STUDY OF WALL COATINGS FOR VAPOR-CELL LASER TRAPS

Efficient collection of atoms into a vapor-cell laser trap requires a special wall material for the cell that minimizes the interactions between the vapor and the wall. Tests of several different wall coatings and materials are reported, and measurements of adsorption energies, outgassing, and chemical reaction rates between the alkali vapor and the walls are described. It is demonstrated that each of these parameters affects the collection efficiency.