High resolution spectroscopy of Rb in magnetic field by far-detuning electromagnetically induced transparency

Abstract

We have presented a high resolution spectroscopy of Rb in magnetic field by far-detuning electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The EIT spectrum in the Ξ-type configuration is usually companied by a double resonance optical pumping (DROP) due to the strong optical coupling between the two upper states, leading to the spectral lines seriously deformed and widely broadened for complex relaxation processes in DROP. Here we demonstrate a high resolution spectroscopy by far-detuning EIT for 87Rb 5S1/2 → 5P 3/2 → 5D 5/2 in magnetic fields. The method of far-detuning eliminates the relaxation in DROP to the most extent and decreases the spectral linewidth from more than 20 MHz down to its natural linewidth limit (6 MHz). The deformation of the spectral lines also disappears and the observed spectra are well in accordance with the theoretical calculation. Our work shows that far-detuning EIT is a reliable high resolution spectroscopic method when the relaxation in DROP cannot be neglected, especially for the case of transition to low excited states.