Selected Topics of Laser Spectroscopy of Atoms and Molecules

Richard G. Brewer, Ralph G. DeVoe, Axel Schenzle +4 more

Vladilen S Letokhov

Abstract Rather different problems can be lumped together under the general term 'laser control of atoms and molecules'. They include the laser selection of atomic and molecular velocities for the purpose of Doppler-free spectroscopy, laser control of the position and velocity of atoms (i.e. laser trapping and cooling of atoms), and laser control of atomic and molecular processes (ionization, dissociation) with a view of detecting single atoms and molecules and particularly separating isotopes and nuclear isomers. Over the last decades the principal problems posed have been successfully solved, and many of them have evolved remarkably in the subsequent investigations of the international research community. For example, the solution of the problem of laser cooling and trapping of atoms has given birth to the new field of the physics of ultracold matter, i.e. quantum atomic and molecular gases. The laser non-coherent control of uni-molecular processes has found an interesting extension in the field of laser coherent control of molecules. The concept of laser control of position has been successfully demonstrated with microparticles (optical tweezers), concurrently with investigations into atomic control. The laser photo-ionization of molecules on surfaces has led to the development of novel techniques of laser-assisted mass spectrometry of macromolecules, and so on. The aim of this book is to review these topics from a unified or 'coherent' point of view. It will be useful for many readers in various fields of laser science and its applications.

Stig Stenholm

Boris F Polkovnikov, G. G. Telegin

A review is given of the papers presented at the now traditional (eighth in the series) Vavilov Conference on Nonlinear Optics, which took place in Akademgorodok near Novosibirsk on June 22–25, 1981. The scientific program covered the following topics: new methods and the phenomena in nonlinear laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics, control of the motion of various microparticles (atoms, molecules, ions) by laser fields, effects of laser radiation on complex molecules (including biomolecules), and laser methods in fundamental physical experiments (in particular, in the search for parity nonconservation in atomic processes). Over 200 scientists from 12 countries participated in the Conference.

The following topics were dealt with: physics of semiconductor lasers and optical amplifiers; nonlinear optics; dynamics, instabilities and patterns; ultrafast phenomena; laser spectroscopy; cold atoms and molecules; quantum optics; quantum information; nano-photonics; and microcavities.

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