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European Journal of Physics

Laser cooling and trapping

Stig Stenholm

Published Oct 1, 1988• 1,036 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The basic physical effects leading to radiation-induced forces are reviewed. A simple derivation of the mathematical expressions for the classical light forces is given. The influence of quantum fluctuations is demonstrated and the possibilities for trapping neutral particles are discussed. Two recent successful laser cooling and trapping experiments are described to illustrate the applications of the basic principles.

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/9/4/001

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The basic physical effects leading to radiation-induced forces are reviewed. A simple derivation of the mathematical expressions for the classical light forces is given. The influence of quantum fluctuations is demonstrated and the possibilities for trapping neutral particles are discussed. Two recent successful laser cooling and trapping experiments are described to illustrate the applications of the basic principles.
We consider the mechanical forces exerted on atoms by light as a tool to make the atom more concrete as a particle. It can be pushed, trapped and observed in its own scattered light. Recent theoretical and experimental progress in the field of cooling and trapping of atoms demonstrates their palpable reality. The theory of the mechanical manifestations of light is reviewed, and its application to laser cooling is discussed. Traps for atoms are considered. The feasibility of pure light traps is discussed, and the use of other types of traps in laser applications is reviewed. We present briefly the main experiments proving the possibility of laser cooling and trapping. A brief discussion of applications and future experimental possibilities is given.
The forces felt by atoms when illuminated with resonant radiation can reduce their velocity dispersion and confine them in a region of space for further probing and experimentation. The forces can be dissipative or conservative and allow manipulations of the external degrees of freedom of atoms and small neutral particles. Laser cooling and trapping is now an important tool for many spectroscopic studies. It enhances the density of atoms in phase space by many orders of magnitude reducing the need of large samples. These lecture notes review the fundamental principles of the field and show some of the applications to the study of the spectroscopy of radioactive atoms. 1
This review describes the methods of trapping cold atoms in electromagnetic fields and in the combined electromagnetic and gravity fields. We discuss first the basic types of the dipole radiation forces used for cooling and trapping atoms in the laser fields. We outline next the fundamentals of the laser cooling of atoms and classify the temperature limits for basic laser cooling processes. The main body of the review is devoted to discussion of atom traps based on the dipole radiation forces, dipole magnetic forces, combined dipole radiation-magnetic forces, and the forces combined of the dipole radiation-magnetic and gravity forces. Physical fundamentals of atom traps operating as waveguides and cavities for cold atoms are also considered. The review ends with the applications of cold and trapped atoms in atomic, molecular and optical physics.
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.
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.