Rigorous theory of thin-vapor-layer linear optical properties: The case of quenching of atomic polarization upon collisions of atoms with dielectric walls

TL;DR

This paper develops a rigorous theoretical framework for understanding the linear optical properties of thin vapor layers, accounting for higher-order effects and atomic wall collisions, with implications for miniature atomic sensors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to calculate eigenmodes of thin vapor layers beyond first-order perturbation, including density-dependent effects and boundary condition independence.

Findings

Higher-order optical density corrections cause blue shifts and spectral line deformation.

Eigenmodes can be computed independently of boundary conditions.

The theory enhances the design of miniature atomic sensors.

Abstract

Hot alkali metal vapors enclosed in sub-micron spectroscopic cells provide an ideal system for fundamental studies of the atom-wall and atom-light interactions at nanoscale. Here, we propose a novel approach for calculating the eigenmodes of a thin-vapor-layer beyond the limitations of the first-order perturbation theory in optical density for the case of quenching of atomic polarization upon collisions of atoms with dielectric walls. We show that higher-order optical density corrections lead to a remarkable density-dependent blue shift and deformation of the spectral line shapes of reflection, transmission, and absorption. We also demonstrate that the eigenmodes of the thin-vapor-layer can be calculated independently of the choice of optical boundary conditions. This greatly extends the applicability of the constructed theory for the development of miniature atomic sensors.