Optically induced magnetization of alkali vapors using nonresonant laser radiation.

Optically induced magnetization has been observed in K and Rb vapors pumped by ruby-laser radiation at 6944 A, which is far from any atomic resonances. The signal is oscillatory, of short duration (<20 nsec), and the same for linearly and right or left circularly polarized light. The induced magnetization increases linearly and then exponentially with increasing laser intensity, which is indicative of a stimulated (Raman) process.