Dicke Coherent Narrowing in Two-Photon and Raman Spectroscopy of Thin Vapour Cells

The principle of coherent Dicke narrowing in a thin vapour cell, in which sub-Doppler spectral lineshapes are observed under a normal irradiation for a l/2 thickness, is generalized to two-photon spectroscopy. Only the sum of the two wave vectors must be normal to the cell, making the two-photon scheme highly versatile. A comparison is provided between the Dicke narrowing with copropagating fields, and the residual Doppler-broadening occurring with counterpropagating geometries. The experimental feasibility is discussed on the basis of a first observation of a two-photon resonance in a 300 nm-thick Cs cell. Extension to the Raman situation is finally considered

Laser spectroscopy with nanometric gas cells : distance dependence of atom-surface interaction and collisions under confinement

The high sensitivity of Laser Spectroscopy has made possible the exploration of atomic resonances in newly designed "nanometric" gas cells, whose local thickness varies from 20nm to more than 1000 nm. Following the initial observation of the optical analogous of the coherent Dicke microwave narrowing, the newest prospects include the exploration of long-range atom surface van der Waals interaction with spatial resolution in an unprecedented range of distances, modification of atom dielectric resonant coupling under the influence of the coupling between the two neighbouring dielectric media, and even the possible modification of interatomic collisions processes under the effect of confinement

Testing the distance-dependence of the van der Waals interaction between an atom and a surface through spectroscopy in a vapor nanocell

This paper presents our current measurements in a vapor nanocell aiming at a test of the distance-dependence of the atom-surface interaction, when simple asymptotic descriptions may turn to be not valid. A state-of-the-art of atom-surface interaction measurements is provided as an introduction, along with the comparison with the theory of the van der Waals (or Casimir-Polder) interaction; it is followed by a presentation of the most salient features of nanocell spectroscop

Cavité nanométrique de vapeur de Césium : spectroscopie à haute résolution et interaction de surface de type van der Waals

We report on different spectroscopic experiments in an ultra thin vapour cell for thickness from 30 to 1300 nm. We present optical response of the D1 Cs line function of cell thickness along transmission and reflection. The attractive van der Waals interaction between atom surface with spatial resolution is observed and we propose a theoretical model taking into account the multiple reflections of the fluctuating dipole moment. The excited level Cs(6D3/2) is populated by different techniques by two photons for thickness less than 100 nm. We also present an investigation of a possible level crossing induced between repulsive potential (by this coupled level with the surface) and attractive one (the non coupled 6D5/2 level) for an estimated distance to the surface of 5 nm.Cette thèse expose différentes expériences de spectroscopie dans des cellules de vapeur ultra minces d'épaisseurs comprises entre 30 et 1300 nm. Nous présentons la réponse optique en transmission et en réflexion de la transition D1 du Cs en fonction de l'épaisseur. Elle est transitoire car induite par le confinement des atomes entre les parois. L'interaction de van der Waals attractive entre atome et surface résolue avec la distance est observée et nous proposons un modèle théorique d'interaction avec deux parois utilisant les réflexions multiples du dipôle atomique fluctuant. Le niveau de Cs(6D3/2) est peuplé par différentes techniques à deux photons pour des épaisseurs inférieures à 100 nm. Nous présentons aussi une investigation du croisement des potentiels répulsif (de ce niveau résonnant avec la surface de saphir) et attractif (du niveau 6D5/2 non résonnant) pour une distance à la surface estimée à 5 nm

Cavité nanométrique de vapeur de Césium (Spectroscopie à haute résolution et interaction de surface de type Van Der Waals)

PARIS13-BU Sciences (930792102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Optically induced angular motion of single molecules

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Slowing dynamics of a supersonic beam, simulation and experiments

International audienceIn this paper we present numerical and experimental methods aimed to study the evolution in space and time of a slowed supersonic beam. These generic methods are applicable to a variety of beams and decelerating techniques. The present implemented experimental set up is based upon Zeeman slowing of a metastable atom beam. The detection uses a channel-electron multiplier and a delay-line detector allowing time-of-flight analysis and numerical image reconstruction. In particular a depopulation effect at the centre of the beam is evidenced. In view of quantifying the slowing process, Monte Carlo calculations based on rate-equations are detaile

Low energy collisions of spin-polarized metastable argon atoms with ground state argon atoms

International audienceThe collision between a spin-polarized metastable argon atom in Ar* (3p54s, 3P2, M=+2) state slightly decelerated by the Zeeman slower-laser technique and a co-propagating thermal ground state argon atom Ar (3p6,1S0), both merged from the same supersonic beam, but coming through adjacent slots of a rotating disk, is investigated at the center of mass energies ranging from 1 to 10 meV. The duration of the laser pulse synchronised with the disk allows the tuning of the relative velocity and thus the collision energy. At these sub-thermal energies, the ‘resonant metastability transfer' signal is too small to be evidenced. The explored energy range requires using indiscernibility amplitudes for identical isotopes to have a correct interpretation of the experimental results. Nevertheless, excitation transfers are expected to increase significantly at much lower energies as suggested by previous theoretical predictions of potentials 2g(3P2) and 2u(3P2). Limits at ultra-low collisional energies of the order of 1 mK (0.086 μeV) or less, where gigantic elastic cross sections are expected, will also be discussed. The experimental method is versatile and could be applied using different isotopes of Argon like 36Ar combined with 40Ar, as well as other rare gases among which Krypton should be of great interest thanks to the available numerous isotopes present in a natural gas mixtur

Vapour spectroscopy close to an interface : confined optical frequency references

conférnece présentée par A. LaliotisInternational audienc