The dependence of the width of the coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance on the atomic interaction time is studied theoretically. The optical Bloch equations are solved for the Hanle/CPT schemes corresponding to the open $F_g\to F_e$ transitions of the sodium $D_1$ line interacting with linearly polarized laser light. The mechanism producing the narrowing of the Hanle/CPT resonance is examined, the role of the population losses is pointed out, and the law describing the narrowing of the width of the resonance with the interaction time is determined. Our results are compared with the Hanle/CPT linewidth dependence on the interaction time occurring for a closed optical transition.

• Received 14 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.58.4717