SATURATED-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY OF WEAK-FIELD ZEEMAN SPLITTINGS IN RUBIDIUM

Using an external cavity-tuned diode laser in Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy, we are able to resolve the weak-held Zeeman splittings i n the hyperfine levels of the rubidium D-1 line. The number of lines o bserved in the Zeeman structure of rubidium and their measured energy- level splittings are as expected from theory. The measured amplitudes of the saturated-absorption signals, crossover resonances, and velocit y-selective optical pumping signals are used in the analysis of variou s theories concerning saturated-absorption spectroscopy. (C) 1995 Opti cal Society of America