title: Doppler-free spectroscopy of xenon in the mid-infrared using difference-frequency radiation.
abstract: We report on the first Doppler-free spectroscopy investigation of an atomic species, xenon, performed in the mid-infrared using difference-frequency radiation. The absorption saturated spectrum of the xenon 6p[3/2]2?5d[5/2]3 transition (2p6?3d'1 in Paschen notation) at 3.1076 microm was investigated using about 60 microwatts of cw narrowband radiation (Deltanu=50 kHz) generated by difference-frequency mixing in a periodically-poled Lithium Niobate crystal. A single frequency Ti:Sapphire laser (power 800 mW) and a monolithic diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser (300 mW) were used as pump and signal waves respectively. We used natural enriched xenon, which contains nine stable isotopes, two of which, 129Xe and 131Xe, exhibit a hyperfine structure owing to their nuclear spin. The small isotope displacements expected for this atom and the complex hyperfine structure of the odd isotopes make it difficult to fully resolve the recorded saturated-absorption spectra. In spite of this, we have been able to analyze the isolated 129Xe F''=5/2?F'=7/2 hyperfine component by means of first-derivative FM spectroscopy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rusciano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pignatiello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sasso