Doppler-Free Two-Photon Dispersion and Optical Bistability in Rubidium Vapor

Abstract

Doppler-free two-photon dispersion has been observed in rubidium vapor near the $5S_{\frac{1}{2}}-5\mathrm{}{D}_{\frac{5}{2}}$ two-photon transition. The experiment was performed by looking at the shape of the transmission peaks of a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with rubidium. When the nonlinear susceptibility is large, a bistable behavior occurs. A nonperturbative treatment of the susceptibility is required for the interpretation of these results.