HYPERFINE-STRUCTURE AND ABSOLUTE FREQUENCY OF THE RB-87 5P(3 2) STATE/

We have constructed two highly stable and reproducible Rb-87 D-2-Satur ated-absorption spectrometers at 780 nm, using dither/third-harmonic l ock-in detection and radio-frequency sideband techniques, respectively . We achieved +/-3-kHz reproducibility and agreement between these two independent systems. Heterodyne measurements of the hyperfine splitti ngs of the 5P(3/2) state give its magnetic dipole (A) and electric qua drupole (B) hyperfine constants with a 10-fold reduction in uncertaint y. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America