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Physica Scripta

Laser Control of the Motion of Neutral Atoms and Optical Atomic Traps

V. I. Balykin, Vladilen S Letokhov, Vladimir G. Minogin

Published Jan 1, 1988• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We consider various methods (longitudinal and transverse cooling, focusing and reflection) of controlling the motion of atoms in a beam in a resonant laser field by means of the dissipative force of laser light pressure and the potential gradient force which are required to realize various types of optical traps for slow neutral atoms. We anticipate the extension of these methods for molecules in the future.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/1988/t22/018

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We consider various methods (longitudinal and transverse cooling, focusing and reflection) of controlling the motion of atoms in a beam in a resonant laser field by means of the dissipative force of laser light pressure and the potential gradient force which are required to realize various types of optical traps for slow neutral atoms. We anticipate the extension of these methods for molecules in the future.
We present a simple review of the basic physical processes allowing one to control, with laser beams, the velocity and the position of neutral atoms. The control of the velocity corresponds to a cooling of atoms, that is, a reduction of the atomic velocity spread around a given value. The control of the position means a trapping of atoms in real space. The best present performances will be given, in terms of the lowest temperatures and the highest densities. The corresponding highest quantum degeneracy will also be estimated. It is imposed by fundamental limits, which will be described briefly. We also give the general trends in this field of research and outline the new directions which look promising for observing quantum statistical effects in laser cooled atomic samples, but which are for the moment restricted by unsolved problems. Introducing the Simple Schemes The radiative forces acting on atoms in a light field can be split into two parts, a reactive one and a dissipative one. The dissipative force (radiation pressure), which basically involves scattering processes, is velocity dependent. We will see that this dependence leads to the Doppler cooling scheme and to the concept of optical molasses, and we will give the corresponding minimal achievable temperature. The dissipative force can be made position dependent, through a gradient of the magnetic field, so that the atoms are also trapped in the so-called magneto-optical trap.
Techniques to slowand t rap neutral atoms at high d ensities with r adiative forces are discussed in this review article. It isshown that the radiative force on an atomic system has two components, one coming from the rnomentum transferred from the photon to the atom and the other resul ting f rom the interaction of the transi t ion d i po 1 e mo- ment with the radiation field gradient. Among several methods of laser cooling, we emphasize Zeeman tuning of the electronic l evels and fre- quency-sweeping techniques. Trapping of neutral atoms is ano ther i n- teresting subject discussed in this review. We present recent resul ts obtained in light and magnetic traps. Finally, techniques to f urther c001 atoms inside traps a re presented and the future of laser cool i ng of neutral atoms by means of radiation pressure is discussed.
Radiation pressure forces have been proposed for making stable optical traps for neutral atoms and other dielectric particles. Recently introduced optodynamic or alternating beam traps based on the scattering force are compared with cw traps based on the gradient force. Trapping experiments on micron-sized dielectric particles are described which demonstrate the basic principles of alternating beam light trapping. The relationship of these traps to the optical Earnshaw theorem is considered. The implications for trapping of recently demonstrated sources of slow atoms are also discussed.
Abstract That the laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms are interrelated has already been said in the introduction to Chapter 5. We shall, therefore, now consider various techniques whereby cold atoms can be trapped. All the known techniques for trapping laser-cooled neutral atoms can be classified according to a few basic methods. These basic methods are optical trapping using the forces of the electric dipole interaction between atoms and laser fields, magnetic trapping based on the use of the forces of the magnetic dipole interaction, mixed magneto-optical trapping using simultaneous interaction between atoms and magnetic and laser fields, and mixed gravitooptical and gravito-magnetic trapping. Traps for neutral atoms can have a wide variety of geometries and dimensions: (a) macroscopic traps with a size of a »λ, (b) microscopic traps with a size of a ≃λ/2, (c) various combinations of macroscopic and microscopic traps (one-, two-, and three-dimensional) in the case of optical lattices, and finally (d) nanoscopic traps with a size of a «λ/2.
The principal element in any sort of optics is a lens. It is essential to create laser field configurations capable of focusing neutral atomic beams. There are two possibilities for focusing an atomic beam by laser light: by using the gradient force or by using the light pressure force. The force effecting the focusing of an atom in a beam should be proportional to the atomic displacement. This criterion must be satisfied for the force to produce the true “image”: if this criteria is not met, the image is blurred, i.e. there are aberrations. An approach to treat the focusing of atomic beam by laser light is to use the path integral technique to calculate the evolution of atomic wave function as it propagates in laser field. A particle-optical approach also can be used for treatment of focusing of atoms by laser light. The quadratic radial dependence of the potential is a necessary condition for focusing of atoms.