Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1112.4115 · Applied Physics Letters

Ultralow-power local laser control of the dimer density in alkali-metal vapors through photodesorption

Pankaj K. Jha, Konstantin E. Dorfman, Zhenhuan Yi, Luqi Yuan, Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Yuri V. Rostovtsev, George R. Welch, Aleksei M. Zheltikov, Marlan O. Scully

Published Aug 27, 2012• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Ultralow-power diode-laser radiation is employed to induce photodesorption of cesium from a partially transparent thin-film cesium adsorbate on a solid surface. Using resonant Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that this photodesorption process enables an accurate local optical control of the density of dimer molecules in alkali-metal vapors.

DOI
10.1063/1.4747537

Related papers

Particle Formation by Resonant Laser Light in Alkali-Metal Vapor

A. Tam, George Moe, W. Happer

Resonant laser light causes micron-sized particles to form in cesium vapor when a small amount of hydrogen gas is present in the vapor. The particles are identified as cesium-hydride crystals. This is the first observation of light-induced particle formation in metal vapors. The phenomenon has relevance to lasers and nonlinear optical devices based on dense alkali vapors, and it may also be of interest for laser isotope-separation schemes.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 15, 1975•148 citations

Surface Potentials Measured by Light-Induced Atomic Desorption (LIAD) in Alkali Vapor Cells

Will Pajak, Timothy Nathan Nunley, Paul D. Kunz

We assess the utility of non-resonant light for rapidly controlling vapor density in glass cells and discuss the diffusion processes involved, revealing the pertinent potentials experienced by atoms moving between the adsorbed and vapor phases.

•Jan 1, 2023•0 citations

Nonlinear effects in laser excitation of atomic gases in the vicinity of solid surfaces

T. A. Vartanyan, D. L. Lin

Understanding the processes underlying the optical excitation of atomic vapor in the vicinity of solid surfaces is of interest both from physical and technical points of view. Selective reflection spectra of laser light from an interface of a transparent dielectric material and resonant vapor are known to be Doppler-free and to provide important spectroscopic information about the atom-wall interaction. On the other hand, atomic vapors have such a large and fast nonlinear response on or near resonances that they are capable of processing signals and images with milliwatt lasers at a time scale of submicroseconds. In the present paper we investigate linear and nonlinear optical properties of a thin film of atomic vapor confined between two solid surfaces. Assuming two-level atoms, we solve the Maxwell- Bloch equations for light reflection from resonant atoms. The interaction between the resonant atoms and the wall is accounted for through the boundary conditions for all elements of density matrix. The transient polarization is shown to make an important contribution not only to the field structure in the vicinity of the wall but also to the interference pattern of the reflected field. It is found that the spectrum of reflection depends remarkably on the film thickness. Strong enhancement of signal is also found from this study and possible devices for the detection are discussed.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Apr 4, 1997•0 citations

Optical Magnetic Double Resonance Control of Atom-Molecule Composition of Metal Vapors

Robert A. Bernheim, J. Xu

Optical orientation of Na atoms in a metal vapor with circularly polarized ${D}_{1}$ resonance radiation results in a shift in the $2\mathrm{Na}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\mathrm{Na}{}_{2}$ gas phase equilibrium in the direction that destroys dimers. Plane polarized ${D}_{1}$ or ${D}_{2}$ resonance radiation produces the opposite effect: an increase in equilibrium dimer density. The atom-dimer reaction can be controlled to favor either products or reactants by simply changing the polarization of the resonance light. Application of a radio-frequency field at the Na atomic Zeeman resonance frequency while optically pumping the atoms with circularly polarized ${D}_{1}$ radiation also permits a magnetic resonance tuning control of either an increase or decrease in dimer density.

Physical Review Letters•Oct 25, 1999•2 citations

Light-induced atomic desorption and related phenomena

A. Burchianti, Andrea Bogi, C. Marinelli +2 more

We review some recent studies on light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) from dielectric surfaces. Alkali-metal atoms adsorbed either on organic films or on porous glass are released into the vapor phase under illumination. The measurements were performed in Pyrex resonance cells either coated with siloxane films or containing a porous glass sample. In both cases, the experimental results show that LIAD can be used to produce atomic densities suitable for most atomic physics experiments. Moreover, we find that photoinduced effects, correlated with LIAD, produce reversible formation and evaporation of alkali-metal clusters in porous glass. These processes depend on the light frequency, making the porous glass transmittance controllable by light.

