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Measurement Science and Technology

Measurement of the photoionization cross section of the lithium 2 P 3/2 state in a magneto-optical trap with a UV-light-emitting diode

Sergey A. Saakyan, E V Vilshanskaya, Kristina P. Galstyan, Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Boris B. Zelener

Published Jun 16, 2021• 2 citations

Abstract

Abstract We report the measurement of the photoionization (PI) cross section of the lithium 2 P 3/2 state in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using a UV-light-emitting diode (LED). Losses from the lithium MOT induced by additional radiation ionizing the atoms in the 2 P 3/2 state have been measured as a function of the intensity of the LED. The experiments have been conducted using a fiber-coupled LED with a flat-top output intensity distribution after the fiber. This makes it possible for us to reduce influences of spatial misalignment between the photoionizing radiation and the MOT density distribution. The PI cross section of lithium in the 2 P 3/2 state at 345.5 nm is determined to be (20.1 ± 0.9) Mb. The applied technique allows us to determine the PI cross section with three times better accuracy in comparison with previous measurements. Our result is in good agreement with previously reported experimental results and it differs from the published theoretical data.

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6501/ac0bdf

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Abstract We report the measurement of the photoionization (PI) cross section of the lithium 2 P 3/2 state in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) using a UV-light-emitting diode (LED). Losses from the lithium MOT induced by additional radiation ionizing the atoms in the 2 P 3/2 state have been measured as a function of the intensity of the LED. The experiments have been conducted using a fiber-coupled LED with a flat-top output intensity distribution after the fiber. This makes it possible for us to reduce influences of spatial misalignment between the photoionizing radiation and the MOT density distribution. The PI cross section of lithium in the 2 P 3/2 state at 345.5 nm is determined to be (20.1 ± 0.9) Mb. The applied technique allows us to determine the PI cross section with three times better accuracy in comparison with previous measurements. Our result is in good agreement with previously reported experimental results and it differs from the published theoretical data.

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We report the measurement of the absolute photoionization cross section for the

{6P}_{3/2}

state of cesium. Cross sections were determined by measuring the photoionization rate of cesium atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap. The photoionization rate was measured by monitoring the decay of trap fluorescence during exposure to ionizing laser radiation. The measurements were made in the wavelength range 457.9 to 501.7 nm using several lines from an Ar-ion laser. Our results are compared to other experimental measurements as well as to existing theories.

Losses from a cesium magneto-optical trap induced by an additional laser ionizing the atoms in the

{6P}_{3/2}

state have been measured as a function of the intensity and frequency of the ionizing laser. The absolute cross section for ionization of the

{6P}_{3/2}

state has been derived as a function of the wavelength of the ionizing laser. Our values are compared with previous ones and available theoretical predictions. A simple model describing the photoionization processes has been developed.

A two element magneto-optical trap (MOT) in standard configuration for Na and 7Li or 6Li is used to cool and trap Na and one Li isotope simultaneously or separately. The metal background vapor out of which the atoms are trapped comes from dispensers. The two atom clouds can be slightly shifted what makes it easy to overlap them. The number and density of the clouds were determined and the temperature measured roughly. The mutual influence of the clouds was investigated and turned out to be smaller than the noise. Preliminary experiments working towards the production of heteronuclear cold molecules by photoassociation were performed, showing the well known production of Na2 long- range molecules. Additionally, the photoionization cross- section was determined by ionizing cold atoms in the excited state by UV-laser light. The results are in reasonable agreement with data obtained elsewhere using synchrotron radiation.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A two element magneto-optical trap (MOT) in standard configuration for Na and 7Li or 6Li is used to cool and trap Na and one Li isotope simultaneously or separately. The metal background vapor out of which the atoms are trapped comes from dispensers. The two atom clouds can be slightly shifted what makes it easy to overlap them. The number and density of the clouds were determined and the temperature measured roughly. The mutual influence of the clouds was investigated and turned out to be smaller than the noise. Preliminary experiments working towards the production of heteronuclear cold molecules by photoassociation were performed, showing the well known production of Na2 long- range molecules. Additionally, the photoionization cross- section was determined by ionizing cold atoms in the excited state by UV-laser light. The results are in reasonable agreement with data obtained elsewhere using synchrotron radiation.

Summary form only given. Photoionization of cold atoms in their first excited state has been applied to measure the photoionization cross section in rubidium magneto-optical trap (MOT), and cesium MOT. The modifications of the MOT loading rate and of the steady state number of trapped atoms allow one to measure the dependence of the cold atom photoionization cross section on the laser wavelength for absorption from the excited atomic state. We report here on measurements of photoionization cross-sections of both laser-cooled sodium and lithium atoms at various photoionization wavelengths.