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Optics Letters

Single-atom detection of ytterbium by selective laser excitation and field ionization from Rydberg states

G. I. Bekov, Vladilen S Letokhov, Oleg I. Matveev, V.I. Mishin

Published Nov 1, 1978• 34 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Detection of single atoms Yb has been achieved using the method of electric-field ionization from the high-lying Rydberg states. Atoms of Yb in a beam were excited in three steps to a 17-p state by radiation of three pulsed dye lasers. The statistics of an atom's appearance in the interaction volume have been studied in the single-ion-counting regime at low beam density.

DOI
10.1364/ol.3.000159

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Experimental studies of high-lying Rydberg states in atomic rubidium

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This paper summarizes a long series of experiments that have been done on Rydberg states of Rb. The basic experimental technique that has been used is atomic-beam laser spectroscopy which allows both low-resolution and high-resolution studies. Excitation of Rydberg states is provided by single-photon absorption from a suitably frequency-doubled rhodamine $6G$ tunable laser. Detection is done by field ionization and ion counting. These techniques have allowed us to study the critical ionizing field, which has been found to follow classical, hydrogenic behavior closely. Rydberg states of Rb have been observed from $n=28$ up to $n>100$. High-resolution spectroscopic studies have led to measurement of the fine structure for $\mathrm{np}$ levels located between $n=28$ and $n=60$, as well as the isotope shift of the ground state, $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=(172\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15)$ MHz. Anomalies in the intensity ratio of the doublet $5s\ensuremath{-}np$ transitions have been observed and interpreted as relativistic effects. Perturbations by weak and strong dc electric field are reported. In the case of weak electric fields it is possible to evaluate the polarizability. In the case of strong dc electric fields, new phenomena have been observed and analyzed. We also find experimental evidence of selective photoionization in the presence of an appropriate dc electric field, which could have some applications in laser isotope separation. Finally, we give the preliminary results of an experiment on the effect of a strong nonresonant electromagnetic field on high-lying Rydberg states.

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High Rydberg levels of ytterbium were studied in a beam of metastable atoms. Levels of the series 4f$^{14}$ 6$sn$d were populated from the metastable 4f$^{14}$ 6s 6p $^3$P$_o$ level by means of the U.V. light of a frequency-doubled single-mode dye laser and detected using the field ionization technique. The critical ionization fields $F_c$ of the levels 4f$^{14}$ 6$sn$d $^3$D$_1$ (24 ≤ n ≤ 57) were measured and found to obey the saddle point law ($F_c$ = (16 $n^{*4}$)$^{-1}$). The hyperfine structures of the odd isotopes were investigated. They are very peculiar due to the fact that the hyperfine interaction is of the same order of magnitude as (or even for the highest $n$ values, much more important than) the spin-orbit and electrostatic interactions. A theoretical account of the observed structures using the Slater-Condon parametric method is given. The relative influence of the excited ($n$d) and of the non-excited (6s) optical electron could thus be studied. Furthermore the influence of a valence level perturbing only the odd isotopes components for $n$ = 26 was demonstrated.

