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Journal de physique

The motion of atoms and molecules in a resonance light field

A. P. Kazantsev, Gregory I. Surdutovich, Valery P. Yakovlev

Published Jan 1, 1981• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The influence of the resonance light pressure on the motion of atoms and molecules is studied. A kinetic equation has been obtained describing the action on particles of both the mean force of light pressure and its fluctuations. The forces that are considered are due to spontaneous and stimulated transitions and also to a certain combination thereof. The kinetic equation is used to describe the scattering of atoms in conditions close to the experimental ones [16]. The temperature of atoms cooled in a standing wave with the aid of the force of light pressure of the combined type has also been found.

DOI
10.1051/jphys:019810042090123100

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Kinetic phenomena of resonant-particle motion in a standing-light-wave field are theoretically discussed. The light-pressure force and its fluctuations are found in a wide range of the parameters: the atomic velocity, the intensity, and the detuning of the field. There are two characteristic regions of the detunings in a strong field: the adiabatic region and the region of Landau–Zener resonances. The quantum fluctuations of the inner atomic state that are due to the Landau–Zener transitions result, specifically, in the interference effect in the mean light-pressure force. The effects of the spatial grating of the cooled atoms, the particle velocity bunching, and the recoil-effect dependence on the nonlinear absorption are considered for slow particles. The effect of optical pumping by linearly polarized light taking into account the recoil effect is fundamentally new. Because of this effect, the anisotropic resonance medium becomes gyrotropic.

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Resonance light pressure

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The forces acting on a resonance particle in the fields of laser radiation sources can be large. Acceleration, heating, and cooling of atoms by using these forces are discussed. Since the forces are of a resonance type, one can employ them to separate isotopes and excited atoms from unexcited atoms. Light pressure can play an important role in the spectroscopy of narrow atomic and molecular resonances. The quantum features of the motion of particles in a standing light wave are manifested in a fine structure of the absorption coefficient. This review is concerned with analyzing the resonance light-pressure forces and discussing the application of them in optics and quantum electronics.

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The light pressure that results from the transfer of a momentum hk/2π to an atomic particle in the resonant scattering of photons has been studied thoroughly and is widely used to control the motion of atoms, to reduce their kinetic energy, corresponding to temperatures in the range below 1 mK and to reach in future the ultimate frequency standard. For a traveling plane wave the momentum of an atom can be changed significantly only if the interaction of the atom with a laser field can be made cyclic. This is possible if there is a transition from a ground (or metastable) state to a short lived level that decays spontaneously to the lower state. For this case the maximum force is determined by the rate 2γ of the spontaneous decay and is given by Fmax = hkγ/ 2π.

•May 8, 1994•2 citations

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A theoretical and experimental study is presented of the effect of stimulated radiation pressure (SRP) under the conditions of strong saturation of the resonance transition when the interaction times between the atom and the field are short (shorter than the radiative lifetime). An experimental method for studying the scattering of an atomic beam by the field of a standing light wave is described. The measured dependence of the scattering efficiency on the electric field and the detuning from resonance are reported. Experimental relationships are compared with theoretical calculations based on the quasi-classical description of the motion of atoms in the field of a light wave, using an effective potential. It is shown that the efficiency of scattering of atoms by SRP forces is of the order of unity in relatively weak (100–1000-V/cm) laser fields.

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Stimulated Coulomb Interaction of Neutral Atoms

A. P. Kazantsev, V. P. Sokolov

The interaction of neutral atoms in an external resonance field in a wave zone is considered. It is shown that it may be regarded as the result of pressure on the atom exerted by light scattered by the second atom. Depending on the field intensity, the atoms may either attract or repel each other. In a strong field the force obeys the Coulomb-type law with an effective charge which depends on the field intensity and atom velocities. In a finite-density gas the interaction is comparable to the light pressure force. This may be important in studies of the kinetics of atoms in a resonant field.

Optica Acta International Journal of Optics•Mar 1, 1980•1 citation

Mechanical Action of Light on Atoms

A. P. Kazantsev, Gregory I. Surdutovich, Valery P. Yakovlev

Control of atomic motion with resonant laser light is the most interesting field of research which is rapidly expanding. The book discusses the latest theoretical and experimental achievements in the study of these phenomena. The fundamental questions of the theory of resonant light pressure are given in the book. They are: 1. Optical Stern-Gerlach Effect and Quantization of Atomic Motion in a Light Field; 2. Theory of Light Pressure Force and Atomic Kinetics in a Strong Field; 3. Diffraction and Interference of Atoms; 4. Velocity Bunching Effect, Cooling and Localization of Atoms in Light Field, and 5. Polarization Phenomena and Recoil Effect. The most important experiments are also discussed in this book. While the book may be used to get a primary acquaintance with the subject, specialists will also find the latest theoretical and experimental results and achievements in this field discussed here.

