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American Journal of Physics

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

H. C. Busch, Christian Busch, Charles I. Sukenik

Published Sep 22, 2025• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a one-color, two-photon polarization spectroscopy experiment on the 5S1/2–5D5/2 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.

DOI
10.1119/5.0254590

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We describe a one-color, two-photon polarization spectroscopy experiment on the 5S1/2–5D5/2 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.
We describe an experiment for investigating the 5S1∕2→5D5∕2 two-photon transition in rubidium using a single grating-feedback diode laser operating at 778.1nm (385THz). Continuous tuning of the laser frequency over 4GHz allows for the clear resolution of the Doppler-free spectral features and allows accurate measurement of the hyperfine ground-state splitting. A direct comparison between Doppler-broadened and Doppler-free spectral features is possible because both are distinctly evident in the two-photon spectra. By independently modifying the polarization state of the two laser fields, the impact of electric dipole selection rules on the two-photon transition spectra is investigated. This experiment is a valuable addition to the advanced undergraduate laboratory because it uses much of the same equipment as the single-photon saturated absorption spectroscopy experiment performed on the 5S1∕2→5P3∕2 transition in rubidium (λ=780.24nm) and provides students with an opportunity to investigate characteristics of atomic spectra not evident in the single-photon experiment.
In this paper, we describe two complementary nonlinear spectroscopy methods which both allow one to achieve Doppler-free spectra of atomic gases. First, saturated absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure of the 5S 1/2 → 5P 3/2 transition in rubidium. Using a slightly modified experimental setup, Doppler-free two-photon absorption spectroscopy is then performed on the 5S 1/2 → 5D 5/2 transition in rubidium, leading to accurate measurements of the hyperfine structure of the 5D 5/2 energy level. In addition, electric dipole selection rules of the two-photon transition are investigated, first by modifying the polarization of the excitation laser, and then by measuring two-photon absorption spectra when a magnetic field is applied close to the rubidium vapour. All experiments are performed with the same grating-feedback laser diode, providing an opportunity to compare different high-resolution spectroscopy methods using a single experimental setup. Such experiments may acquaint students with quantum mechanics selection rules, atomic spectra and Zeeman effect.
We experimentally study the high-resolution two-photon spectroscopy of rubidium using a single laser. The 5S1/2 − 5P3/2 − 5D5/2 transition is realized via 778.1 nm laser beams acting on the vapor with a counter-propagating configuration. The intensity modulation method is employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrum by two orders of magnitude compared with that for direct measurement. The effects of the vapor temperature, the frequency-scanning speed of the laser, the polarization combination of the laser beams, and the laser power on the spectra are investigated to obtain the optimal experimental parameters. This research is expected to be beneficial for potential applications since it can be used to realize a compact and high-precision frequency standard for optical communication.
An ongoing spectroscopic investigation of atomic rubidium utilizes a two-photon, single-laser excitation process. Transitions accessible with our tunable laser include 5P1/2 (F ′ ) ← 5S1/2 (F) and 5P3/2 (F ′ ) ← 5S1/2 (F). The laser is split into a pump and probe beam to allow for Doppler-free measurements of transitions between hyperfine levels. The pump and probe beams are overlapped in a counter-propagating geometry and the laser frequency scans over a transition. Absorption, fluorescence and polarization spectroscopy techniques are applied to this basic experimental setup. The temperature of the vapor cell and the power of the pump and probe beams have been varied to explore line broadening effects and signal-to-noise of each technique. This humble setup will hopefully grow into a more robust experimental arrangement in which double resonance, two-laser excitations are used to explore hyperfine state changing collisions between rubidium atoms and noble gas atoms. Rb-noble gas collisions can transfer population between hyperfine levels, such as 5P3/2 (F ′ = 3) Collision ←− 5P3/2 (F ′ = 2), and the probe beam couples 7S1/2 (F ′′ = 2) ← 5P3/2 (F ′ = 3). Polarization spectroscopy signal depends on the rate of population transfer due to the collision as well as maintaining the orientation created by the pump laser. Fluorescence spectroscopy relies only on transfer of population due to the collision. Comparison of these techniques yields information regarding the change of the magnetic sublevels, mF , during hyperfine state changing collisions.
The design and construction of an experimental system for studying two photon spectroscopy processes in atomic rubidium is presented. It is designed to measure absorption and polarization rotation induced by any of the two laser beams and also the visible fluorescence that results from decay of the excited states. Two home-built diode lasers are used to produce the optical fields that later interact with room temperature rubidium atoms. Using counterpropagating beams allows velocity selection of the groups of atoms that interact with both laser beams. The system was tested in the 5 S?5 P3/2 ?5 Dj ladder energy level configuration of atomic rubidium. Blue fluorescence (420 nm) that results from decay of the intermediate 6Pj states is filtered and then measured with a photomultiplier tube. Absorption and fluorescence spectra provide mutually complementary information about the interaction between the rubidium atoms and the two optical fields. All Rights Reserved © 2015 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnológico. This is an open access item distributed under the Creative Commons CC License BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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.