Physica Scripta•Jul 1, 2009•14 citations

Optical stabilization of Rb vapor density above thermal equilibrium

A. Burchianti, Andrea Bogi, C. Marinelli +2 more

We stabilize the Rb vapor density above its thermal equilibrium value in sealed glass cells, which are generally used in atomic physics experiments. The method relies on light-induced desorption of Rb atoms from dielectric surfaces. The process does not demand high light intensities so that LEDs or laser diodes can be used as desorbing sources. The experiments are carried out in Pyrex cells either coated with a polydimethylsiloxane film or containing a porous glass sample. Under illumination both the organic coating and the porous sample release a large amount of Rb atoms into the cell volume. We show that the Rb vapor density can be maintained to a preset value, using a desorbing light intensity controlled by a feedback signal given by the Rb absorption or fluorescence level. Moreover, we find that the stabilization technique does not depend on the microscopic mechanisms underlying photodesorption.

Journal of Modern Optics•Feb 10, 2010•5 citations
Ultralow-power diode-laser radiation is employed to induce photodesorption of cesium from a partially transparent thin-film cesium adsorbate on a solid surface. Using resonant Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that this photodesorption process enables an accurate local optical control of the density of dimer molecules in alkali-metal vapors.
Understanding the processes underlying the optical excitation of atomic vapor in the vicinity of solid surfaces is of interest both from physical and technical points of view. Selective reflection spectra of laser light from an interface of a transparent dielectric material and resonant vapor are known to be Doppler-free and to provide important spectroscopic information about the atom-wall interaction. On the other hand, atomic vapors have such a large and fast nonlinear response on or near resonances that they are capable of processing signals and images with milliwatt lasers at a time scale of submicroseconds. In the present paper we investigate linear and nonlinear optical properties of a thin film of atomic vapor confined between two solid surfaces. Assuming two-level atoms, we solve the Maxwell- Bloch equations for light reflection from resonant atoms. The interaction between the resonant atoms and the wall is accounted for through the boundary conditions for all elements of density matrix. The transient polarization is shown to make an important contribution not only to the field structure in the vicinity of the wall but also to the interference pattern of the reflected field. It is found that the spectrum of reflection depends remarkably on the film thickness. Strong enhancement of signal is also found from this study and possible devices for the detection are discussed.
Optical orientation of Na atoms in a metal vapor with circularly polarized D1{D}_{1}D1​ resonance radiation results in a shift in the $2\mathrm{Na}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\mathrm{Na}{}_{2}$ gas phase equilibrium in the direction that destroys dimers. Plane polarized D1{D}_{1}D1​ or D2{D}_{2}D2​ resonance radiation produces the opposite effect: an increase in equilibrium dimer density. The atom-dimer reaction can be controlled to favor either products or reactants by simply changing the polarization of the resonance light. Application of a radio-frequency field at the Na atomic Zeeman resonance frequency while optically pumping the atoms with circularly polarized D1{D}_{1}D1​ radiation also permits a magnetic resonance tuning control of either an increase or decrease in dimer density.
We review some recent studies on light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) from dielectric surfaces. Alkali-metal atoms adsorbed either on organic films or on porous glass are released into the vapor phase under illumination. The measurements were performed in Pyrex resonance cells either coated with siloxane films or containing a porous glass sample. In both cases, the experimental results show that LIAD can be used to produce atomic densities suitable for most atomic physics experiments. Moreover, we find that photoinduced effects, correlated with LIAD, produce reversible formation and evaporation of alkali-metal clusters in porous glass. These processes depend on the light frequency, making the porous glass transmittance controllable by light.
We stabilize the Rb vapor density above its thermal equilibrium value in sealed glass cells, which are generally used in atomic physics experiments. The method relies on light-induced desorption of Rb atoms from dielectric surfaces. The process does not demand high light intensities so that LEDs or laser diodes can be used as desorbing sources. The experiments are carried out in Pyrex cells either coated with a polydimethylsiloxane film or containing a porous glass sample. Under illumination both the organic coating and the porous sample release a large amount of Rb atoms into the cell volume. We show that the Rb vapor density can be maintained to a preset value, using a desorbing light intensity controlled by a feedback signal given by the Rb absorption or fluorescence level. Moreover, we find that the stabilization technique does not depend on the microscopic mechanisms underlying photodesorption.