Laser-controlled adsorption of Na atoms in evanescent wave spectroscopy

A new spectroscopic technique for studying adsorption of atoms at a transpa rent dielectric surface is exploited. A quantitative comparison of the Autl er-Townes splitting in measured and calculated, surface temperature-depende nt two-photon evanescent wave spectra provides values of the adsorption ene rgy, the preexponential factor for the rate of desorption and the polarizab ility of alkali atoms, adsorbed on a glass surface. It is speculated that t his technique could form the basis for future two-photon control of atoms c lose to dielectric surfaces. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.