Polarization properties of photon echo signals in ytterbium vapor: dependence on the area of exciting pulses

A brief review of theoretical predictions for photon echo polarization properties is presented from the viewpoint of their dependence eon the are of exciting pulses and on the contribution of depolarizing collisions. The choice of intercombination transition in ytterbium vapor as subject of investigation is explained. First experimental results on kinetics of resonant fluorescence at the transition of Yb (6s2$0 (superscript 1S0-(6s6p) 3P1 are presented for pure ytterbium vapor and its mixtures with Xe.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.