[en] The nonlinear interaction of two laser beams in an absorbing medium can be detected with high sensitivity by Polarization Intermodulated Excitation (POLINEX). We have demonstrated this technique with Doppler-free spectroscopy of excited helium and neon atoms in glow discharges, using optogalvanic or fluorescence detection. The neon spectra are free of Doppler-broadened background despite velocity changing elastic collisions. (orig.)