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Physica Scripta

Light-induced atomic desorption and related phenomena

A. Burchianti, Andrea Bogi, C. Marinelli, E. Mariotti, L. Moi

Published Jul 1, 2009• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/2009/t135/014012

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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.
We present in this paper recent results on Light - Induced Atom Desorption (LIAD) in sealed and open coated cells. LIAD is defined via the description of an experiment on rubidium atoms stored in a dry - film coated cell, where a few milliwatts of even non coherent and non resonant light are able to increase the alkali atomic density for more than one order of magnitude. Modeling of the effect is given. New features become relevant in the case of LIAD in porous glasses: in fact, although the photodesorption efficiency per unit area in bare glass is much lower, photoatomic sources can be prepared, due to the huge inner surface of porous samples. We applied LIAD from organic coatings to the stabilization of alkali densities out of equilibrium: sodium case is here discussed. Finally, we report on fully original, preliminary measurements of rubidium Magneto - Optical Trap loading via LIAD from a dry - film coated cell.
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 study of light induced processes on atoms and nanoparticles confined in organic films or in dielectric structures is motivated both by fundamental interest and applications in optics and photonics. Depending on the light intensity and frequency and the kind of confinement, different processes can be activated. Among them photodesorption processes have a key role. Non thermal light induced atomic desorption has been observed from siloxane and paraffin films previously exposed to alkali vapors. This effect has been extensively investigated and used both to develop photo-atom sources and to load magneto-optical traps. Recently we observed huge photodesorption of alkali atoms embedded in nanoporous silica. In this case the atomic photodesorption causes, by properly tuning the light frequency, either formation or evaporation of clusters inside the silica matrix. Green-blue light desorbs isolated adatoms from the glass surface eventually producing clusters, whereas red-near infrared (NIR) light causes cluster evaporation due to direct excitation of surface plasmon oscillations. Green-blue light induces cluster formation taking advantage of the dense atomic vapor, which diffuses through the glass nano-cavities. Both processes are reversible and even visible to the naked eye. By alternatively illuminating the porous glass sample with blue-green and red-NIR light we demonstrate that the glass remembers the illumination sequences behaving as an effective rereadable and rewritable optical medium.
Huge light-induced rubidium atom desorption has been observed from porous silica samples placed inside Pyrex cells kept at room temperature. The desorption rate and the maximum vapour density change have been measured as a function of the desorbing light intensity. Their values are comparable with those recently obtained in Pyrex cells coated with organic films. A linear dependence of the desorption rate and a square-root dependence of the maximum density increase on light intensity indicate that diffusion inside the glass pores is a key mechanism. The application of this effect to develop light-controlled atomic dispensers compatible with high vacuum environment is discussed.
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.