Suter, Dieter2008-02-082008-02-081991-12-01Dieter Suter, Propagation of light in a J=1/2<-->J'=1/2 resonant medium, Optics Communications Volume 86, Issue 5, 1 December 1991, Pages 381-385.0030-4018http://hdl.handle.net/2003/2498810.17877/DE290R-7911The propagation of light in a resonant medium with multiple sublevels depends on the populations of and coherences between theses sublevels. We analyze the case of a J=1/2<-->J'=1/2 transition with arbitrary ground-state polarization in the limit of a weak probe beam. It is found that transverse components of the ground-state orientation lead to a longitudinal component in the eigenpolarizations; a laser beam propagating through an optically pumped medium should therefore be displaced laterally.enNorth-Holland53010.1016/0030-4018(91)90499-4article (journal)