Essential features of optical processes in neon-buffered submicron-thin Rb vapor cell

A new submicron thin cell (STC) filled with Rb and neon gas is developed and comparison of resonant absorption with STC containing pure Rb is provided. The effect of collapse and revival of Dicke-type narrowing is still observable for the thickness L = lambda /2 and L = lambda , where lambda is a resonant laser wavelength 794 nm (D(1) line). For an ordinary Rb cm-size cell with addition of buffer gas, the velocity selective optical pumping/saturation (VSOP) resonances in saturated absorption spectra are fully suppressed if neon pressure > 0.5 Torr. A spectacular difference is that for L = lambda , VSOP resonances are still observable even when neon pressure is > or = 6 Torr. Narrow fluorescence spectra at L = lambda /2 allow one to realize online buffer gas pressure monitoring. A good agreement with theoretical model is observed.