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 report studies of photon-stimulated desorption, also known as light-induced atomic desorption, of sodium atoms from a vacuum-cell glass surface used for loading a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Fluorescence detection was used to record the trapped atom number and the desorption rate. We observed a steep wavelength dependence of the desorption process above
2.6eV photon energy, a result significant for estimations of sodium vapor density in the lunar atmosphere. Our data fit well to a simple model for the loading of the MOT dependent only on the sodium desorption rate and residual gas density. Up to $3.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{7}$ Na atoms were confined under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions, creating promising loading conditions for a vapor-cell-based atomic Bose-Einstein condensate of sodium.