Spectral measurement of the caesium D2 line with a tunable heterodyne interferometer

The optical properties of a caesium atomic beam driven on a resonant hyperfine transition in the D2 line were studied as a function of the probe laser frequency. Using a third off-resonant laser system, a heterodyne interferometer allowed simultaneous absorption and phase shift measurements of either the probe or the coupling laser. The signal features of the probe and coupling laser transmitted intensities showed strong differences in the vicinity of the hyperfine transitions excited by the probe laser. Regular absorption signals and electromagnetically induced transparency were found in either transmitted intensities. Furthermore, light induced birefringence of the probe laser was measured.