Light-induced atomic desorption of lithium

Published

October 8, 2018

Author(s)

Daniel S. Barker, Eric B. Norrgard, Julia K. Scherschligt, James A. Fedchak, Stephen P. Eckel

Abstract

We demonstrate loading of a Li magneto-optical trap using light-induced atomic desorption. The magneto-optical trap confines up to approximately 10000 lithium atoms with loading rates up to 4000 atoms/s. We study the Li desorption rate as a function of the desorption wavelength and power. The extracted wavelength threshold for desorption of Li from fused silica is approximately 470 nm. In addition to desorption of lithium, we observe light-induced desorption of background gas molecules. The vacuum pressure increase due to the desorbed background molecules is less than 50 % and the vacuum pressure decreases back to its base value with characteristic timescales on the order of seconds when we extinguish the desorption light. By examining both the loading and decay curves of the magneto-optical trap, we are able to disentangle the trap decay rates due to background gases and desorbed lithium. Our results show that light-induced atomic desorption can be a viable Li vapor source for compact devices and sensors.

Citation

Physical Review A

Volume

98

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.98.043412

Keywords

laser cooling, atomic desorption, photodesorption, magneto-optical trap

Citation

Barker, D. , Norrgard, E. , Scherschligt, J. , Fedchak, J. and Eckel, S. (2018), Light-induced atomic desorption of lithium, Physical Review A, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.98.043412 (Accessed December 21, 2024)