Direct observation of atomic diffusion in warm rubidium ensembles

Abstract

We present a robust method for measuring the diffusion coefficients of warm atoms in buffer gases. Using optical pumping, we manipulate the atomic spin in a thin cylinder inside the cell. Then we observe the spatial spread of optically pumped atoms in time using a camera, which allows us to determine the diffusion coefficient. As an example, we demonstrate measurements of diffusion coefficients of rubidium in neon, krypton and xenon acting as buffer gases. We have determined the normalized (273 K, 760 Torr) diffusion coefficients to be 0.18$\pm$0.03 cm$^2$/s for neon, 0.07$\pm$0.01 cm$^2$/s for krypton, and 0.052$\pm$0.006 cm$^2$/s for xenon.