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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Light-induced atomic desorption from siloxane film loaded with Rb and Cs

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

Published Jan 1, 2005• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We observe Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) of Rb and Cs atoms from a PDMS-coated cell containing both atoms at the same time. The desorption rate and the relative vapor density variation have been simultaneously measured for both alkali atoms as a function of the desorbing light intensity and frequency. They show the same behaviour upon the different illumination conditions. This work demonstrates the possibility to provide light controlled atomic dispenser delivering different atomic species using the LIAD effect.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/19/1/015

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Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is a non-thermal process in which atoms adsorbed at a surface are released under illumination. It is applied mostly to implementing optical dispensers in the cases when high atomic density at low temperature is needed – for example, for loading atomic devices as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, magneto-optical traps and their miniaturization. However, as the desorption depends on the atom-surface interaction, it can also be used for optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles. The paper describes an experimental investigation of the shape of the transmission spectra and their dependence on the illuminating blue-light power in PDMS coated cells prepared with two different concentrations of PDMS in ether. A comparison is conducted with the LIAD effect in SC-77 coated and in uncoated cells. All measurements are performed on the Rb D2 line in vacuum. The potential is discussed for application of these dependences to analyzing the quality of the coating surface and its optimization.

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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.

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The commonly accepted theory of light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) [S. N. Atutov et al., Phys. Rev. A 60, 4693 (1999)] explains the dynamics of this effect by referring to a light-enhanced diffusion process proceeding in the absorbing medium. On the other hand, recently performed measurements show that in siloxane films which are used in LIAD experiments, the characteristic time of diffusion is extremely short (a fraction of 1 s) compared to the duration of the LIAD effect (hundreds of seconds). This is in contradiction to the conceptual basis of the theory of Atutov et al. that requires the characteristic diffusion time to be sufficiently long. What is more, the theory of Atutov et al. relies on an unjustified assumption about the dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the light intensity. In consequence, the theoretical results of Atutov et al. yield unsatisfactory predictions and do not fit well with experimental data. In this paper, we consider a partially illuminated siloxane-coated cell and propose an alternative theory of LIAD dynamics based on an assumption about lateral diffusion proceeding in the siloxane coating. Our theory provides a unique solution for the desorbed atoms' density regardless of the power of the laser light, explains the lengthy duration of LIAD, and accurately reproduces experimental results. A reasoning which explains how the boundary condition at the siloxane surface is established by the incident light gives us a proper relation between the desorbed atoms' density and the intensity of the desorbing light.

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arXiv:0806.0663•Physical Review A•Jan 14, 2009•63 citations
We observe Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) of Rb and Cs atoms from a PDMS-coated cell containing both atoms at the same time. The desorption rate and the relative vapor density variation have been simultaneously measured for both alkali atoms as a function of the desorbing light intensity and frequency. They show the same behaviour upon the different illumination conditions. This work demonstrates the possibility to provide light controlled atomic dispenser delivering different atomic species using the LIAD effect.
Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is a non-thermal process in which atoms adsorbed at a surface are released under illumination. It is applied mostly to implementing optical dispensers in the cases when high atomic density at low temperature is needed – for example, for loading atomic devices as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, magneto-optical traps and their miniaturization. However, as the desorption depends on the atom-surface interaction, it can also be used for optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles. The paper describes an experimental investigation of the shape of the transmission spectra and their dependence on the illuminating blue-light power in PDMS coated cells prepared with two different concentrations of PDMS in ether. A comparison is conducted with the LIAD effect in SC-77 coated and in uncoated cells. All measurements are performed on the Rb D2 line in vacuum. The potential is discussed for application of these dependences to analyzing the quality of the coating surface and its optimization.
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 Light-Induced Atomic Desorption (LIAD) in 6 cells with different coatings (PDMS coated cells prepared with two different concentrations of PDMS in ether, SC-77, PCHS, DCDMS, OTS) is investigated. The rates of desorption and adsorption of the Rb atoms when the illuminating light is switched ON and OFF and their dependence on the illuminating blue-light power are measured. The influence of the homogeneity of illumination for increasing the desorption and adsorption rates is evaluated. The results are interesting for the better understanding of LIAD and its dynamics and for the development of new optoelectronic elements, LIAD-loaded atomic devices and their miniaturization, and new methods for surface and coating diagnostics.
The light-induced desorption and diffusion of alkali-metal atoms in organic films are interesting fields of investigation. An impressive demonstration is given by the recently observed light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) effect, where a huge alkali-metal atom desorption from siloxane films, previously exposed to atomic vapors, is induced by weak and nonresonant light. In this paper, experimental data and a one-dimensional theoretical model of the effect are presented. The model gives a good description of the vapor density dynamics by taking into account both the atomic diffusion inside the coating and the surface desorption. General equations are reported and discussed within the limits of experimental interest. The potential barrier at the vapor-surface interface and the activation energy for Rb in (poly)dimethylsiloxane have been determined.
The commonly accepted theory of light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) [S. N. Atutov et al., Phys. Rev. A 60, 4693 (1999)] explains the dynamics of this effect by referring to a light-enhanced diffusion process proceeding in the absorbing medium. On the other hand, recently performed measurements show that in siloxane films which are used in LIAD experiments, the characteristic time of diffusion is extremely short (a fraction of 1 s) compared to the duration of the LIAD effect (hundreds of seconds). This is in contradiction to the conceptual basis of the theory of Atutov et al. that requires the characteristic diffusion time to be sufficiently long. What is more, the theory of Atutov et al. relies on an unjustified assumption about the dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the light intensity. In consequence, the theoretical results of Atutov et al. yield unsatisfactory predictions and do not fit well with experimental data. In this paper, we consider a partially illuminated siloxane-coated cell and propose an alternative theory of LIAD dynamics based on an assumption about lateral diffusion proceeding in the siloxane coating. Our theory provides a unique solution for the desorbed atoms' density regardless of the power of the laser light, explains the lengthy duration of LIAD, and accurately reproduces experimental results. A reasoning which explains how the boundary condition at the siloxane surface is established by the incident light gives us a proper relation between the desorbed atoms' density and the intensity of the desorbing light.
Atomic-vapor density change due to light induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is studied in paraffin-coated rubidium, cesium, sodium, and potassium cells. In the present experiment, low-intensity probe light is used to obtain an absorption spectrum and measure the vapor density, while light from an argon-ion laser, array of light emitting diodes, or discharge lamp is used for desorption. Potassium is found to exhibit significantly weaker LIAD from paraffin compared to Rb and Cs, and we were unable to observe LIAD with sodium. A simple LIAD model is applied to describe the observed vapor-density dynamics, and the role of the cell's stem is explored through the use of cells with lockable stems. Stabilization of Cs vapor density above its equilibrium value over 25min25\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{min}25min is demonstrated. The results of this work could be used to assess the use of LIAD for vapor-density control in magnetometers, clocks, and gyroscopes utilizing coated cells.