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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Partial photoionization cross section measurement in a Rb magneto-optical trap

C. Gabbanini, F. Ceccherini, Silvia Gozzini, A. Lucchesini

Published Sep 28, 1998• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report an experiment in which relative measurements of the partial photoionization cross sections are performed on trapped rubidium atoms. This experimental procedure allows us, together with recent new methods to determine the absolute total cross section, to make a complete quantitative study of the photoionization process in an atomic trap.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/31/18/012

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We report an experiment in which relative measurements of the partial photoionization cross sections are performed on trapped rubidium atoms. This experimental procedure allows us, together with recent new methods to determine the absolute total cross section, to make a complete quantitative study of the photoionization process in an atomic trap.
We report on measurements of the cross section for photoionization of Rb atoms in the highly excited 5D5/2{5D}_{5/2}5D5/2​ level at wavelengths ranging from 1064 to 532 nm (photoelectron energies of 0.175 to 1.34 eV). We efficiently populate the 5D5/2{5D}_{5/2}5D5/2​ level using coherent two-photon excitation of trapped atoms with pulses in the counterintuitive order. The absolute photoionization cross sections are then measured via the increased loss of atoms from the magneto-optical trap when it is illuminated by the photoionizing light. Our results are in good agreement with new calculations based on the valence-electron parametric potential method.
We report the measurement of the absolute photoionization cross section for the 5P 3/2 state of 87 Rb at wavelength of 473 nm, which results in the photoelectron energies of 33 meV above the ionization threshold, using cold atoms confined in a vapor-loaded magneto-optical trap. The 87 Rb 5P 3/2 photoionization cross section at 473 nm is determined to be σ PI = 10.5 ± 2.2 Mb. Considering the spatial distribution of the trapped atoms, the average intensity of the ionization laser seen by an atom in the MOT instead of ionizing laser intensity I PI is used in our calculations for the photoionization cross sections. The excited state fraction is also accurately estimated using the latest experimental result.
The implementation of a technique to measure total collision cross sections using laser-cooled rubidium atoms along with the introduction of room-temperature background gases, confined in both magnetooptic and magnetic traps, is proposed. Atom loss from the trap and total collision cross section can be inferred from the knowledge of the density of background gases. The measured cross sections from the magneto-optic and magnetic traps are represented, compared, and found to be significantly different. The measurements using this technique have a very small error in the range of approximately 2%-7%.
The implementation of a technique to measure total collision cross sections using laser-cooled rubidium atoms along with the introduction of room-temperature background gases, confined in both magnetooptic and magnetic traps, is proposed. Atom loss from the trap and total collision cross section can be inferred from the knowledge of the density of background gases. The measured cross sections from the magneto-optic and magnetic traps are represented, compared, and found to be significantly different. The measurements using this technique have a very small error in the range of approximately 2%-7%.