Influence of collisions on nonlinear absorption spectrum in the region of the 3s2–2p4 transition in neon

An investigation was made of the absorption of a weak laser wave in the presence of an opposite wave causing saturation. The contribution to the line width due to the atom-atom and atom-electron collisions was determined. The influence of the discharge current and pressure on the ratio of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous components of the saturation was established. Theoretical models were used to explain the experimental results.