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AIP conference proceedings

Nonthermal light-induced atom desorption

L. Moi, E. Mariotti, M. Meucci, Paola Bicchi, C. Marinelli

Published Jan 1, 1993• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A new effect, observed for the first time by A. Gozzini et al. with sodium, is reported where huge Rb vapor density variations are observed when silane coated cells are illuminated by weak light. The effect is due to light‐induced atom desorption from the coated cell walls and it is nonthermal as the triggering light power density may be very weak. The effect depends, among others, on the light wavelength and intensity.

DOI
10.1063/1.45032

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A new effect, observed for the first time by A. Gozzini et al. with sodium, is reported where huge Rb vapor density variations are observed when silane coated cells are illuminated by weak light. The effect is due to light‐induced atom desorption from the coated cell walls and it is nonthermal as the triggering light power density may be very weak. The effect depends, among others, on the light wavelength and intensity.
The study of the very complicated atom-surface interaction in presence of light had an increasing momentum during these last few years. A new field has been opened by a recent experiment made by Gozzini et al.,1 where a new and interesting effect, consisting in a huge sodium desorption when a silane coated cell is illuminated at room temperature, has been observed. Similar results, still in silane coated cells, have also been obtained by Meucci et al.2 with rubidium and cesium. The effect, shortly indicated hereafter as LIAD (light-induced atom desorption), is totally different from the other processes produced by very intense laser pulses, where the main effect produced by light is a thermal one.
Observation of nonthermal, light-induced desorption of Cs and Rb atoms from paraffin coating is reported. Buffer-gas-free paraffin-coated cells containing Cs and Rb were exposed to laser light of various intensities and frequencies, and the change of the vapor densities as a function of time was investigated. Because atomic polarization relaxes very slowly in paraffin-coated cells (spin-relaxation times can be $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1\mathrm{s}),$ they are applied in a variety of precision measurements (e.g., magnetometry, discrete symmetry tests, etc.). Light-induced desorption may be useful in such measurements as a method to control atomic density without changing the temperature of the cell.
We report the first experimental evidence of nonthermal light induced atomic desorption (LIAD) from octadecyltrichlorosilane dry film. The experiment has been made with Rb confined in a coated cell kept at room temperature. A detailed study of the main features of LIAD effect has been made by varying intensity and wavelength of desorbing light. A discussion about the differences and similarities with other organic films that were studied first is reported. This result is important as it expands the list of materials showing such an effect and increases the possibilities to get suitable light controlled atomic sources for spectroscopy and applications. In particular, we plan to exploit this feature in a Fr magneto-optical trap apparatus.
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.
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.