Probe spectroscopy in an inhomogeneously broadened three-level system saturated by an intense standing wave

We study inhomogeneously broadened three-level atoms ($\Lambda$ configuration). Two energy levels are strongly coupled by an intense standing wave. A weak laser field at an adjacent transition is used as a probe. The probe response is calculated by Green's functions involving continued fractions. The general solution is extendable to other three-level configurations as well to other types of multimode saturators. The connection of various approximate solutions to the exact one is discussed. We concentrate on the Doppler-free case where both transitions have nearly equal frequencies. For this we derive a reasonably accurate closed-form solution, the parameter dependencies of which are investigated in detail. In addition to its average changes the dynamics of the saturated transition plays an important role in the steady-state probe response. The spectra show sharp resonances which cannot be explained in terms of traveling wave superposition models. The width of the velocity distribution has a strong effect on the shape of the spectrum—some resonances are smeared away because of incomplete Doppler dephasing. The relaxation processes influence differently the resonances, which facilitates their interpretation.