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arXiv:2601.08442 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Light-induced spin-polarized desorption of Rb atoms from Co surfaces

K. Asakawa, Naoki Tanabe, Oki Watanabe, Shuji Kamada, Keisuke Hara, Kaori Niki, A. Hatakeyama

Published Jul 31, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

We investigated the spin polarization of Rb atoms undergoing light-induced desorption from a spin-polarized Co (110) surface. Desorption of Rb atoms was induced via pulsed UV irradiation of the Rb-adsorbed Co surface. The number of desorbed atoms, their velocity distribution, and their spin polarization were measured via the absorption of circularly polarized light resonant with the desorbed Rb atoms. The results were analyzed in conjunction with density functional theory calculations, indicating that the desorbed Rb atoms were spin polarized. This was explained by a nonthermal desorption mechanism accompanying spin-polarized electron transfer between the Co surface and adsorbed Rb.

DOI
10.1103/56hb-jcdl

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Optical and spin-selective time-of-flight measurement of light-induced desorption of Rb from Fe3_33​O4_44​ surfaces
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Observation of nonthermal, light-induced desorption of Cs and Rb atoms from paraffin coating is reported. Buffer-gas-free paraffin-coated cells containing Cs and Rb were exposed to laser light of various intensities and frequencies, and the change of the vapor densities as a function of time was investigated. Because atomic polarization relaxes very slowly in paraffin-coated cells (spin-relaxation times can be $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1\mathrm{s}),$ they are applied in a variety of precision measurements (e.g., magnetometry, discrete symmetry tests, etc.). Light-induced desorption may be useful in such measurements as a method to control atomic density without changing the temperature of the cell.
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