Alkali atoms that are diffusing away from a source via multiple surface scattering
in a nonstick coated glass tube are monitored by laser fluorescence. Densities
are measured by fluorescence intensity and weak-field absorption, and
small asymmetries in the line shape provide a measurement of the flux.
Average velocities as small as 0.3% of the thermal velocity can be resolved
using the technique presented. Model calculations are presented and fit
to the data, providing approximate values for the sticking probability,
and the probability of specular scattering versus diffuse scattering
(related to momentum accommodation). For the silane-based coating
SurfaSilTM,
we find that the scattering is mostly diffuse, and that the sticking probability is of
the order of 10−4 or 10−3. With refinement, the technique can be used to measure
the variation in the sticking probability along the length of the tube, which could
be useful for studying and improving gas separation columns. We present
numerical calculations of surface light-induced drift (SLID) effects, but no
evidence for SLID is observed experimentally.