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Physical Review A

Atomic motion in resonant radiation: An application of Ehrenfest's theorem

R. J. Cook

Published Jul 1, 1979• 119 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A new theory of atomic motion in a resonant or near-resonant electromagnetic wave, based on Ehrenfest's theorem and the optical Bloch equations, is presented. The theory provides a simple unified treatment of the radiation force, including effects of spontaneous emission and induced-dipole interactions. Analytical results are presented for a plane running wave, a general standing wave, a collimated Gaussian beam, and a combination of standing and running waves.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.20.224

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A new theory of atomic motion in a resonant or near-resonant electromagnetic wave, based on Ehrenfest's theorem and the optical Bloch equations, is presented. The theory provides a simple unified treatment of the radiation force, including effects of spontaneous emission and induced-dipole interactions. Analytical results are presented for a plane running wave, a general standing wave, a collimated Gaussian beam, and a combination of standing and running waves.
The effect of field fluctuations on the motion of a two-level atom in resonant laser radiation is investigated theoretically. The internal motion of the atom is treated quantum mechanically (optical Bloch equations); the translational motion, which is coupled to the internal motion, is treated classically (Ehrenfest's theorem); and the fluctuating radiation is treated as a classical electromagnetic wave with stochastic phase (phase-diffusion model). An expression for the radiation force and equations of motion for the ensemble-averaged Bloch vector are derived and used to calculate (i) the radiation force in a plane running wave, (ii) the steady-state radiation force in a general standing wave, and (iii) the dissipative force in a plane standing wave in the limit of strong phase fluctuations. In case (iii) it is found that the atomic velocity is damped when the radiation is tuned above resonance, which is opposite to the case of a weak coherent standing wave, in which damping occurs for radiation tuned below resonance. It is shown that fluctuations have a substantial effect on the radiation force only when the spectral width of the radiation approaches or exceeds the spontaneous emission rate.
The motion of an atom in an intense resonant standing laser wave is studied using the Ehrenfest-Bloch equations. Two approaches are taken to determine the radiation or light pressure force on the atom. The first, an attempt to find a Fourier series solution to the optical Bloch equations failed, but Fourier coefficient recursion formulas were found. The second, a numerical calculation of the Bloch variables and the radiation force was successful in obtaining plots of the instantaneous values. The effect of assuming constant atomic velocity is studied, and Fast Fourier Transform discrete harmonic frequency spectra of one of the Bloch variables and the light pressure force are obtained. Finally, the Ehrenfest-Bloch equations are compared with other theories of resonant radiation pressure. (Thesis).
A general theory of the motion of a two-level atom in a resonant or near-resonant electromagnetic wave of arbitrary amplitude and phase, including effects of radiative relaxation due to interaction with the quantized vacuum field, is developed from first principles. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of quantum-mechanical fluctuations of the radiation force and on the associated diffusion of atomic momentum due to spontaneous and induced absorption and emission processes. Analytic results and numerical examples are presented for (1) the lower bound on the temperature achievable by radiation cooling in a standing wave tuned below resonance, (2) the heating rate in a strong resonant standing wave, (3) the maximum confinement time for an atom in a Gaussian radiation trap, (4) the deflection and spreading of an atomic beam transversely illuminated by a strong resonant running wave, and (5) the transverse cooling of an atomic beam by a strong running wave tuned below resonance.
In quantum optical problems involving the interaction of atoms with laser fields, the atoms are usually considered being stationary during the interaction. Since every photon has a momentum, the atomic momentum (motion) can be changed in the process of absorption and emission of photons. This may force a stationary atom to move or to change momentum of an already moving atom. Therefore, the dynamical behaviour of atoms can be varied by the interaction with a radiation field. For a weak driving field, the influence of this field on the atomic motion can be neglected. However, the intensities of laser fields are generally very strong, and then the motion of the atoms can be considerably changed by the laser field. Here, we discuss this aspect, especially the effect of a driving field on the motion of atoms and the atomic momentum distribution. In particular, we will consider diffraction of atoms by a standing-wave laser field due to an exchange of momentum with the photons of the wave, and radiation force on atoms driven by a running-or standing-wave laser field.