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European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)

Light induced desorption and diffusion of alkali atoms in porous glasses

A. Burchianti, C. Marinelli, Andrea Bogi, E. Mariotti, V. Biancalana, Stefano Veronesi, L. Moi, F. Della Valle

Published Jan 18, 2006• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A new method, based on light induced atomic desorption (LIAD), to feed atoms in a vapour-cell magneto-optical trap that allows a significant improvement in the loading rate is developed. Non-thermal photo-ejection of alkalis embedded in porous silica is also reported.
DOI
10.1109/eqec.2005.1567384

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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.
The dynamics of magneto-optical trap loading by light-induced atom desorption (LIAD) are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The loading of the MOT has been described by a theoretical model. We have paid close attention to the background gases which are essentially important for the ultimate vacuum pressure. The experiment is done based on a glass cell and all the results are well in agreement with the theory. The decay process of the background vacuum pressure caused by the untrapped cesium atoms after shutting off the desorption light is explained quantitatively. The LIAD effect is proved to be an effective tool to control the loading of the MOT and the neutral single atoms in experiment.
Huge light-induced rubidium atom desorption has been observed from porous silica samples placed inside Pyrex cells kept at room temperature. The desorption rate and the maximum vapour density change have been measured as a function of the desorbing light intensity. Their values are comparable with those recently obtained in Pyrex cells coated with organic films. A linear dependence of the desorption rate and a square-root dependence of the maximum density increase on light intensity indicate that diffusion inside the glass pores is a key mechanism. The application of this effect to develop light-controlled atomic dispensers compatible with high vacuum environment is discussed.
An investigation of the influence of light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) on the transmission spectra from point of view of LIAD application for miniaturization of magneto-optical sensors and anti-relaxation coatings diagnostics is reported. With reduction of the dimensions of the cells, the amplitude of the signals decreases and it can be compensated by increasing the atomic density with temperature using special high temperature anti-relaxation coatings, or by LIAD. LIAD is a non-thermal process in which atoms adsorbed at a surface are released under illumination. It is investigated in various papers and has different applications - vapor density stabilization, MOT loading, surface nanostructuring etc. In this work the dependence of the shape of the absorption spectra on the laser power and blue light power is measured and analysis of the influence of different factors is done. All measurements are performed on the Rb D2 line in 3 different vacuum cells (uncoated, paraffin coated and SC-77 coated) with a 460 nm light emitting diode illumination. The good knowledge of the factors influencing the alkali atom spectra will be useful not only for the development of new alloptical sensors, but for study atom-dielectric surface interactions and development of new all-optical methods for surface and coating diagnostics.