Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Experimental demonstration of the optical Stern-Gerlach effect

Tycho Sleator, Tilman Pfau, V. I. Balykin, O. Carnal, J. Mlynek

Published Mar 30, 1992• 132 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report the observation of the splitting of an atomic beam by the optical Stern-Gerlach effect. A beam of metastable He atoms interacts with a nearly or exactly resonant laser field with a well-defined intensity gradient perpendicular to the atomic beam. The coherent splitting of the atomic beam is produced in the case of exact resonance. For the nonresonant case, a deflection of the atomic beam is observed. We have studied the splitting and deflection of the atomic beam as a function of laser detuning from resonance. Our results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.68.1996

Related papers

Lenses and beam splitters for atoms

Tycho Sleator

Two recent experiments demonstrating novel atomic lenses—one using a free standing Fresnel zone plate and the other using an optical standing wave with large (40 μm) period—will be discussed. In addition, an experiment demonstrating the splitting of an atomic beam by the optical Stern–Gerlach effect will be described. In this effect, a beam of (two-level) atoms is coherently split into two paths by an exactly resonant optical field gradient, each path containing atoms in one of the two dressed states. The field gradient was derived from a large period standing wave, produced by bouncing a laser beam from a glass surface at grazing incidence. The experiments were carried out with metastable He atoms interacting through the 23S1to 23P2 transition with an optical field at 1.083 μm. The interaction times were significantly less than the 23P natural lifetime of 100 ns, so spontaneous emission played no role during the interaction.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations

Quantum fine structure of the optical Stern-Gerlach effect

Alessandro Vaglica

In the optical Stern-Gerlach effect the interaction of a two-level atom with an optical-field gradient causes a state-selective deflection that leads to a splitting of the atomic trajectory. The semiclassical approach to this problem actually predicts a splitting of the atomic beam into two paths, similar to the well-known magnetic Stern-Gerlach effect for spin 1/2. Here we study a model in which the quantum nature of the field is taken into account and we show, in particular, that for an initial coherent state of the cavity light the optical Stern-Gerlach effect manifests itself as a splitting of the atomic beam into two groups containing, however, many spots. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1996•12 citations

Optical Stern-Gerlach effect from the Zeeman-like ac Stark shift

Chang Yong Park, Ji Young Kim, Jong Min Song +1 more

We report a different type of optical Stern-Gerlach effect, where a magnetic-field gradient is replaced with a light-intensity gradient and a paramagnetic atom is deflected according to its magnetic quantum number. The laser light is detuned between the $D1$ and $D2$ frequencies, with the size of the detuning from the $D2$ resonance being twice that from the $D1$ resonance, and it is circularly polarized to produce an ac Stark shift that takes the form of a pure Zeeman shift. Slow rubidium atoms are extracted from a magneto-optical trap and then spin polarized. The atoms traversing the laser-intensity gradient on one side of the Gaussian beam profile show deflections that depend on the atomic spin state and the laser polarization. When the laser-beam axis is aligned with the slit that defines the atomic beam, we observe focusing and defocusing of the atomic beam.

Physical Review A•Feb 20, 2002•25 citations

Atomic beam splitters based on light

Charles S. Adams, Tilman Pfau, J. Mlynek

In this paper we review techniques to coherently split an atomic beam using the dipole force. We discuss the interaction of atoms with normal standing wave light field in the context of atomic beam splitters. The case where the atom enters the standing wave at a small angle such that Bragg diffraction and velocity selective resonances are observed is also considered. An alternative approach to realize a coherent beam splitter based on the optical Stern‐Gerlach effect is discussed. Finally we consider the interaction of atoms with a magneto‐optical potential formed by a polarization gradient light field and a static magnetic field. We show that the Stern‐Gerlach effect and the magneto‐optical potential produce a more effective beam splitting into states with high transverse momentum than diffraction from a normal standing wave.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1993•1 citation

Deflection of a Λ-type three-level atom by a light field: a mechanical demonstration of the coherent population trapping effect

Omar Marzook Al-Dossary, V. E. Lembessis

We consider the deflection of a three-level atom of Λ-type interacting with a light field of two coherent laser beams. We employ the dressed state formalism, which is suitable for large Rabi frequencies and/or large detunings. A full study of the interaction and relaxation processes is performed. We show that a beam of atoms is split into three beams once it crosses the light field. This is a three-state version of the well-known optical Stern–Gerlach effect, which has been theoretically studied and experimentally demonstrated for two-level atoms. Under coherent population trapping conditions, the splitting of the beam becomes twofold. This gives us, in principle, the opportunity of a mechanical demonstration of the coherent population trapping effect.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•May 22, 2012•3 citations

Direct demonstration of the transverse Stern–Gerlach effect

J. L. Porter, R. F. Pettifer, David R Leadley

A Stern–Gerlach experiment constructed in the spirit of the original experiment is reported that demonstrates spatial quantization for a beam of silver atoms directly to the unaided eye. Splitting of the atomic beam is seen both parallel to the magnetic field direction, as in the “usual” experiment, and in a direction mutually perpendicular to the field and atomic trajectory, which is a new transverse Stern–Gerlach effect. Splitting of up to 4 mm can be recorded visually. Calculations based on the force components acting on the atomic beams reproduce the experimental results within the experimental accuracy of ±0.3 mm.

