Saturation spectroscopy for optically thick atomic samples

Abstract

Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy in the regime of strong pumping intensities and optically thick atomic samples is investigated experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that a very high signal-to-background ratiocan be obtained and, at the same time, subnatural linewidths can be reached. Further contrast and linewidthimprovements can be attained by supplementing the primary depleted pumping beam with a second pumpingbeam. By using the signal beam from a first setup as the pumping beam for a second identical arrangement, extreme values for contrast and linewidth should be attainable. © 1987, Optical Society of America.