Study of wall coatings for vapor-cell laser traps

Stephens, M.; Rhodes, Russel E.; Wieman, Carl

doi:10.1063/1.358502

Cited by 83 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…On such a cured surface, the adsorption energy for additional adsorbates is lowered, measured using conventional vapor cells to amount to 0.53 eV for Cs on Pyrex [39] and 0.66 eV on fused silica [41]. These adsorption energies are close to the heat of vaporization of bulk Cs (0.67 eV), and therefore the adsorbed alkali may become metallic under these conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Classification of Light-Induced Desorption of Alkali Atoms in Glass Cells Used in Atomic Physics Experiments

Hatakeyama

Wilde

Fukutani

2006

e-J. Surf. Sci. Nanotechnol.

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We attempt to provide physical interpretations of light-induced desorption phenomena that have recently been observed for alkali atoms on glass surfaces of alkali vapor cells used in atomic physics experiments. We find that the observed desorption phenomena are closely related to recent studies in surface science, and can probably be understood in the context of these results. If classified in terms of the photon-energy dependence, the coverage and the bonding state of the alkali adsorbates, the phenomena fall into two categories: It appears very likely that the neutralization of isolated ionic adsorbates by photo-excited electron transfer from the substrate is the origin of the desorption induced by ultraviolet light in ultrahigh vacuum cells. The desorption observed in low temperature cells, on the other hand, which is resonantly dependent on photon energy in the visible light range, is quite similar to light-induced desorption stimulated by localized electronic excitation on metallic aggregates. More detailed studies of light-induced desorption events from surfaces well characterized with respect to alkali coverage-dependent ionicity and aggregate morphology appear highly desirable for the development of more efficient alkali atom sources suitable to improve a variety of atomic physics experiments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Classification of Light-Induced Desorption of Alkali Atoms in Glass Cells Used in Atomic Physics Experiments

Hatakeyama

Wilde

Fukutani

2006

e-J. Surf. Sci. Nanotechnol.

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“…In fact, outgassing in paraffin coated cells has been concerned [2] and chemical reactions of alkali atoms with silicon compound coatings and resulting outgassing have been reported [10][11][12][13]. If the background gas pressure is too high for alkali atoms to travel freely between the walls, the influences of the collisions should be taken into account.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-negligible collisions of alkali atoms with background gas in buffer-gas-free cells coated with paraffin

Sekiguchi

Hatakeyama

2016

Appl. Phys. B

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We measured the rate of velocity-changing collisions (VCCs) between alkali atoms and background gas in buffer-gas-free anti-relaxation-coated cells. The average VCC rate in paraffin-coated rubidium vapor cells prepared in this work was 1 × 10 6 s −1 , which corresponds to ∼ 1 mm in the mean free path of rubidium atoms. This short mean free path indicates that the background gas is not negligible in the sense that alkali atoms do not travel freely between the cell walls. In addition, we found that a heating process known as "ripening" increases the VCC rate, and also confirmed that ripening improves the anti-relaxation performance of the coatings.

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“…29 While cells with diameters from a few to tens of centimeters are typically employed, miniature millimeter-sized cells with paraffin coating have also been explored. 30 In addition, similar coatings with silicon head groups have been used in magneto-optical traps, [31][32][33][34] hollow photonic fibers, 35,36 and noble-gas-atom optical pumping cells. 37,38 Alkali atoms in the vapor phase depolarize upon contact with the bare surface of a glass container, limiting the coherence lifetime of the spin ensemble.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of antirelaxation coatings for alkali-metal vapor cells using surface science techniques

Seltzer¹,

Michalak²,

Donaldson³

et al. 2010

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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Many technologies based on cells containing alkali-metal atomic vapor benefit from the use of anti-relaxation surface coatings in order to preserve atomic spin polarization. In particular, paraffin has been used for this purpose for several decades and has been demonstrated to allow an atom to experience up to 10,000 collisions with the walls of its container without depolarizing, but the details of its operation remain poorly understood. We apply modern surface and bulk techniques to the study of paraffin coatings, in order to characterize the properties that enable the effective preservation of alkali spin polarization. These methods include Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We also compare the light-induced atomic desorption yields of several different paraffin materials. Experimental results include the determination that crystallinity of the coating material is unnecessary, and the detection of C=C double bonds present within a particular class of effective paraffin coatings. Further study should lead to the development of more robust paraffin anti-relaxation coatings, as well as the design and synthesis of new classes of coating materials.

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Study of wall coatings for vapor-cell laser traps

Cited by 83 publications

References 26 publications

Classification of Light-Induced Desorption of Alkali Atoms in Glass Cells Used in Atomic Physics Experiments

Classification of Light-Induced Desorption of Alkali Atoms in Glass Cells Used in Atomic Physics Experiments

Non-negligible collisions of alkali atoms with background gas in buffer-gas-free cells coated with paraffin

Investigation of antirelaxation coatings for alkali-metal vapor cells using surface science techniques

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