Second-order Zeeman effect in the 52S–32Sand 42D–32Stwo-photon transitions of atomic sodium

We have observed the second-order, field-induced Zeeman effects of the Doppler-free two-photon transitions 5${\mathrm{}}^2$S–3${\mathrm{}}^2$S and 4${\mathrm{}}^2$D–3${\mathrm{}}^2$S of atomic sodium using fields up to 5 T. Using a suitable experimental configuration it was possible to avoid the appearance of first-order effects in the high-field limit. The remaining small field-induced shifts are of the order of magnitude of a few linewidths. They yield the differences of the diamagnetic susceptibilities of the connected atomic states. The method is therefore capable of providing data related to atomic electronic structure. © 1996 The American Physical Society.