Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Materials Transactions JIM

Enhanced Isotope Separation of Rubidium by Light-Induced Drift Using Backpumping

Shunichi Sato, Motoaki Saito

Published Jan 1, 1996• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Isotope separation of rubidium by light-induced drift (LID) have been demonstrated with the use of a backpumping. A Ti:Al2O3 laser and a diode laser were used to induce the LID and for the backpumping, respectively. Enhancement of the LID effect was observed by the backpumping. The 85Rb concentration was estimated to be 94% or more from the absorption spectrum measurement.

DOI
10.2320/matertrans1989.37.1789

Related papers

Observation of Light-Induced Drift Effect of Rubidium by Using Two Diode Lasers for Pumping and Re-Pumping

Masaya Okamoto, Takahiro Nakamura, Shunichi Sato

The light-induced drift (LID) of rubidium was demonstrated by using two diode lasers for the pumping and re-pumping of rubidium atoms. The isotope composition ratio for 85Rb and 87Rb was estimated by measuring the absorption spectrum of the rubidium vapor.

MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS•Jan 1, 2008•4 citations

EFFICIENT ISOTOPE SEPARATION USING SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS

J. P. Woerdman, Alan D. Streater, F. Wittgrefe +1 more

Recently separation of the two naturally occurring Rb isotopes (28% 87Rb and 72% 85Rb) has been achieved1 using the light-induced drift (LID) effect;2 enrichment up to 95% 87Rb has been observed. In those experiments a high-power (~ 150mW) single-frequency dye laser was used. In the case of single-frequency excitation such power is required since most of the Rb atoms are trapped in the non- resonant hyperfine (hf) ground level due to optical hf pumping.3 Here we demonstrate that the Rb isotopes can be separated equally well using a low-power (3.3 mW) AlGaAs diode laser which has strong relaxation oscillation sidebands. The presence of these sidebands greatly increases LID by eliminating optical hf pumping.

•Jul 18, 1988•0 citations

Light-induced drift with low-power spectrally shaped lasers: efficient isotope separation and high drift velocities

E. R. Eliel, Alan D. Streater, J. P. Woerdman

The use of paraffin-coated cells has led to a breakthrough in the experimental study of light-induced drift (LID) of alkalis in noble gases. In recent experiments isotope separation of the two naturally occurring Rb isotopes through the LID effect has been achieved (enrichment of the rare isotope up to 95%), 1,2 and direct measurements of the drift velocity of Na in noble gases as a function of various experimental parameters have been made.3 In these experiments a single single-mode dye laser, tuned within the Doppler profile of the resonance line, was used to excite a specific velocity group of atoms (isotope selective in the case of Rb). Optical pumping between the ground-state hyperfine levels F = I+½ and F=I−½ plays a dominant (limiting) role in determining the magnitude of the LID effects by strongly depleting the resonantly excited hyperfine substate (of a specific isotope).

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Apr 25, 1988•0 citations

Enhanced efficiency in separation of Rb isotopes by light-induced drift with the use of a diode laser with relaxation sidebands

Alan D. Streater, Jaap J. Mooibroek, J. P. Woerdman

An AlGaAs diode laser oscillating in a single Fabry–Perot mode with strong relaxation sidebands is observed to separate the two naturally occurring isotopes of rubidium by means of light-induced drift at much lower powers than has been reported with a single-mode ring dye laser. The sideband frequency displacement is approximately equal to the ground-state hyperfine splitting, so that optical hyperfine pumping is largely eliminated.

Applied Physics Letters•Feb 22, 1988•25 citations

Coherent population trapping in light-induced drift

E. R. Eliel, Marc C. de Lignie

Light-induced drift (LID) is a transport phenomenon in a gas mixture with dramatic manifestations such as the optical piston1 and applications in atomic isotope separation.2 The induced drift velocity is proportional to the excited state fraction, and for Na in Xe high drift velocities have been achieved using two lasers.3 Here one laser excites atoms from one hyperfine ground state and the second laser atoms from the other, avoiding hyperfine pumping. Excited in this way, the Na atom represents a Λ type three-level system, where coherent effects can be important.

•May 21, 1990•0 citations

Light-induced-drift stationary states

E. Mariotti, J. H. Xu, M. Allegrini +3 more

The light-induced-drift (LID) effect has been experimentally studied in specially coated capillary cells which manifest a negligible atom-wall interaction. This property permits a rapid evolution of LID and makes possible an experimental study of the stationary states as a function of different laser tunings and laser power densities. The light-induced density profile along the major axis of the cell has been analyzed. The experimental features are qualitatively reproduced by a two-level theory.

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1988•15 citations
Isotope separation of rubidium by light-induced drift (LID) have been demonstrated with the use of a backpumping. A Ti:Al2O3 laser and a diode laser were used to induce the LID and for the backpumping, respectively. Enhancement of the LID effect was observed by the backpumping. The 85Rb concentration was estimated to be 94% or more from the absorption spectrum measurement.
Recently separation of the two naturally occurring Rb isotopes (28% 87Rb and 72% 85Rb) has been achieved1 using the light-induced drift (LID) effect;2 enrichment up to 95% 87Rb has been observed. In those experiments a high-power (~ 150mW) single-frequency dye laser was used. In the case of single-frequency excitation such power is required since most of the Rb atoms are trapped in the non- resonant hyperfine (hf) ground level due to optical hf pumping.3 Here we demonstrate that the Rb isotopes can be separated equally well using a low-power (3.3 mW) AlGaAs diode laser which has strong relaxation oscillation sidebands. The presence of these sidebands greatly increases LID by eliminating optical hf pumping.
The use of paraffin-coated cells has led to a breakthrough in the experimental study of light-induced drift (LID) of alkalis in noble gases. In recent experiments isotope separation of the two naturally occurring Rb isotopes through the LID effect has been achieved (enrichment of the rare isotope up to 95%), 1,2 and direct measurements of the drift velocity of Na in noble gases as a function of various experimental parameters have been made.3 In these experiments a single single-mode dye laser, tuned within the Doppler profile of the resonance line, was used to excite a specific velocity group of atoms (isotope selective in the case of Rb). Optical pumping between the ground-state hyperfine levels F = I+½ and F=I−½ plays a dominant (limiting) role in determining the magnitude of the LID effects by strongly depleting the resonantly excited hyperfine substate (of a specific isotope).
Light-induced drift (LID) is a transport phenomenon in a gas mixture with dramatic manifestations such as the optical piston1 and applications in atomic isotope separation.2 The induced drift velocity is proportional to the excited state fraction, and for Na in Xe high drift velocities have been achieved using two lasers.3 Here one laser excites atoms from one hyperfine ground state and the second laser atoms from the other, avoiding hyperfine pumping. Excited in this way, the Na atom represents a Λ type three-level system, where coherent effects can be important.