Abstract
Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is a non-thermal process in which atoms adsorbed at a surface are released under illumination. It is applied mostly to implementing optical dispensers in the cases when high atomic density at low temperature is needed – for example, for loading atomic devices as atomic magnetometers, atomic clocks, magneto-optical traps and their miniaturization. However, as the desorption depends on the atom-surface interaction, it can also be used for optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles. The paper describes an experimental investigation of the shape of the transmission spectra and their dependence on the illuminating blue-light power in PDMS coated cells prepared with two different concentrations of PDMS in ether. A comparison is conducted with the LIAD effect in SC-77 coated and in uncoated cells. All measurements are performed on the Rb D2 line in vacuum. The potential is discussed for application of these dependences to analyzing the quality of the coating surface and its optimization.
Highlights
Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is a non-thermal process whereby atoms adsorbed on a surface are released under illumination
As the desorption depends on the atom-surface interaction, it can be applied to the optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles [3]
This paper presents an experimental investigation of the shape of the transmission spectra and their dependence on the illuminating blue-light power in PDMS coated cells prepared with two different concentrations of PDMS in ether
Summary
Light-induced atomic desorption (LIAD) is a non-thermal process whereby atoms adsorbed on a surface are released under illumination. As the desorption depends on the atom-surface interaction, it can be applied to the optical characterization and manipulation of alkali metal nanoparticles [3]. LIAD was reported for the first time in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated cell with Na vapor [4]. LIAD in PDMS has been observed with Rb, Cs and K alkali atoms as well. Polydimethylsiloxane (CH3[Si(CH3)2O]nSi(CH3)3) is a polymer with a chemical behavior intermediate between organic and inorganic materials and a good stability after dehydration. It has been used as an antirelaxation coating (to reduce the spin relaxation resulting from atom-wall collisions).
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