We demonstrate a method for measuring atom-surface interactions using transmission spectroscopy of thermal vapors confined in a wedged nanocell. The wedged shape of the cell allows complementary measurements of both the bulk atomic vapor and atoms close to surfaces experiencing strong van der Waals atom-surface interaction. These are used to tightly constrain the dipole-dipole collisional parameters of a theoretical model for transmission spectra that accounts for atom-surface interactions, cavity effects, collisions with the surface of the cell, and atomic motion. We illustrate this method on a cesium vapor in a sapphire cell, demonstrating that even the weakest of the van der Waals atom-surface interaction coefficients---for ground-state alkali atom transitions---can be determined with a very good precision. This result paves the way towards a precise quantitative characterization of atom-surface interactions in a wide range of atom-based nanodevices.We demonstrate a method for measuring atom-surface interactions using transmission spectroscopy of thermal vapors confined in a wedged nanocell. The wedged shape of the cell allows complementary measurements of both the bulk atomic vapor and atoms close to surfaces experiencing strong van der Waals atom-surface interaction. These are used to tightly constrain the dipole-dipole collisional parameters of a theoretical model for transmission spectra that accounts for atom-surface interactions, cavity effects, collisions with the surface of the cell, and atomic motion. We illustrate this method on a cesium vapor in a sapphire cell, demonstrating that even the weakest of the van der Waals atom-surface interaction coefficients---for ground-state alkali atom transitions---can be determined with a very good precision. This result paves the way towards a precise quantitative characterization of atom-surface interactions in a wide range of atom-based nanodevices.

arXiv:1905.02783Physical Review AAug 1, 201931 citations

Atom–Field Interactions

Stephen Colby Rand

Oxford University Press eBooksJun 9, 20160 citations

Atomic hydrogen on the surface of superfluid helium: the sticking probability and polaronic behavior

Dan S. Zimmerman

A study is made of the interaction between hydrogen atoms and the surface elementary excitations of superfluid "He. Calculations for the sticking probability and for the energy and effective mass of a hydrogen atom bound to the surface are presented. As a first step in the calculations, we formulate the Hamiltonian describing a hydrogen atom interacting with the surface of "He in its ground state together with the interaction coupling to the surface elementary excitations (the ripplons). The derivation is based on the association of the surface ground state with a flat surface and the excited states with a sinusoidally varying height of the surface. The interaction potential is derived by summing a *He-H atom-atom pair potential over helium atoms below the surface. The atom-atom pair potential is chosen so that the derived surface potential is a Morse potential with parameters which are fitted to the effective surface potential derived by Mantz and Edwards for a hydrogen atom interacting with N-1 helium atoms. The energy and angle dependent sticking probability, S(E,θ), and the thermally averaged sticking probability, S(T), are calculated. Results are compared with the experimental value of S(T), S(T)=0.035±0.005, measured for the temperature range 0.18<T<0.27K. The possibility that a hydrogen atom bound above the surface may exhibit polaronic behaviour is investigated. The energy of the hydrogen surface "polaron" and its effective mass are calculated using perturbation theory. The hydrogen atom is found to be weakly coupled to the surface elementary excitations, and therefore the polaronic effects are weak. The contribution to these results from virtual transition to free states is emphasized.A study is made of the interaction between hydrogen atoms and the surface elementary excitations of superfluid "He. Calculations for the sticking probability and for the energy and effective mass of a hydrogen atom bound to the surface are presented. As a first step in the calculations, we formulate the Hamiltonian describing a hydrogen atom interacting with the surface of "He in its ground state together with the interaction coupling to the surface elementary excitations (the ripplons). The derivation is based on the association of the surface ground state with a flat surface and the excited states with a sinusoidally varying height of the surface. The interaction potential is derived by summing a *He-H atom-atom pair potential over helium atoms below the surface. The atom-atom pair potential is chosen so that the derived surface potential is a Morse potential with parameters which are fitted to the effective surface potential derived by Mantz and Edwards for a hydrogen atom interacting with N-1 helium atoms. The energy and angle dependent sticking probability, S(E,θ), and the thermally averaged sticking probability, S(T), are calculated. Results are compared with the experimental value of S(T), S(T)=0.035±0.005, measured for the temperature range 0.18<T<0.27K. The possibility that a hydrogen atom bound above the surface may exhibit polaronic behaviour is investigated. The energy of the hydrogen surface "polaron" and its effective mass are calculated using perturbation theory. The hydrogen atom is found to be weakly coupled to the surface elementary excitations, and therefore the polaronic effects are weak. The contribution to these results from virtual transition to free states is emphasized.

Jan 1, 20100 citations

Fabrication of an atom chip for Rydberg atom-metal surface interaction studies

Owen Cherry, Carter, J. D., Martin, J. D. D.

An atom chip has been fabricated for the study of interactions between $^{87}$ Rb Rydberg atoms and a Au surface. The chip tightly confines cold atoms by generating high magnetic field gradients using microfabricated current-carrying wires. These trapped atoms may be excited to Rydberg states at well-defined atom-surface distances. For the purpose of Rydberg atom-surface interaction studies, the chip has a thermally evaporated Au surface layer, separated from the underlying trapping wires by a planarizing polyimide dielectric. Special attention was paid to the edge roughness of the trapping wires, the planarization of the polyimide, and the grain structure of the Au surface.An atom chip has been fabricated for the study of interactions between $^{87}$Rb Rydberg atoms and a Au surface. The chip tightly confines cold atoms by generating high magnetic field gradients using microfabricated current-carrying wires. These trapped atoms may be excited to Rydberg states at well-defined atom-surface distances. For the purpose of Rydberg atom-surface interaction studies, the chip has a thermally evaporated Au surface layer, separated from the underlying trapping wires by a planarizing polyimide dielectric. Special attention was paid to the edge roughness of the trapping wires, the planarization of the polyimide, and the grain structure of the Au surface.

arXiv:2510.11902Oct 13, 20253 citations

Atom–Field Interactions

André Xuereb

Springer thesesJan 1, 20120 citations

An atom chip has been fabricated for the study of interactions between

^{87}

Rb Rydberg atoms and a Au surface. The chip tightly confines cold atoms by generating high magnetic field gradients using microfabricated current-carrying wires. These trapped atoms may be excited to Rydberg states at well-defined atom-surface distances. For the purpose of Rydberg atom-surface interaction studies, the chip has a thermally evaporated Au surface layer, separated from the underlying trapping wires by a planarizing polyimide dielectric. Special attention was paid to the edge roughness of the trapping wires, the planarization of the polyimide, and the grain structure of the Au surface.