Shape of the coherent-population-trapping resonances and high-rank polarization moments

The shape of the coherent-population-trapping (CPT) resonances was investigated theoretically and experimentally at different laser powers. The CPT resonances were observed in fluorescence on the degenerate two-level system of the (F{sub {phi}}=2{yields}F{sub f}=1) transition of the {sup 87}Rb D{sub 1} line by means of a Hanle effect configuration in an uncoated vacuum cell. Numerical simulations based on the density matrix formalism, which take into account the high-rank polarization moment (HRPMs) influence and the velocity distribution of the atoms, were used to calculate the shape of the nonlinear magnetic resonances. The comparison of the theoretical and experimental shapes of the CPT resonances demonstrated that the HRPMs influence the shape at all laser excitation powers, and this influence can be used to explain some peculiarities at the center of the CPT resonance shape.