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks•Aug 1, 1990•259 citations
The influence of the resonance light pressure on the motion of atoms and molecules is studied. A kinetic equation has been obtained describing the action on particles of both the mean force of light pressure and its fluctuations. The forces that are considered are due to spontaneous and stimulated transitions and also to a certain combination thereof. The kinetic equation is used to describe the scattering of atoms in conditions close to the experimental ones [16]. The temperature of atoms cooled in a standing wave with the aid of the force of light pressure of the combined type has also been found.
Kinetic phenomena of resonant-particle motion in a standing-light-wave field are theoretically discussed. The light-pressure force and its fluctuations are found in a wide range of the parameters: the atomic velocity, the intensity, and the detuning of the field. There are two characteristic regions of the detunings in a strong field: the adiabatic region and the region of Landau–Zener resonances. The quantum fluctuations of the inner atomic state that are due to the Landau–Zener transitions result, specifically, in the interference effect in the mean light-pressure force. The effects of the spatial grating of the cooled atoms, the particle velocity bunching, and the recoil-effect dependence on the nonlinear absorption are considered for slow particles. The effect of optical pumping by linearly polarized light taking into account the recoil effect is fundamentally new. Because of this effect, the anisotropic resonance medium becomes gyrotropic.
The forces acting on a resonance particle in the fields of laser radiation sources can be large. Acceleration, heating, and cooling of atoms by using these forces are discussed. Since the forces are of a resonance type, one can employ them to separate isotopes and excited atoms from unexcited atoms. Light pressure can play an important role in the spectroscopy of narrow atomic and molecular resonances. The quantum features of the motion of particles in a standing light wave are manifested in a fine structure of the absorption coefficient. This review is concerned with analyzing the resonance light-pressure forces and discussing the application of them in optics and quantum electronics.
The light pressure that results from the transfer of a momentum hk/2π to an atomic particle in the resonant scattering of photons has been studied thoroughly and is widely used to control the motion of atoms, to reduce their kinetic energy, corresponding to temperatures in the range below 1 mK and to reach in future the ultimate frequency standard. For a traveling plane wave the momentum of an atom can be changed significantly only if the interaction of the atom with a laser field can be made cyclic. This is possible if there is a transition from a ground (or metastable) state to a short lived level that decays spontaneously to the lower state. For this case the maximum force is determined by the rate 2γ of the spontaneous decay and is given by Fmax = hkγ/ 2π.
A theoretical and experimental study is presented of the effect of stimulated radiation pressure (SRP) under the conditions of strong saturation of the resonance transition when the interaction times between the atom and the field are short (shorter than the radiative lifetime). An experimental method for studying the scattering of an atomic beam by the field of a standing light wave is described. The measured dependence of the scattering efficiency on the electric field and the detuning from resonance are reported. Experimental relationships are compared with theoretical calculations based on the quasi-classical description of the motion of atoms in the field of a light wave, using an effective potential. It is shown that the efficiency of scattering of atoms by SRP forces is of the order of unity in relatively weak (100–1000-V/cm) laser fields.
The interaction of neutral atoms in an external resonance field in a wave zone is considered. It is shown that it may be regarded as the result of pressure on the atom exerted by light scattered by the second atom. Depending on the field intensity, the atoms may either attract or repel each other. In a strong field the force obeys the Coulomb-type law with an effective charge which depends on the field intensity and atom velocities. In a finite-density gas the interaction is comparable to the light pressure force. This may be important in studies of the kinetics of atoms in a resonant field.
Control of atomic motion with resonant laser light is the most interesting field of research which is rapidly expanding. The book discusses the latest theoretical and experimental achievements in the study of these phenomena. The fundamental questions of the theory of resonant light pressure are given in the book. They are: 1. Optical Stern-Gerlach Effect and Quantization of Atomic Motion in a Light Field; 2. Theory of Light Pressure Force and Atomic Kinetics in a Strong Field; 3. Diffraction and Interference of Atoms; 4. Velocity Bunching Effect, Cooling and Localization of Atoms in Light Field, and 5. Polarization Phenomena and Recoil Effect. The most important experiments are also discussed in this book. While the book may be used to get a primary acquaintance with the subject, specialists will also find the latest theoretical and experimental results and achievements in this field discussed here.