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Optica Applicata

Ionization spectroscopy in cold rubidium atoms

Leszek Krzemień, Kacper Baster, Krzysztof Brzozowski, Adam M. Wojciechowski, Jerzy Zachorowski, Wojciech Gawlik

Published Jan 1, 2010• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We demonstrate photoionization spectroscopy in cold rubidium atoms trapped in a working magneto-optical trap. Three-photon ionization with two-photon resonance proceeds along various channels, with the step-by-step 5S-5P-5D transition and with the two-photon excitation of the 5D or 7S state. The processes are monitored by measuring ion signals which allow sensitive spectroscopy of weak transitions in a cold-atom sample.

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We demonstrate photoionization spectroscopy in cold rubidium atoms trapped in a working magneto-optical trap. Three-photon ionization with two-photon resonance proceeds along various channels, with the step-by-step 5S-5P-5D transition and with the two-photon excitation of the 5D or 7S state. The processes are monitored by measuring ion signals which allow sensitive spectroscopy of weak transitions in a cold-atom sample.
Photoionization of a cold atomic sample offers intriguing possibilities for observing collective effects at extremely low temperatures. Irradiation of a rubidium condensate and of cold rubidium atoms within a magneto-optical trap (MOT) with laser pulses ionizing through one-photon and two-photon absorption processes was performed. Losses and modifications in the density profile of the remaining trapped cold cloud or the remaining condensate sample were examined as functions of the ionizing laser parameters. Ionization cross sections were measured for atoms in a MOT, while in magnetic traps losses larger than those expected for ionization process were measured.
A series of experiments is performed on cold 85Rb atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap. A variation of Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) is used to transfer population from the 5S 1/2 ground state to the 5D5/2 state with an efficiency exceeding 80%. This process relies on moderately intense pulses arriving in the counterintuitive order, i.e., the upper transition (5P → 5D) driven before the lower transition (5S → 5P ). There is reasonable agreement with computer simulations, excepting a marked discrepancy between measured intensities and those used in the simulations. With a large ensemble of 5D atoms available, the 5D photoionization cross section at four different laser wavelengths (1064, 788, 647 and 532 nm) is determined via trap loss measurements. The theoretical calculations agree well with the experimental results (17.7, 10.9, 7.6 and 5.2 Mb, respectively). An experiment to measure the 5S-5D collisional rate constant sets an order-of-magnitude upper bound of 10−10 cm3/s, assuming all atoms are 5S-5D pairs. ^
By means of a simple theoretical model and experimental results, we analyse the two-photon ionization of cold rubidium atoms. We consider a two-step process in which ground state atoms are ionized by two blue (421 nm) photons, chosen to be quasi-resonant with the 5S → 6P transition. We show that for a good description of the process we have to take into account not only the three states coupled by the laser radiation, but also all the atomic states involved in the spontaneous emission cascade from the 6P to the 5S state, since optical pumping from 5S 1/2 ( F = 2) to the 5S 1/2 ( F = 1) states modifies the ionization efficiency when ionizing near resonance. The experimental and theoretical determination of ionization cross sections for excitations near resonance with the 6P 1/2 and the 6P 3/2 intermediate levels is presented.