Numerical simulation of wall relaxation in Rb vapor optically pumped with ²¹Ne

Spatial distribution of the polarization in Rb vapor optically pumped with ²¹Ne has been modeled numerically with 40 mW laser beam power, 180°C cell temperature, 1 bar cell pressure, and 6 mm × 15 mm pancake-cell geometry. An inhomogeneity of polarization throughout the cell results from a wall relaxation of polarized media and a decay of the pumping beam. For small cells characteristic of experimental conditions, a contribution of wall relaxation to the total alkali relaxation rate can become significant, demanding more accurate evaluation than afforded by analytical model based on average parameters