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Physical Review Letters

First observation of forces on three-level atoms in Raman resonant standing-wave optical fields

Philip Hemmer, M. S. Shahriar, Mara Goff Prentiss, D. P. Katz, Karl K. Berggren, Jeffrey Mervis, N. P. Bigelow

Published May 25, 1992• 25 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A sodium atomic beam is deflected by two optical standing-wave fields which excite near resonance Raman transitions. Observed deflections are consistent with theoretical predictions of a long-range dc component of the force on a three-level atom in the \ensuremath{\Lambda} configuration. The low laser intensities (and small detunings) used, combined with observed evidence of damping in the three-level \ensuremath{\Lambda} system, may ultimately lead to the design of high-density, all optical traps wherein the atoms would be mostly in the dark state.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.68.3148

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A sodium atomic beam is deflected by two optical standing-wave fields which excite near resonance Raman transitions. Observed deflections are consistent with theoretical predictions of a long-range dc component of the force on a three-level atom in the \ensuremath{\Lambda} configuration. The low laser intensities (and small detunings) used, combined with observed evidence of damping in the three-level \ensuremath{\Lambda} system, may ultimately lead to the design of high-density, all optical traps wherein the atoms would be mostly in the dark state.
Deflection of an atomic beam passing through two crossed standing light waves is proposed for studies of transition through the Raman resonance in Λ -atomic systems. Considering different regimes of excitation of Λ -atoms by offresonant standing waves, we demonstrate that the deflection patterns, in the plane perpendicular to the direction of the center of atomic mass motion, are essentially different for the cases of one-photon and two-photon excitations. Visualization of the quantum superposition states of low atomic levels on the two-dimensional spatial patterns of atomic deflection is performed.
The nonlinear optical properties of three-level atomic systems in the resonance Raman configuration are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Special emphasis is placed on the optical properties which are unique to three-level systems, and have potential device applications. In particular, microwave-phase-dependent optical absorption is demonstrated experimentally. This is of interest because of potential applications to microwave circuit phase mapping, and mm-wave to FIR beam steering and image conversion. Optical data storage with Raman excited microwave spin echoes is also demonstrated experimentally. This technique has potential for increasing storage densities in optical echo memories and may lead to near-room-temperature materials for echo storage and processing. Finally, the optical forces on three- level atoms in Raman resonant standing waves are studied to investigate the potential for using trapped neutral atoms as nonlinear optical elements.
Rectified dipole forces1 offer the possibility of providing deep potential wells for neutral atoms. In the intense standing wave, a two-level atom can experience a large dipole force due to the large intensity gradient. However, this force changes sign on the optical wavelength scale, preventing the formation of deep potential wells. If a second, nearly commensurate, standing wave is added, its ac Stark shift causes the effective detuning of the first field to vary on the optical wavelength scale. The resulting change in sign of the detuning can counteract the change in sign of the intensity gradient, causing the force to maintain its sign over many wavelengths (i.e., the force becomes rectified), thereby forming a deep potential well. This rectified force is periodic with the beat wavelength between the two laser fields. In a three-level atom the same basic mechanism applies, but with the advantage that the two frequencies of the bichromatic standing wave can now be tuned dose to resonance with the two transitions of the atom.
The long range goal of this project was the creation of nanostructures using light fields to manipulate atoms. By passing an atomic beam through one or more standing wave light fields, it is possible to create modulations in the atomic density having periods which are a fraction of the period of the standing wave light fields. Patterns having periods as small as lambda/10 were observed using optical masks and clear evidence for matter-wave effects were established. Several theoretical methods for achieving sub-lambda matter wave patterns were developed, Moreover it was shown that it is possible to create optical lattices having reduced periodicity using Raman transitions in a novel atom-field geometry Experiments were carried out in both magneto-optical traps and atomic beams. In both experimental set-ups, pulsed standing wave optical fields were used to excite the atoms. At some later time the atoms were probed by a traveling wave field, revealing the spatial patterns that had evolved as a result of the atom-field interaction.
We have observed rectified dipole forces acting on three-level atoms in the cascade configuration. Laser cooled and trapped rubidium atoms are illuminated with an intense bichromatic standing wave (780 and 776 nm) tuned near resonance with the 5S1/2{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}S1/2​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5P3/2{\mathit{P}}_{3/2}P3/2​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5D5/2{\mathit{D}}_{5/2}D5/2​ transitions. The resulting rectified forces produce periodic potential wells (71-\ensuremath{\mu}m period), which localize the cold atoms. Experimental results are in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. These forces may be useful in atom optics and laser traps.
We present a calculation of the force on a stationary three-level atom excited by a nearly resonant Raman light field, which may be composed of an arbitrary combination of standing- and traveling-wave fields. The effects of the ground-state coherences are explicitly included and are shown to play a crucial role in the nature of the force on the atom. We show that the force contains terms that vary on length scales both shorter and longer than the optical wavelength and that the magnitude of these terms can be made arbitrarily large.