Selective reflection of light from Rb2 molecular vapor

Abstract

We report the first observation of selective reflection of light from an interface of a dielectric window and molecular vapor of Rb2 dimers formed in all-sapphire sealed-off rubidium vapor cell (temperature up to 520°C, atomic and molecular densities up to 1018 and 3×1016cm−3, respectively). The selective reflection signals were recorded on various rovibronic components of 1(X)1Σg+-1(A)1Σu+ bound–bound electronic transition of Rb2 by scanning a diode laser frequency in a spectral range of 851–854nm. Mainly selective reflection signals corresponding to groups of several rovibronic transitions have been recorded, which was attributed to high spectral density, large collisional broadening, and low oscillator strength of individual rovibronic transitions.