Optical-field-induced dips and splits in nonlinear spectra of selective reflection from high-density atomic vapor

Abstract: We discuss nonlinear spectra of selective reflection from high-density rubidium atomic vapor, where the self-broadening of the resonant transition $5S_{1/2}-5P_{3/2}$ dominates over the Doppler width. In the experiments, the hole-burning technique with probe and pump lasers is used. The reflection of weak probe beam is investigated at four atomic densities in the range $(1.2-3.6)\cdot10^{17}$ cm$^{-3}$ and various pump beam intensities. To enhance the spectral resolution the frequency derivative $\text{d}R/\text{d}\nu$ of the reflection coefficient $R$ recorded and analyzed. The grow of the atomic number density changes the character of self-broadening from inhomogeneous to homogeneous. At the maximal density, the strong pump field split observed spectra on two homogeneously broadened symmetrical resonances. The appearance of the optical field induced resonances can be explained in the frame of "dressed atomic states" approach. In the range of the lower densities the spectral profiles are in-homogeneously broadened. Spectral profiles of the frequency derivative are separated by the optically saturated dips. The width of such dips is a superposition of the homogeneous part of self-broadening and intensity dependent field broadening. Careful study of the transition from inhomogeneous to homogeneous broadening may be initiate a further development of theory of interatomic interactions in high density atomic gas media.