Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Observation of Two-Photon Absorption without Doppler Broadening on the 3S−5S Transition in Sodium Vapor

M. D. Levenson, N. Bloembergen

Published Mar 25, 1974• 285 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The $3S\ensuremath{-}5S$ transition of Na atoms is induced by absorption of two photons, one each from two circularly polarized beams traveling in opposite directions through the vapor. The beams are derived from a tunable, narrow-band pulsed dye laser. Doppler broadening is absent and the hyperfine structure is resolved. The hyperfine interaction constant ${A}_{5S}$ in the $5S$ state of the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{23}$ atom is determined to be 101\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 MHz.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.32.645

Related papers

Zeeman Effect in the Two-Photon 3S−5S Transition in Sodium Vapor

N. Bloembergen, M. D. Levenson, M. M. Salour

The technique of two-photon absorption without Doppler broadening has made possible the observation of the Zeeman splitting of a transition between two $^{2}S$ states. Selection rules are discussed. The observed pattern of hyperfine components is narrower in very high fields than in zero field, in agreement with the theory.

Physical Review Letters•Apr 22, 1974•67 citations

Stark-effect study of excited states in sodium using two-photon spectroscopy

Roberta Hawkins, W. T. Hill, Frank V. Kowalski +2 more

We have used two-photon absorption from counterpropagating laser beams of different frequencies to measure Stark shifts and splittings of the $6^{2}S$, $7^{2}S$, $8^{2}S$, $5^{2}D$, and $6^{2}D$ states in sodium. Beams from a fixed-frequency, single-mode ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ laser and a tunable, single-frequency cw dye laser were focussed into a coarse sodium atomic beam and the fluorescence was monitored. The collimation of the atomic beam reduced the residual Doppler width inherent in using two different frequencies. Using the two lasers allowed two-photon transitions to be observed at frequencies unattainable with the dye laser alone, and enhanced the transition rates due to the near resonance of the dye laser with the strong Na $3^{2}S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3^{2}P$ transition. Our experimental results for the scalar and tensor polarizabilities, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$, agree with calculations in the Bates and Damgaard Coulomb approximation within 2% for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and 9% for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$. As a by-product the hyperfine-interaction constants $a$ for the $S$ states and the fine-structure intervals $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{({E}_{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{\frac{5}{2}})}{h}$ for the $D$ states were obtained.

Physical Review A•Mar 1, 1977•31 citations

Observation of the 3S–5S two-photon transition in sodium vapor without Doppler broadening, using a CW dye laser

F. Biraben, Bernard Cagnac, G. Grynberg

Physics Letters A•Aug 1, 1974•31 citations

Two-photon resonances in a sodium–potassium mixed alkali vapor

Gerard P. Morgan, ARTHUR L. SCHAWLOW

Two types of two-photon transitions are detected optically in a mixed alkali vapor of Na and K. Using a cw narrowband dye laser tunable from 5700 to 5850 Å, two-photon transitions free of Doppler broadening in NaK have been observed, while five Doppler-limited transitions have also been detected. The latter signals are due to two-photon hybrid resonances involving the photolysis of K2 and a subsequent transition in the excited K atom.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jul 1, 1986•3 citations

Paper 4.1: N. Bloembergen and M.D. Levenson, “Observation of two-photon absorption without Doppler broadening on the 3S–5S transition in sodium vapor,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 32, 645–648, 1974.

World Scientific series in 20th century physics•Sep 1, 1996•2 citations

Polarization rotation effects in atomic sodium vapor

P. F. Liao, Gary C. Bjorklund

Polarization rotation effects in atomic sodium vapor are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Two pulsed dye laser beams propagate collinearly through a cell containing sodium vapor. The direction of polarization of a linearly polarized dye laser beam of frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}$ is found to be rotated by a circularly polarized beam of frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$. This rotation is due to the difference in refractive index at ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}$ for right and left circularly polarized light which is produced by the circularly polarized beam. When ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$ is tuned near the $3S\ensuremath{-}5S$ two-photon transition of atomic sodium, this difference is primarily due to the dispersion associated with the two-photon transition. Other sources of polarization rotation which were identified include (i) real transfers of population to excited atomic levels due to collisionally induced transitions and (ii) optically induced atomic energy-level shifts. The theory includes both the effects of two-photon dispersion and optically induced energy shifts. The application of the two-photon polarization rotation effect as a fast, optically controlled shutter or modulator and as a sensitive detection technique for two-photon spectroscopy are briefly discussed.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1977•59 citations
The 3S\ensuremath−5S3S\ensuremath{-}5S3S\ensuremath−5S transition of Na atoms is induced by absorption of two photons, one each from two circularly polarized beams traveling in opposite directions through the vapor. The beams are derived from a tunable, narrow-band pulsed dye laser. Doppler broadening is absent and the hyperfine structure is resolved. The hyperfine interaction constant A5S{A}_{5S}A5S​ in the 5S5S5S state of the Na23{\mathrm{Na}}^{23}Na23 atom is determined to be 101\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 MHz.
The technique of two-photon absorption without Doppler broadening has made possible the observation of the Zeeman splitting of a transition between two 2S^{2}S2S states. Selection rules are discussed. The observed pattern of hyperfine components is narrower in very high fields than in zero field, in agreement with the theory.
We have used two-photon absorption from counterpropagating laser beams of different frequencies to measure Stark shifts and splittings of the 62S6^{2}S62S, 72S7^{2}S72S, 82S8^{2}S82S, 52D5^{2}D52D, and 62D6^{2}D62D states in sodium. Beams from a fixed-frequency, single-mode Ar+{\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}Ar+ laser and a tunable, single-frequency cw dye laser were focussed into a coarse sodium atomic beam and the fluorescence was monitored. The collimation of the atomic beam reduced the residual Doppler width inherent in using two different frequencies. Using the two lasers allowed two-photon transitions to be observed at frequencies unattainable with the dye laser alone, and enhanced the transition rates due to the near resonance of the dye laser with the strong Na $3^{2}S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3^{2}P$ transition. Our experimental results for the scalar and tensor polarizabilities, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$, agree with calculations in the Bates and Damgaard Coulomb approximation within 2% for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{0}$ and 9% for ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$. As a by-product the hyperfine-interaction constants aaa for the SSS states and the fine-structure intervals $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{({E}_{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}{E}_{\frac{5}{2}})}{h}$ for the DDD states were obtained.
Polarization rotation effects in atomic sodium vapor are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Two pulsed dye laser beams propagate collinearly through a cell containing sodium vapor. The direction of polarization of a linearly polarized dye laser beam of frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}$ is found to be rotated by a circularly polarized beam of frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$. This rotation is due to the difference in refractive index at ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}$ for right and left circularly polarized light which is produced by the circularly polarized beam. When ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$ is tuned near the $3S\ensuremath{-}5S$ two-photon transition of atomic sodium, this difference is primarily due to the dispersion associated with the two-photon transition. Other sources of polarization rotation which were identified include (i) real transfers of population to excited atomic levels due to collisionally induced transitions and (ii) optically induced atomic energy-level shifts. The theory includes both the effects of two-photon dispersion and optically induced energy shifts. The application of the two-photon polarization rotation effect as a fast, optically controlled shutter or modulator and as a sensitive detection technique for two-photon spectroscopy are briefly discussed.