The Role of Buffer Gas in Shaping the D1 Line Spectrum of Potassium Vapour

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Main Authors: Alqarni, Sharaa A., Pizzey, Danielle, Wrathmall, Steven A, Hughes, Ifan G
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Alqarni, Sharaa A.
Pizzey, Danielle
Wrathmall, Steven A
Hughes, Ifan G
author_facet Alqarni, Sharaa A.
Pizzey, Danielle
Wrathmall, Steven A
Hughes, Ifan G
contents In this study, we investigate the effect of buffer gas and magnetic field on the spectral line shapes of the potassium D1 transition using sealed vapour cells filled with varying amounts of neon as a buffer gas. Employing a dual-temperature control system, we independently manipulate the cell body and stem temperatures to explore Doppler and collisional effects on the spectrum. Our results show how the Voigt spectral profile changes from Gaussian- to Lorentzian-dominated forms due to pressure broadening and shifts caused by collisions between potassium atoms and neon. Our measurements are in excellent agreement with the literature values for potassium-neon collisions. For the first time we were able to incorporate the buffer-gas shift and broadening into the modified Voigt profile via the ElecSus code, and found excellent agreement between the predicted and measured line profiles. We also analyse the potassium D1 spectral lines in the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime using strong magnetic fields, demonstrating how Zeeman splitting modifies the pressure-broadened line shape. This work provides valuable insights into collision-induced broadening and shifts, enhancing our understanding of potassium spectroscopy and its application in the development of advanced magneto-optical filters for solar physics and other applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_07888
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Role of Buffer Gas in Shaping the D1 Line Spectrum of Potassium Vapour
Alqarni, Sharaa A.
Pizzey, Danielle
Wrathmall, Steven A
Hughes, Ifan G
Atomic Physics
Optics
In this study, we investigate the effect of buffer gas and magnetic field on the spectral line shapes of the potassium D1 transition using sealed vapour cells filled with varying amounts of neon as a buffer gas. Employing a dual-temperature control system, we independently manipulate the cell body and stem temperatures to explore Doppler and collisional effects on the spectrum. Our results show how the Voigt spectral profile changes from Gaussian- to Lorentzian-dominated forms due to pressure broadening and shifts caused by collisions between potassium atoms and neon. Our measurements are in excellent agreement with the literature values for potassium-neon collisions. For the first time we were able to incorporate the buffer-gas shift and broadening into the modified Voigt profile via the ElecSus code, and found excellent agreement between the predicted and measured line profiles. We also analyse the potassium D1 spectral lines in the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime using strong magnetic fields, demonstrating how Zeeman splitting modifies the pressure-broadened line shape. This work provides valuable insights into collision-induced broadening and shifts, enhancing our understanding of potassium spectroscopy and its application in the development of advanced magneto-optical filters for solar physics and other applications.
title The Role of Buffer Gas in Shaping the D1 Line Spectrum of Potassium Vapour
topic Atomic Physics
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07888