Polarization spectroscopy of an excited state transition in Rubidium

Almuhawish, Nourah F.; Chen, Shuying; Downes, Lucy A.; Jamieson, Matthew J.; MacKellar, Andrew R.; Weatherill, Kevin J.

Abstract

We investigate polarization spectroscopy of an excited state transition in room-temperature rubidium vapor. By applying a circularly polarized coupling beam, resonant with the 52S1/2 → 52P3/2 transition, we induce anisotropy in the atomic medium that is then probed by scanning a probe beam across the 52P3/2 → 62S1/2 transition. By performing polarimetry on the probe beam, a dispersive spectral feature is observed. We characterize the excited-state polarization spectrum as a function of coupling intensity for both isotopes and find that at high intensities, Autler-Townes splitting results in a sub-feature, which theoretical modelling shows is enhanced by Doppler averaging. This spectroscopic technique produces a narrow dispersive signal which is ideal for laser frequency stabilization to excited-state transitions.

Citation

Almuhawish, N. F., Chen, S., Downes, L. A., Jamieson, M. J., MacKellar, A. R., & Weatherill, K. J. (2021). Polarization spectroscopy of an excited state transition in Rubidium. OSA continuum, 4(10), 2598-2605. https://doi.org/10.1364/osac.439037

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2021
• Publication Date: Oct 15, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2021
• Journal: OSA Continuum
• Electronic ISSN: 2578-7519
• Publisher: Optica Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 2598-2605
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/osac.439037
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1244129