The Experiments

The LIAD is a non-thermal effect induced by light, it was discovered by A.Gozzini which observed a singular behaviour of a glass cell containing sodium vapour and some buffer gas.

The inner surface of cell was coated with a siloxane, which is an organic compound used in atomic studies in cells to prevent atomic inelastic collision to the walls and atom adsorption by the walls themselves.

Further experiments devoted to this effect were performed by our group, with different alkali atoms (Rb and Cs) and different siloxane compounds.

The effect is a general one and it produces an increase of atomic density in the vapour phase, caused by atom desorption from the Siloxane coating induced by weak illumination of the cell by non-resonant light.

In these pages you will find information related to LIAD and concerning

• Details for the preparation of the cells.
• A typical experimental apparatus.
• Siloxane compounds we used.
• Experimental results: atom desorption as a function of the experimental parameters.
• A simple macroscopic model taking into account diffusion processes.
• Experiments presently in progress.
• Laser diodes (links).

Details for the preparation of the cells >