Calculation and Measurement of Absolute Transmission in Rubidium

Abstract

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the transmission of a π (or σ⁺) polarized laser beam for a Doppler broadened rubidium vapor cell. The transmission of the laser beam for the D₂ transition line of ⁸⁵Rb atoms was measured as a function of the laser frequency for various laser intensities. The observed spectra were compared with calculation, taking into account both the Gaussian beam profile and the fact that atoms were measured while crossing the laser beam. We found excellent agreement between the experimental and calculated results. We also investigated different operating mechanisms of variation of transmission for each transition line.