field configurations, and of the pressure of several buffer gases. We have confirmed the theoretical prediction that correlated stochastic fluctuations in the incident light field make a contribution to the four-wave-mixing signal. Collisional cross sections for reorientation among the m sublevels in the J=1 ground state of Sm have been obtained for He, Ar, and Xe. Differences in polarization characteristics between the collision-induced Hanle resonances in Na and Sm are pointed out.