Nonlinear absorption and dispersion of cold Rb 87 atoms

Abstract : Pump and probe spectroscopy is performed with cold rubidium 87 atoms in a magneto-optical trap, using a configuration where the atoms are not perturbed by the trapping lasers and trapping magnetic field. Absorptive and dispersive nonlinear properties of the atoms are observed in a lambda-type three-level scheme, and are interpreted as Autler-Townes level splittings induced by the pump laser.