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Transient dipolar interactions in a thin vapor cell

Florian Christaller, Max Mäusezahl, Felix Moumtsilis, Annika Belz, Harald Kübler, Hadiseh Alaeian, Charles S. Adams, Robert Löw, Tilman Pfau

Published Oct 1, 2021• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We exploit the effect of light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) to produce high atomic densities ($n\gg k^3$) in a rubidium vapor cell. An intense off-resonant laser is pulsed for roughly one nanosecond on a micrometer-sized sapphire-coated cell, which results in the desorption of atomic clouds from both internal surfaces. We probe the transient (LIAD-induced) atomic density by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. With a temporal resolution of $\approx1\,\mathrm{ns}$, we measure the broadening and line shift of the atomic resonances. This broadening and line shift is attributed to dipole-dipole interactions. As this timescale is much faster than the natural atomic lifetime, the experiment probes the dipolar interaction in a non-equilibrium situation beyond the usual steady-state, assumed in the derivation of the Lorentz-Lorenz shift. This fast switching of the atomic density and dipolar interactions could be the basis for future quantum devices based on the excitation blockade.

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Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 8, 2010•1 citation
We exploit the effect of light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) to produce high atomic densities (n≫k3n\gg k^3n≫k3) in a rubidium vapor cell. An intense off-resonant laser is pulsed for roughly one nanosecond on a micrometer-sized sapphire-coated cell, which results in the desorption of atomic clouds from both internal surfaces. We probe the transient (LIAD-induced) atomic density by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. With a temporal resolution of ≈1 ns\approx1\,\mathrm{ns}≈1ns, we measure the broadening and line shift of the atomic resonances. This broadening and line shift is attributed to dipole-dipole interactions. As this timescale is much faster than the natural atomic lifetime, the experiment probes the dipolar interaction in a non-equilibrium situation beyond the usual steady-state, assumed in the derivation of the Lorentz-Lorenz shift. This fast switching of the atomic density and dipolar interactions could be the basis for future quantum devices based on the excitation blockade.
We exploit the effect of light-induced atomic desorption to produce high atomic densities (n≫k^{3}) in a rubidium vapor cell. An intense off-resonant laser is pulsed for roughly one nanosecond on a micrometer-sized sapphire-coated cell, which results in the desorption of atomic clouds from both internal surfaces. We probe the transient atomic density evolution by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. With a temporal resolution of ≈ 1 ns, we measure the broadening and line shift of the atomic resonances. Both broadening and line shift are attributed to dipole-dipole interactions. This fast switching of the atomic density and dipolar interactions could be the basis for future quantum devices based on the excitation blockade.
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.
We report some preliminary results on experimental investigation of the potential of Light Induced Atomic Desorption (LIAD) applications for density control in antirelaxation coated cells and coherent spectroscopy. LIAD is a non-thermal process whereby atoms adsorbed on a surface are released under illumination. It is applied mostly to implementing optical atomic dispensers in the cases when high atomic density at low temperature is needed - for example, for loading atomic devices as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, atomic traps and their miniaturization. An advantage of the light control is that it is faster than the temperature control. More than an order of increase of the density with LIAD is obtained. Some peculiarities in the 780 nm absorption and fluorescence spectra registered in dense Rb vapor are registered. The absorption and fluorescence spectra in Rb vapors controlled by temperature and LIAD are compared.
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.
In the quest to employ miniaturized atomic vapor cells for quantum applications, unfortunately such a short optical path is insufficient to obtain a decent signal that can be used to lock a laser. Heating up the cell would work, but at the price of undesired currents and linewidth broadening. Instead, the authors use light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) to increase the atomic (and optical) density. Using LIAD yields a much larger contrast than does conventional spectroscopy---even at room temperature. Furthermore, eliminating the need for heating allow remote operation, without the need to provide electrical contacts to the device, which can be an important advantage in applications.
We present in this paper recent results on Light - Induced Atom Desorption (LIAD) in sealed and open coated cells. LIAD is defined via the description of an experiment on rubidium atoms stored in a dry - film coated cell, where a few milliwatts of even non coherent and non resonant light are able to increase the alkali atomic density for more than one order of magnitude. Modeling of the effect is given. New features become relevant in the case of LIAD in porous glasses: in fact, although the photodesorption efficiency per unit area in bare glass is much lower, photoatomic sources can be prepared, due to the huge inner surface of porous samples. We applied LIAD from organic coatings to the stabilization of alkali densities out of equilibrium: sodium case is here discussed. Finally, we report on fully original, preliminary measurements of rubidium Magneto - Optical Trap loading via LIAD from a dry - film coated cell.