Journal de physique•Jan 1, 1980•30 citations
Detection of single atoms Yb has been achieved using the method of electric-field ionization from the high-lying Rydberg states. Atoms of Yb in a beam were excited in three steps to a 17-p state by radiation of three pulsed dye lasers. The statistics of an atom's appearance in the interaction volume have been studied in the single-ion-counting regime at low beam density.
This review deals with the problem of selective detection of single atoms by laser radiaton. It begins with a classification of the detection methods (fluorescence, photoionization, deflection), discusses detection conditions (atomic vapor, atomic beam, buffer gas), and gives estimates of the parameters of laser radiation ensuring effective detection. Next, a detailed comparision is made of each of the detection methods. It is shown that in the fluorescence method the maximum efficiency of the detection process is achieved for cyclic interaction of atoms with laser radiation. In the photoionization method the most suitable technique is multistage photoionization of atoms by laser radiation. The highest ionization selectivity and a high efficiency are obtained by multistage excitation of an atom either to a Rydberg state followed by ionization with an electric field pulse or to a narrow autoionizing state with a large excitation cross section. Both these techniques are considered from the point of view of the sources of background and ways of discriminating against it, detection selectivity, and absolute sensitivity; the experimental results are analyzed. In discussing the deflection method consideration is given to deflection of an atom in a magnetic field after excitation with laser radiation and to deflection of atoms by resonant optical pressure. The review concludes with a brief discussion of the prospective applications of these detection methods in nuclear physics, atomic physics, and chemistry.
The authors have studied phenomena related to the ionisation of indium Rydberg atoms by an external electric field. The indium atoms are excited in an atomic beam apparatus by pulsed dye laser light. The high-lying states are populated in one step from the ground state by an ultraviolet, frequency-doubled dye laser or by stepwise excitation using two dye lasers in the visible region. Shortly after the excitation, an electric field is applied in the interaction region which causes ionisation of the highly excited atoms. The authors have investigated (i) the lowest adiabatic ionisation threshold over a wide range of n values and compared the results with model predictions, (ii) the structure in the adiabatic part of the ionisation spectrum, and (iii) the transition from adiabatic to diabatic ionisation as a function of the slew rate of the ionising field pulse and the quantum defect and quantum numbers of the atomic state concerned. The ionisation signal is demonstrated to shift considerably towards higher field strengths with increasing slew rate. A qualitative explanation is presented and consequences for the detection efficiency are mentioned. Differences in the field ionisation behaviour between nearly degenerate excited states are demonstrated and exploited to achieve selective detection of fine-structure and even hyperfine-structure states.
This paper summarizes a long series of experiments that have been done on Rydberg states of Rb. The basic experimental technique that has been used is atomic-beam laser spectroscopy which allows both low-resolution and high-resolution studies. Excitation of Rydberg states is provided by single-photon absorption from a suitably frequency-doubled rhodamine 6G6G6G tunable laser. Detection is done by field ionization and ion counting. These techniques have allowed us to study the critical ionizing field, which has been found to follow classical, hydrogenic behavior closely. Rydberg states of Rb have been observed from n=28n=28n=28 up to n>100n>100n>100. High-resolution spectroscopic studies have led to measurement of the fine structure for np\mathrm{np}np levels located between n=28n=28n=28 and n=60n=60n=60, as well as the isotope shift of the ground state, $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=(172\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15)$ MHz. Anomalies in the intensity ratio of the doublet $5s\ensuremath{-}np$ transitions have been observed and interpreted as relativistic effects. Perturbations by weak and strong dc electric field are reported. In the case of weak electric fields it is possible to evaluate the polarizability. In the case of strong dc electric fields, new phenomena have been observed and analyzed. We also find experimental evidence of selective photoionization in the presence of an appropriate dc electric field, which could have some applications in laser isotope separation. Finally, we give the preliminary results of an experiment on the effect of a strong nonresonant electromagnetic field on high-lying Rydberg states.
High Rydberg levels of ytterbium were studied in a beam of metastable atoms. Levels of the series 4f14^{14}14 6snsnsnd were populated from the metastable 4f14^{14}14 6s 6p 3^33Po_oo​ level by means of the U.V. light of a frequency-doubled single-mode dye laser and detected using the field ionization technique. The critical ionization fields FcF_cFc​ of the levels 4f14^{14}14 6snsnsnd 3^33D1_11​ (24 ≤ n ≤ 57) were measured and found to obey the saddle point law (FcF_cFc​ = (16 n∗4n^{*4}n∗4)−1^{-1}−1). The hyperfine structures of the odd isotopes were investigated. They are very peculiar due to the fact that the hyperfine interaction is of the same order of magnitude as (or even for the highest nnn values, much more important than) the spin-orbit and electrostatic interactions. A theoretical account of the observed structures using the Slater-Condon parametric method is given. The relative influence of the excited (nnnd) and of the non-excited (6s) optical electron could thus be studied. Furthermore the influence of a valence level perturbing only the odd isotopes components for nnn = 26 was demonstrated.