Abstract

The study of the atom-dielectric surface interactions has been recently enriched by the observation of a new effect known as light-induced atom desportion (LIAD) [1-3]. This effect is non thermal and it is completely different from photo desorption produced by powerful laser pulses. When pyrex cells, containing alkali atoms, are coated by silane compounds, for example the poly(dimethyl-siloxane) polymer (PDS) or the crown shaped octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane molecules (OCT), huge atom desorption is obtained as soon as the cell is weakly illuminated with ordinary light.

© 1996 Optical Society of America