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Physical Review A

Light-induced atomic desorption dynamics: Theory for a completely illuminated cell

Krzysztof Rębilas

Published Jul 17, 2009• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The light-induced atomic desorption effect, known as LIAD, has been explained so far by a debatable Atutov's theory [S. N. Atutov et al., Phys. Rev. A 60, 4693 (1999)]. In this Brief Report, we propose an approach in which the difficulties of this theory are removed. The theory yields predictions for the atomic vapor density $n(t)$ in a fully illuminated resonance cell, the time ${t}_{max}$ that it takes the vapor density to arrive at a maximum value ${n}_{max}$ and the dependence of ${n}_{max}$ and $dn/d{t}_{t=+0}$ on the desorbing light intensity. Some of our results are at variance with outcomes of Atutov's model (such as saturation effect for ${n}_{max}$ and the dependence of ${t}_{max}$ on the light intensity) but are in agreement with the experimental data. Additionally, the model presented in this Brief Report satisfactorily explains a reservoir effect recently investigated in experiments where cells equipped with a lockable stem were used.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.80.014901

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The light-induced atomic desorption effect, known as LIAD, has been explained so far by a debatable Atutov's theory [S. N. Atutov et al., Phys. Rev. A 60, 4693 (1999)]. In this Brief Report, we propose an approach in which the difficulties of this theory are removed. The theory yields predictions for the atomic vapor density n(t)n(t)n(t) in a fully illuminated resonance cell, the time tmax{t}_{max}tmax​ that it takes the vapor density to arrive at a maximum value nmax{n}_{max}nmax​ and the dependence of nmax{n}_{max}nmax​ and dn/dtt=+0dn/d{t}_{t=+0}dn/dtt=+0​ on the desorbing light intensity. Some of our results are at variance with outcomes of Atutov's model (such as saturation effect for nmax{n}_{max}nmax​ and the dependence of tmax{t}_{max}tmax​ on the light intensity) but are in agreement with the experimental data. Additionally, the model presented in this Brief Report satisfactorily explains a reservoir effect recently investigated in experiments where cells equipped with a lockable stem were used.
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.
The dynamics of magneto-optical trap loading by light-induced atom desorption (LIAD) are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The loading of the MOT has been described by a theoretical model. We have paid close attention to the background gases which are essentially important for the ultimate vacuum pressure. The experiment is done based on a glass cell and all the results are well in agreement with the theory. The decay process of the background vacuum pressure caused by the untrapped cesium atoms after shutting off the desorption light is explained quantitatively. The LIAD effect is proved to be an effective tool to control the loading of the MOT and the neutral single atoms in experiment.
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.
This work is devoted to a systematic study of the effect of Light-Induced Atomic Desorption (LIAD). LIAD is a non-heating process in which atoms adsorbed on a surface are desorbed by illumination with non-resonant light. The aim of the dissertation is an experimental study of the LIAD process, its influence on the spectra of alkali atoms in optical cells without and with Anti-Relaxation Coating (ARC) and the possibilities of LIAD for optical characterization of ARC, as well as in high resolution spectroscopy. For the first time, the LIAD process under homogeneous illumination was investigated experimentally, whereby the efficiency of the LIAD was significantly increased even for a cell without ARC, the dynamic characteristics are obtained with a better signal to noise ratio and repeatability, and the desorption and adsorption processes are faster. LIAD effect in cells with different ARC coatings has shown that each coating has different desorption and adsorption rates and the results obtained show the possibility of applying the method for optical characterization of ARC. An experimental study of the number of collisions without atomic spin depolarization in cells with different ARCs and the impact of LIAD was performed, as well as various parameters such as laser intensity and cell temperature were investigated.
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.