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Applied Optics

Sealed-cell mercury resonance ionization imaging detector

Dimitri Pappas, Oleg I. Matveev, Benjamin W. Smith, M. R. Shepard, Alexei A. Podshivalov, James D. Winefordner

Published Sep 20, 2000• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A sealed, compact mercury atomic-absorption resonance ionization imaging detector has been developed and evaluated. The sensitivity of the detector as well as its ability to form two-dimensional images has been demonstrated. Images of faint light (1000 photons) have been recorded by image summation. It is shown that one can obtain high-quality images with a spatial resolution of at least 130 mum by detecting the ionic component of the imaging signal. Distortion, more noise, and poorer spatial resolution were observed when the electron component of the signal was detected. We studied the influence of voltage on the cell electrodes to find the conditions for optimum signal-to-noise ratio.

DOI
10.1364/ao.39.004911

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A sealed, compact mercury atomic-absorption resonance ionization imaging detector has been developed and evaluated. The sensitivity of the detector as well as its ability to form two-dimensional images has been demonstrated. Images of faint light (1000 photons) have been recorded by image summation. It is shown that one can obtain high-quality images with a spatial resolution of at least 130 mum by detecting the ionic component of the imaging signal. Distortion, more noise, and poorer spatial resolution were observed when the electron component of the signal was detected. We studied the influence of voltage on the cell electrodes to find the conditions for optimum signal-to-noise ratio.
Characteristics of a novel type of ultranarrow-band image detector have been experimentally studied. The principle of this new imaging approach is to detect a resonance-ionization and (or) fluorescence-imaging signal formed on a thin planar cell filled with atomic vapor. A planar vapor cell with a thickness of 1.6 mm was used for imaging 253.7-nm radiation by Hg atoms. One- and two-dimensional images were produced and detected with ionization and fluorescence-signal acquisition. The feasibility of atomic-vapor image detectors with a spectral resolution of several megahertz is discussed.
A novel method of ultrahigh-resolution, frequency-resolved imaging using atomic vapor cells is proposed. The method is based on the accurate measurement of the fluorescence signal intensity distribution along the absorption path length when the signal frequency is tuned to a wing of the atomic absorption line. Two-step resonance fluorescence of Hg202 vapor was used for one-dimensional imaging of the Hg resonance radiation at 253.7 nm. An imaging signal with a frequency difference of 500 MHz could be easily distinguished visually and even a frequency difference of 80 MHz could be detected after appropriate processing of the fluorescence imaging signal. Several other novel methods of one- and two-dimensional multifrequency imaging are discussed.
The basic characteristics, figures of merit and potential applications of laser radar with atomic vapor ultra- narrowband imaging detectors (UBID) are discussed. One of the most important figures of merit of a narrowband imaging spectrometer used in a laser radar is the product of throughput and spectral resolution. The atomic vapor UBID, compared with all known spectral imaging instruments, can potentially have a throughput-resolution product up to a million times greater. It is theoretically shown that despite hyperfine structure, one can have smooth characteristics well-suited for an ultranarrowband resonance ionization image detector (RIID) by choosing an appropriate ionization scheme for Cs atoms using the 894.3 nm line. Recent experiments with a vacuum cell mercury atomic vapor RIID are described.
Research into Bose-Einstein condensates is currently a thriving field in physics. Much of the experimental research involves the detection of cold atom clouds under various conditions. Consequently, the fundamental and technical limitations of the imaging techniques and technologies utilized will have a dramatic influence on the results of these experiments. Therefore a detailed analysis of the restrictions on a Bose-Einstein condensate imaging system is overdue and will facilitate further developments in the field due to an increase in the signal to noise ratio; hence a greater level of detail available in experimental images. ¶ The work carried out in this thesis focuses on the properties of absorption imaging techniques, in the quest for an optimized imaging system. Optimization was proposed to be achieved through maximization of the signal to noise ratio by any and all means available. A detailed investigation of the diverse influences on the signal to noise ratio was performed with a focus on eliminating technical restrictions and minimizing fundamental constraints. By studying a 2f - absorption imaging system the maximal signal to noise ratio of 35 was calculated. This corresponded to imaging a cloud of 105 87Rb atoms in a (50 micron) square box with a 31.8MHz detuned, 780nm laser at an intensity of 570W/(m.m) for 35 micro-s. These optimal imaging parameters correspond to our imaging system being limited by the well depth of our detector, not by a fundamental physical process. Furthermore, current experimental noise is identified as the most significant inhibitor to the achievement of an optimized absorption image. ¶ This study represents a first analysis of the quality of current Bose-Einstein condensate imaging techniques and limitations.