Nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in rubidium vapor excited with blue light

We present experimental and numerical studies of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation (NMOR) in rubidium vapor excited with resonant light tuned to the 5 2S1/2->6 2P1/2 absorption line (421 nm). Contrary to the experiments performed to date on the strong D1 or D2 lines, in this case, the spontaneous decay of the excited state 6 2P1/2 may occur via multiple intermediate states, affecting the dynamics, magnitude, and other characteristics of NMOR. Comparing the experimental results with the results of modeling based on Auzinsh et al. [Phys. Rev. A 80, 053406 (2009)], we demonstrate that despite the complexity of the structure, NMOR can be adequately described with a model, where only a single excited-state relaxation rate is used.