Quantitative atomic spectroscopy for primary thermometry

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.83.033805· OSTI ID:21541362

Truong, Gar-Wing; Luiten, Andre N ^[1]; May, Eric F ^[2]; Stace, Thomas M ^[3]

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1. Frequency Standards and Metrology Research Group, School of Physics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009 (Australia)
2. Centre for Energy, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009 (Australia)
3. School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072 (Australia)

Quantitative spectroscopy has been used to measure accurately the Doppler broadening of atomic transitions in {sup 85}Rb vapor. By using a conventional platinum resistance thermometer and the Doppler thermometry technique, we were able to determine k{sub B} with a relative uncertainty of 4.1x10{sup -4} and with a deviation of 2.7x10{sup -4} from the expected value. Our experiment, using an effusive vapor, departs significantly from other Doppler-broadened thermometry (DBT) techniques, which rely on weakly absorbing molecules in a diffusive regime. In these circumstances, very different systematic effects such as magnetic sensitivity and optical pumping are dominant. Using the model developed recently by Stace and Luiten, we estimate the perturbation due to optical pumping of the measured k{sub B} value was less than 4x10{sup -6}. The effects of optical pumping on atomic and molecular DBT experiments is mapped over a wide range of beam size and saturation intensity, indicating possible avenues for improvement. We also compare the line-broadening mechanisms, windows of operation and detection limits of some recent DBT experiments.

• OSTI ID: 21541362
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 83, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.83.033805; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BEAMS
DISTURBANCES
DOPPLER BROADENING
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
MOLECULES
OPTICAL PUMPING
RUBIDIUM 85
SENSITIVITY
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMOMETERS
VAPORS
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LINE BROADENING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NANOSECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PUMPING
RADIOISOTOPES
RUBIDIUM ISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES