Empirical Determination of Optimal Parameters for Sodium Double-Edge Magneto-Optic Filters

A method is proposed for determining the optimal temperature and magnetic field strength used to condition a sodium vapor cell for use in a sodium Double-Edge Magneto-Optic Filter (Na-DEMOF). The desirable characteristics of these filters are first defined and then analyzed over a range of temperatures and magnetic field strengths, using an IDL Faraday filter simulation adapted for the Na-DEMOF. This simulation is then compared to real behavior of a Na-DEMOF constructed for use with the Chu Research Group’s STAR Na Doppler resonance-fluorescence lidar for lower atmospheric observations