ABSTRACT
This paper reports a dedicated theoretical and experimental study on the properties (signal amplitude and linewidth) of coherent population trapping resonances detected in vacuum vapor cells. Results are presented for conventional single-lambda schemes of atomic energy levels but also for double-lambda schemes, now widely used in various applications including atomic clocks and magnetometers. Approximate compact analytical expressions, valid for a wide range of light-wave intensities, i.e., beyond the low intensities or pump-probe regime, have been obtained. Analytical results are found to be in excellent agreement with exact numerical solutions based on the optical Bloch equations. Experimental results, obtained in a Cs vapor microfabricated cell, are reported and found to be in correct agreement with theoretical expressions.
ABSTRACT
We report on Doppler-free laser spectroscopy in a Cs vapor cell using a dual-frequency laser system tuned on the Cs D1 line. Using counter-propagating beams with crossed linear polarizations, an original sign reversal of the usual saturated absorption dip and large increase in Doppler-free atomic absorption is observed. This phenomenon is explained by coherent population trapping (CPT) effects. The impact of laser intensity and light polarization on absorption profiles is reported in both single-frequency and dual-frequency regimes. In the latter, frequency stabilization of two diode lasers was performed, yielding a beat note fractional frequency stability at the level of 3×10-12 at 1 s averaging time. These performances are about an order of magnitude better than those obtained using a conventional single-frequency saturated absorption scheme.
