Sub-Doppler resolution limited Lamb-dip spectroscopy of NO with a quantum cascade distributed feedback laser
25 September 2000
A quantum cascade distributed feedback laser operating at 5.2 mu m is used to obtain sub-Doppler resolution limited saturation features in a Lamb-dip experiment on the R(13.5)(1/2) and R(13.5)(3/2) transitions of NO. The dips appear as transmission spikes with full widths of similar to 4.3 MHz. At this resolution the 73 MHz Lambda-doubling of the R(13.5)(3/2) line, which is normally obscured by the 130 MHz Doppler broadening, is easily resolved. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.