Atomic Motion in Laser Light

Hartmut Wallis

Hartmut Wallis

A. S. Parkins, Harry J. Kimble

We describe schemes for transferring quantum states between light fields and the motion of a trapped atom. Coupling between the motion and the light is achieved via Raman transitions driven by a laser field and the quantized field of a high-finesse microscopic cavity mode. By cascading two such systems and tailoring laser field pulses, we show that it is possible to transfer an arbitrary motional state of one atom to a second atom at a spatially distant site.

Claude N. Cohen-Tannoudji

Simple physical pictures using the dressed atom approach are introduced for understanding atomic motion in laser beams.1 New cooling schemes are suggested.

Guo-Zhen Yang, L. Zhang, W. Shu

Light amplification in a collective atomic recoil laser with an active medium confined in an external harmonic trap is investigated. Our study confirms the possibility of a great promotion of the lasing efficiency due to the collective atomic recoil motion being modified by the trapping potential. The physical explanation of this laser behavior is given.