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Applied Optics

Resonance ionization image detectors: basic characteristics and potential applications

Oleg I. Matveev, Benjamin W. Smith, James D. Winefordner

Published Dec 1, 1997• 27 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A type of spectrally selective imaging optical detector that is based on resonance ionization in an atomic vapor is proposed. It has the potential for improved spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions compared with those of available techniques. Figures of merit are calculated and compared with those of existing techniques. Several potential applications such as the imaging of moving objects, ultrasonic fields, high-energy particle detection, and optical communications are discussed.

DOI
10.1364/ao.36.008833

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A type of spectrally selective imaging optical detector that is based on resonance ionization in an atomic vapor is proposed. It has the potential for improved spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions compared with those of available techniques. Figures of merit are calculated and compared with those of existing techniques. Several potential applications such as the imaging of moving objects, ultrasonic fields, high-energy particle detection, and optical communications are discussed.
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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.
Abstract This tutorial aims to provide details on the underlying principles and methodologies of atom-based terahertz imaging techniques. Terahertz imaging is a growing field of research which can provide complementary information to techniques using other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike infrared, visible and ultraviolet radiation, terahertz passes through many everyday materials, such as plastics, cloth and card. Compared with images formed using lower frequencies, terahertz images have superior spatial resolution due to the shorter wavelength, while compared to x-rays and gamma rays, terahertz radiation is non-ionising and safe to use. The tutorial begins with the basic principles of terahertz to optical conversion in alkali atoms before discussing how to construct a model to predict the fluorescent spectra of the atoms, on which the imaging method depends. We discuss the practical aspects of constructing an imaging system, including the subsystem specifications. We then review the typical characteristics of the imaging system including spatial resolution, sensitivity and bandwidth. We conclude with a brief discussion of some potential applications.
We are currently developing Raman-induced resonance-imaging techniques for ultrahigh-resolution position measurement and localization of moving atoms.1 We obtain transit-time-limited frequency resolution in intense spatially varying potentials, which correlate the atomic position with the Raman resonance frequency. The use of optical fields for the Raman region permits easy application to very small interaction volumes where extremely large spatially varying Zeeman shifts or light shifts (109-1012 Hz/cm) can be employed to achieve position resolution as high as 7 nm. This leads to quantum-mechanical limitations on the measurement accuracy.
Narrow-bandwidth optical sources are readily available. However, tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters are not available. The laser-pumped atomic vapor optical filters presented here are in principle tunable narrow-bandwidth, wide field-of-view optical filters. These filters can simultaneously provide high resolution (0.001 nm), wide field-of-view (±90°), high quantum efficiency, and electrically tunable optical filtering. These devices are ideally suited for extracting weak narrow-bandwidth signals buried in strong nonresonant optical background radiation. Potential applications of these fitters include laser communications, laser radar, detection of Raman radiation, and atomic spectroscopy.