American Journal of Physics•Oct 13, 2003•3 citations
We report the observation of the splitting of an atomic beam by the optical Stern-Gerlach effect. A beam of metastable He atoms interacts with a nearly or exactly resonant laser field with a well-defined intensity gradient perpendicular to the atomic beam. The coherent splitting of the atomic beam is produced in the case of exact resonance. For the nonresonant case, a deflection of the atomic beam is observed. We have studied the splitting and deflection of the atomic beam as a function of laser detuning from resonance. Our results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.
Two recent experiments demonstrating novel atomic lenses—one using a free standing Fresnel zone plate and the other using an optical standing wave with large (40 μm) period—will be discussed. In addition, an experiment demonstrating the splitting of an atomic beam by the optical Stern–Gerlach effect will be described. In this effect, a beam of (two-level) atoms is coherently split into two paths by an exactly resonant optical field gradient, each path containing atoms in one of the two dressed states. The field gradient was derived from a large period standing wave, produced by bouncing a laser beam from a glass surface at grazing incidence. The experiments were carried out with metastable He atoms interacting through the 23S1to 23P2 transition with an optical field at 1.083 μm. The interaction times were significantly less than the 23P natural lifetime of 100 ns, so spontaneous emission played no role during the interaction.
In the optical Stern-Gerlach effect the interaction of a two-level atom with an optical-field gradient causes a state-selective deflection that leads to a splitting of the atomic trajectory. The semiclassical approach to this problem actually predicts a splitting of the atomic beam into two paths, similar to the well-known magnetic Stern-Gerlach effect for spin 1/2. Here we study a model in which the quantum nature of the field is taken into account and we show, in particular, that for an initial coherent state of the cavity light the optical Stern-Gerlach effect manifests itself as a splitting of the atomic beam into two groups containing, however, many spots. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
We report a different type of optical Stern-Gerlach effect, where a magnetic-field gradient is replaced with a light-intensity gradient and a paramagnetic atom is deflected according to its magnetic quantum number. The laser light is detuned between the D1D1D1 and D2D2D2 frequencies, with the size of the detuning from the D2D2D2 resonance being twice that from the D1D1D1 resonance, and it is circularly polarized to produce an ac Stark shift that takes the form of a pure Zeeman shift. Slow rubidium atoms are extracted from a magneto-optical trap and then spin polarized. The atoms traversing the laser-intensity gradient on one side of the Gaussian beam profile show deflections that depend on the atomic spin state and the laser polarization. When the laser-beam axis is aligned with the slit that defines the atomic beam, we observe focusing and defocusing of the atomic beam.
In this paper we review techniques to coherently split an atomic beam using the dipole force. We discuss the interaction of atoms with normal standing wave light field in the context of atomic beam splitters. The case where the atom enters the standing wave at a small angle such that Bragg diffraction and velocity selective resonances are observed is also considered. An alternative approach to realize a coherent beam splitter based on the optical Stern‐Gerlach effect is discussed. Finally we consider the interaction of atoms with a magneto‐optical potential formed by a polarization gradient light field and a static magnetic field. We show that the Stern‐Gerlach effect and the magneto‐optical potential produce a more effective beam splitting into states with high transverse momentum than diffraction from a normal standing wave.
We consider the deflection of a three-level atom of Λ-type interacting with a light field of two coherent laser beams. We employ the dressed state formalism, which is suitable for large Rabi frequencies and/or large detunings. A full study of the interaction and relaxation processes is performed. We show that a beam of atoms is split into three beams once it crosses the light field. This is a three-state version of the well-known optical Stern–Gerlach effect, which has been theoretically studied and experimentally demonstrated for two-level atoms. Under coherent population trapping conditions, the splitting of the beam becomes twofold. This gives us, in principle, the opportunity of a mechanical demonstration of the coherent population trapping effect.
A Stern–Gerlach experiment constructed in the spirit of the original experiment is reported that demonstrates spatial quantization for a beam of silver atoms directly to the unaided eye. Splitting of the atomic beam is seen both parallel to the magnetic field direction, as in the “usual” experiment, and in a direction mutually perpendicular to the field and atomic trajectory, which is a new transverse Stern–Gerlach effect. Splitting of up to 4 mm can be recorded visually. Calculations based on the force components acting on the atomic beams reproduce the experimental results within the experimental accuracy of ±0.3 mm.