Laser-induced birefringence by using a linearly polarized field in Na D 1 line and its application to laser frequency stabilization

Abstract

We have observed laser-induced birefringence (LIB) in the Na D 1-line using a linearly polarized probe beam and a linearly polarized pump beam. The pure dispersion LIB spectrum could be achieved using the differential technique. The dispersion LIB spectrum could be effectively employed in the frequency stabilization of the ring dye laser. The experimentally obtained spectra has been compared to and analyzed with theoretical results which considered a velocity-selective optical pumping effect of a four-level atomic system.