Study of saturated-absorption resonances on the 3P0,1,2 – 3D1,2,3 transitions of magnesium atoms in a hollow-cathode discharge cell

The saturated-absorption resonances on the ³P_0,1,2 – ³D_1,2,3 transitions of magnesium atoms in a hollow-cathode discharge cell are studied. The line width (FWHM) for the observed saturated-absorption resonance on the 3³P₀ → 3³D₁ transition turns out to be ~220 MHz. Experiments are performed using a system based on a 766-nm diode laser with amplification and frequency doubling in a nonlinear BiBO crystal. The results obtained are of interest for sub-Doppler cooling on the 3³P₂ → 3³D₃ transition.