Journal of the Korean Physical Society

The influences of quadrupole-active transitions for atoms in bessel light modes

S. Al‐Awfi

Published Apr 1, 2014• 6 citations

Abstract

In this paper, we explain how a weak optical quadrupole interaction in atoms can be utilized. Our proposed physical model is based on the atom, which interacts at near resonance with laser light prepared as a Bessel mode. This type of beam is a class of light, which possesses a well-defined orbital angular momentum that is distinct from spin angular momentum. This property, in particular, causes optical forces to ensue from such interactions, giving distinctive features. Although the magnitude of the quadrupole interaction in standard situation is small, it plays an important role in some special cases, such as those allowing processes involving dipole-forbidden transitions or in the presence of external fields. We describe the essential features of the optical-force effects and discuss how they can, in principle, be used to influence atoms.

DOI: 10.3938/jkps.64.1110

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