Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.1119/5.0254590

Publication Title

American Journal of Physics

Volume

93

Issue

10

Pages

824-834

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.

Rights

© 2025 AIP Publishing. All rights reserved.

Included in accordance with publisher policy.

Original Publication Citation

Busch, H. C., Busch, C. F., & Sukenik, C. I. (2025). Polarization spectroscopy of the 5S 1/2-5D5/2 two-photon transition in rubidium. American Journal of Physics, 93(10), 824-834. https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0254590

ORCID

0000-0001-5025-2546 (Sukenik)

Available for download on Thursday, October 01, 2026

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