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

Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Artificial gauge potentials for neutral atoms: an application in evanescent light fields

V. E. Lembessis

Published May 16, 2014• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We show that atoms interacting with evanescent light fields, generated at the interface of a dielectric with vacuum, experience artificial gauge potentials. Both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of these potentials depend crucially on the physical parameters that characterize the evanescent fields most notably the refractive index of the dielectric material and the angle of incidence of the laser beam totally internally reflected at the interface. Gauge fields are derived for various evanescent light fields and for both two-level and three-level systems. The use of such artificial gauge potentials for the manipulation of atoms trapped at the interfaces is pointed out and discussed.

DOI
10.1364/josab.31.001322

Related papers

Evanescent Artificial Gauge Potentials for Neutral Atoms

V. E. Lembessis

We show that atoms interacting with evanescent light fields, generated at the interface of a dielectric with vacuum, experience artificial gauge potentials. These potentials depend crucially on the physical parameters which characterize the evanescent fields most notably the refractive index of the dielectric material and the angle of incidence of the laser beam totally internaly reflected at the interface. Gauge fields are derived for various evanescent light fields and for both two-level and three-level systems. The use of such artificial gauge potentials for the manipulation of atoms trapped at the interfaces is pointed out and discussed.

arXiv:1310.7106•Oct 26, 2013•0 citations

An atomic trap based on evanescent light waves

Yu. B. Ovchinnikov, Sergei V. Shulga, V. I. Balykin

A new type of gradient light trap is suggested for neutral atoms, based on the evanescent fields of two laser beams experiencing total internal reflection at a dielectric-vacuum interface. A distinctive feature of the trap is that its bottom is close to the interface: at a distance of the order of the wavelength of light.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Jul 28, 1991•85 citations

Dark state atom mirrors based on artificial gauge fields created by surface optical vortices

V. E. Lembessis, Anwar Al Rsheed, A. Lyras +1 more

We propose the construction of an atom mirror for cold three-level atoms in a dark state where the forces, responsible for the atomic reflection, are provided by artificial gauge fields. These fields are created from the total internal reflection of optical vortex beams with Gaussian intensity profiles at the interface of a dielectric prism and vacuum. We investigate the role of the photon angular momentum in the magnitude of these fields and consequently on the efficiency of atomic reflection.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Mar 15, 2019•0 citations

Atomic mirrors for aΛ-type three-level atom

Nuha Felemban, Omar Marzook Al-Dossary, V. E. Lembessis

We propose atom mirror schemes for a three-level atom of Λ-type interacting with two evanescent fields, which are generated as a result of the total internal reflection of two coherent Gaussian laser beams at the interface of a dielectric prism with vacuum. The forces acting on the atom are derived by means of optical Bloch equations, based on the atomic density matrix elements. The theory is illustrated by setting up the equations of motion for 23Na atom. Two types of excited schemes are examined, namely the cases in which the evanescent fields have polarization types of and . The equations are solved numerically and we get results for atomic trajectories for different parameters. The performance of the mirror for the two types of polarization schemes is quantified and discussed. The possibility of reflecting atoms at pre-determined directions is also discussed.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Aug 28, 2014•5 citations

Optics for Neutral Atomic Beams: Reflection and Diffraction of Sodium Atoms by Evanescent Laser Light Fields

K. G. H. Baldwin, Joseph V. Hajnal, Peter Fisk +2 more

Realization of the analogues of optical components for the manipulation of atomic de Broglie waves has recently become possible through the use of laser-based techniques. The strong fields generated by laser light have already been used to reflect atoms using travelling evanescent waves, and to diffract atomic beams through small angles using transmission gratings formed by a standing laser light wave in vacuo. Present experiments aim to combine these techniques to produce a reflection diffraction grating formed by a standing evanescent laser-light field, and to exploit the larger diffraction angles made possible theoretically by such a scheme.

Journal of Modern Optics•Nov 1, 1990•8 citations

Design of atomic mirror for silicon atoms

Shinichi Shimizu, T. Iwane, Akira Kunieda +3 more

Cook and Hill suggested that the gradient of an optical field can be used to reflect atoms. To reflect atoms, the repulsive dipole force is used, which comes from the interaction between the electric dipole moment of atoms and the evanescent field. The evanescent wave is generated when light is totally reflected internally at the interface of different refractive indices. Later, the way to enhance the evanescent wave with a thin dielectric waveguide has been reported. We designed the atomic mirror for silicon atoms, whose structure enhances the evanescent field that is used to repel silicon atoms. We also set up the equations of motion for silicon atoms and derive trajectories of the atoms reflected by the atomic mirror. Optical intensity, incident angle of the light, and effective detuning are described in terms of controlling the trajectory of the atom.

Science and Technology of Advanced Materials•Jan 1, 2004•15 citations
We show that atoms interacting with evanescent light fields, generated at the interface of a dielectric with vacuum, experience artificial gauge potentials. Both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of these potentials depend crucially on the physical parameters that characterize the evanescent fields most notably the refractive index of the dielectric material and the angle of incidence of the laser beam totally internally reflected at the interface. Gauge fields are derived for various evanescent light fields and for both two-level and three-level systems. The use of such artificial gauge potentials for the manipulation of atoms trapped at the interfaces is pointed out and discussed.
We show that atoms interacting with evanescent light fields, generated at the interface of a dielectric with vacuum, experience artificial gauge potentials. These potentials depend crucially on the physical parameters which characterize the evanescent fields most notably the refractive index of the dielectric material and the angle of incidence of the laser beam totally internaly reflected at the interface. Gauge fields are derived for various evanescent light fields and for both two-level and three-level systems. The use of such artificial gauge potentials for the manipulation of atoms trapped at the interfaces is pointed out and discussed.
We propose atom mirror schemes for a three-level atom of Λ-type interacting with two evanescent fields, which are generated as a result of the total internal reflection of two coherent Gaussian laser beams at the interface of a dielectric prism with vacuum. The forces acting on the atom are derived by means of optical Bloch equations, based on the atomic density matrix elements. The theory is illustrated by setting up the equations of motion for 23Na atom. Two types of excited schemes are examined, namely the cases in which the evanescent fields have polarization types of and . The equations are solved numerically and we get results for atomic trajectories for different parameters. The performance of the mirror for the two types of polarization schemes is quantified and discussed. The possibility of reflecting atoms at pre-determined directions is also discussed.
Realization of the analogues of optical components for the manipulation of atomic de Broglie waves has recently become possible through the use of laser-based techniques. The strong fields generated by laser light have already been used to reflect atoms using travelling evanescent waves, and to diffract atomic beams through small angles using transmission gratings formed by a standing laser light wave in vacuo. Present experiments aim to combine these techniques to produce a reflection diffraction grating formed by a standing evanescent laser-light field, and to exploit the larger diffraction angles made possible theoretically by such a scheme.
Cook and Hill suggested that the gradient of an optical field can be used to reflect atoms. To reflect atoms, the repulsive dipole force is used, which comes from the interaction between the electric dipole moment of atoms and the evanescent field. The evanescent wave is generated when light is totally reflected internally at the interface of different refractive indices. Later, the way to enhance the evanescent wave with a thin dielectric waveguide has been reported. We designed the atomic mirror for silicon atoms, whose structure enhances the evanescent field that is used to repel silicon atoms. We also set up the equations of motion for silicon atoms and derive trajectories of the atoms reflected by the atomic mirror. Optical intensity, incident angle of the light, and effective detuning are described in terms of controlling the trajectory of the atom.