Autler-Townes doublet in single-photon Rydberg spectra of Cesium atomic vapor with a 319 nm UV laser

TL;DR

This paper reports on Doppler-free single-photon Rydberg excitation spectra of cesium vapor using a 319 nm UV laser, observing Autler-Townes splitting and magnetic field effects with potential sensing applications.

Contribution

First demonstration of all-optical, Doppler-free Rydberg spectra in cesium vapor using a 319 nm UV laser, including Autler-Townes doublet observation and magnetic field effects.

Findings

Autler-Townes doublet observed and analyzed.

Dependence of splitting on coupling intensity confirmed.

Magnetic field causes broadening and shifting of spectra.

Abstract

We demonstrate the single-photon excitation spectra of cesium Rydberg atoms by means of a Doppler-free purely all-optical detection with a room-temperature vapor cell and a 319 nm ultra-violet (UV) laser. We excite atoms directly from 6S1/2 ground state to 71P3/2 Rydberg state with a narrow-linewidth 319 nm UV laser. The detection of Rydberg states is performed by monitoring the absorption of an 852 nm probe beam in a V-type three-level system. With a strong coupling light, we observe the Autler-Townes doublet and investigate experimentally the dependence of the separation and linewidth on the coupling intensity, which is consistent with the prediction based on the dressed state theory. We further investigate the Rydberg spectra with an external magnetic field. The existence of non-degenerate Zeeman sub-levels results in the broadening and shift of the spectra. It has potential application in sensing magnetic field.