Ultranarrow line filtering using a Cs Faraday filter at 852 nm.

To achieve quantum-noise-limited performance, background-limited laser receivers require narrow-band optical filters. We measured and modeled the ultranarrow-band transmission spectrum of a Cs Faraday filter at 852 nm. The transmission spectrum consisted of passbands on either side of the 6 (2)S((1/2))-6 (2)P(3/2) hyperfine doublet lines, making a total of four. The passbands may be simple peaks or highly modulated, depending on the operating parameters. We observed peaked passbands of near-unity transmission with a 0.6-GHz bandwidth and modulated bands with features as sharp as 100 MHz. Excellent agreement with our calculations at 852 nm allows us to predict confidently a 0.7-GHz transmission band for Cs at 455 nm.