Collision and static widths of self-broadened line shapes in optically saturated high-density atomic vapor

We study the frequency derivatives of selective reflection from high-density rubidium vapor using a hole-burning technique.

Saturation dips are observed inside the self-broadened line shapes.

The line self-broadening is a combination of static width and collision width.

By analyzing saturation dips, we can separate power broadening and collision width.

Our experimental results support the theory of inhomogeneous dipole-dipole induced broadening of transitions in a dense atomic gas, published by J.

A.

Leegwater and S.

Mukamel [Phys.

Rev.

A 49 (1994) 146].