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Polarization spectroscopy of the 5S1/2–5D5/2 two-photon transition in rubidium.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Polarization spectroscopy of the 5S1/2–5D5/2 two-photon transition in rubidium.
Authors: Busch, H. C.1 (AUTHOR) hauke.busch@gcsu.edu, Busch, C. F.2 (AUTHOR) kwc4mq@virginia.edu, Sukenik, C. I.3 (AUTHOR) csukenik@odu.edu
Source: American Journal of Physics. Oct2025, Vol. 93 Issue 10, p824-834. 11p.
Subjects: Polarization spectroscopy, Rubidium, Atomic transitions, Two-photon absorbing materials, Experimental design, Fluorescence, Atomic physics, Laboratories
Abstract: We describe a one-color, two-photon polarization spectroscopy experiment on the 5S 1 / 2 –5D5/2 transition in rubidium, suitable for implementation in an advanced undergraduate instructional laboratory. The proposed laboratory module synergistically combines polarization spectroscopy with established fluorescence detection at a wavelength different from the excitation wavelength. The curriculum provided in this paper allows students to compare experimental results with predicted theoretical lineshapes and to study the intensity dependence of the two-photon transition. The module also provides a springboard that enables instructors to expand the curriculum to incorporate additional measurements and theoretical analyses. These activities include collecting spectra on additional transitions, measuring the temperature dependence of the spectral amplitudes, or using the dispersive polarization spectra to frequency stabilize a laser without modulation. Editor's Note: This paper describes a polarization spectroscopy experiment in which the 5S–5D transition in rubidium vapor is excited by the absorption of two photons of the same frequency. The authors first provide necessary theoretical background on polarization spectroscopy, then go on to describe their experimental setup. Experimental results are compared with predicted theoretical lineshapes as well as the expected intensity dependence of the two-photon transition. The experiment, which can be performed with a single diode laser, explores topics in atomic physics and optics. It is suitable for the advanced undergraduate instructional laboratory and offers a valuable complement to existing two-photon experiments in rubidium vapor already performed in undergraduate and graduate teaching laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:We describe a one-color, two-photon polarization spectroscopy experiment on the 5S 1 / 2 –5D5/2 transition in rubidium, suitable for implementation in an advanced undergraduate instructional laboratory. The proposed laboratory module synergistically combines polarization spectroscopy with established fluorescence detection at a wavelength different from the excitation wavelength. The curriculum provided in this paper allows students to compare experimental results with predicted theoretical lineshapes and to study the intensity dependence of the two-photon transition. The module also provides a springboard that enables instructors to expand the curriculum to incorporate additional measurements and theoretical analyses. These activities include collecting spectra on additional transitions, measuring the temperature dependence of the spectral amplitudes, or using the dispersive polarization spectra to frequency stabilize a laser without modulation. Editor's Note: This paper describes a polarization spectroscopy experiment in which the 5S–5D transition in rubidium vapor is excited by the absorption of two photons of the same frequency. The authors first provide necessary theoretical background on polarization spectroscopy, then go on to describe their experimental setup. Experimental results are compared with predicted theoretical lineshapes as well as the expected intensity dependence of the two-photon transition. The experiment, which can be performed with a single diode laser, explores topics in atomic physics and optics. It is suitable for the advanced undergraduate instructional laboratory and offers a valuable complement to existing two-photon experiments in rubidium vapor already performed in undergraduate and graduate teaching laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00029505
DOI:10.1119/5.0254590