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 Modern Optics

Standing wave diffraction with a beam of slow atoms

S. Kunze, Stephan Dürr, Kai Dieckmann, M. Elbs, U. Ernst, A. Hardell, Steffen Wolf, Gerhard Rempe

Published Oct 1, 1997• 31 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on atom optical experiments employing a magnetooptical trap as a source of a pulsed beam of slow atoms. After turning off the trap, experiments are performed on the cloud of atoms in free fall over a distance of 45 cm. We give a detailed description of the apparatus and discuss experimental results on the diffraction of atoms from a standing light wave in the regimes of short, intermediate and long interaction times. PACS: 03.75Be, 32.80Pj, 42.50Vk.

DOI
10.1080/09500349708231852

Related papers

Bragg scattering of slow atoms from a standing light wave

S Kunze, Stephan Dürr, Gerhard Rempe

Slow atoms from a magneto-optical trap are used to study diffraction from a near-resonant standing-wave light field. Long interaction times make it possible to observe unidirectional Bragg scattering. In particular, the Pendellösung interference effect between two resonant momentum states is demonstrated for first- and second-order diffraction. The oscillation frequency of second-order scattering shows a transition from a four-photon–type process at low light intensity to a two-photon–type process at higher intensity. The data are in quantitative agreement with a theoretical description which takes into account lowest-energy momentum states.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•May 10, 1996•78 citations

Atom Manipulation Using Optical Fields

P. R. Berman, Sletor, Tycho

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.

•Sep 15, 2004•0 citations

Atom slowing via dispersive optical interactions

M. Hamamda, M. Boustimi, Franck Correia +5 more

A promising technique of atom slowing is proposed. It is based upon the dispersive interaction of atoms with optical potential pulses generated by a far-off-resonance standing wave modulated in time. Each pulse reduces the velocity by a small amount. By repeating the process thousands of times, the velocity can be lowered from several hundreds of meters per second down to almost zero, over a path as short as $20\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}$. In the absence of any random recoil process, the initial characteristics of the beam are preserved.

Physical Review A•Feb 21, 2012•4 citations

Diffraction of Atoms Using Standing Wave Light

Tim Byrnes, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke

This chapter discusses the basic physics of atom diffraction. Starting with a short review on the diffraction of light, we describe the absorption of photons by an atom and its subsequent emission, where the atom to changes its momentum and internal state. Assuming a two-level atom, we describe the coherent interactions of atoms with light, showing its effect on the ground state of the atoms. We further illustrate how the light impacts forces on the atom that can be used for trapping it in the light field. Next, we discuss Bragg diffraction of atoms, where the internal state of an atom is unchanged after diffraction. Here the external motional state of the atom is put in a linear superposition of its movement. Finally, we describe the diffraction of atoms by Raman pulses, where the internal state of the atom is changed after diffraction, while achieving directed motion.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Jul 23, 2021•0 citations

Observation of Quantum Accelerator Modes

Markus K Oberthaler, R. M. Godun, M. B. d’Arcy +2 more

We have realized a quantum accelerator mode using a system consisting of ultracold cesium atoms falling through a pulsed standing wave of off resonant light. We present a picture of this system based on diffraction and show that the effect arises from the application of blazed matter wave diffraction gratings. The implications of our results for quantum chaos and the prospect of constructing a large angular separation matter wave beam splitter are discussed.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 29, 1999•109 citations

Diffraction of atoms by a standing-wave light field.

E. R. Schumacher

We study theoretically the diffraction of atoms by a standing-wave light field. Conceptually the text is divided into two parts. In the first part we deal with the coherent interaction only. We use a band theoretical approach to describe the laser-atom interaction, and to characterize two-beam resonances (Dopplerons and Bragg resonances). These two-beam resonances are major candidates to develop effective atom beam splitters. We study the interaction with classical light fields as well as with quantum fields. In the second part we take incoherent processes, i.e. spontaneous emission, into account and present a numerical scheme for the solution of the generalized optical Bloch equations. This scheme is based on the split-operator technique, and we use it to study numerically the influence of spontaneous emission on the diffraction process. We compare our results with recent experimental data, and investigate the impact of spontaneous emission on the performance of two-beam resonances.

•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations
We report on atom optical experiments employing a magnetooptical trap as a source of a pulsed beam of slow atoms. After turning off the trap, experiments are performed on the cloud of atoms in free fall over a distance of 45 cm. We give a detailed description of the apparatus and discuss experimental results on the diffraction of atoms from a standing light wave in the regimes of short, intermediate and long interaction times. PACS: 03.75Be, 32.80Pj, 42.50Vk.
Slow atoms from a magneto-optical trap are used to study diffraction from a near-resonant standing-wave light field. Long interaction times make it possible to observe unidirectional Bragg scattering. In particular, the Pendellösung interference effect between two resonant momentum states is demonstrated for first- and second-order diffraction. The oscillation frequency of second-order scattering shows a transition from a four-photon–type process at low light intensity to a two-photon–type process at higher intensity. The data are in quantitative agreement with a theoretical description which takes into account lowest-energy momentum states.
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.
A promising technique of atom slowing is proposed. It is based upon the dispersive interaction of atoms with optical potential pulses generated by a far-off-resonance standing wave modulated in time. Each pulse reduces the velocity by a small amount. By repeating the process thousands of times, the velocity can be lowered from several hundreds of meters per second down to almost zero, over a path as short as 20cm20\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}20cm. In the absence of any random recoil process, the initial characteristics of the beam are preserved.
This chapter discusses the basic physics of atom diffraction. Starting with a short review on the diffraction of light, we describe the absorption of photons by an atom and its subsequent emission, where the atom to changes its momentum and internal state. Assuming a two-level atom, we describe the coherent interactions of atoms with light, showing its effect on the ground state of the atoms. We further illustrate how the light impacts forces on the atom that can be used for trapping it in the light field. Next, we discuss Bragg diffraction of atoms, where the internal state of an atom is unchanged after diffraction. Here the external motional state of the atom is put in a linear superposition of its movement. Finally, we describe the diffraction of atoms by Raman pulses, where the internal state of the atom is changed after diffraction, while achieving directed motion.
We study theoretically the diffraction of atoms by a standing-wave light field. Conceptually the text is divided into two parts. In the first part we deal with the coherent interaction only. We use a band theoretical approach to describe the laser-atom interaction, and to characterize two-beam resonances (Dopplerons and Bragg resonances). These two-beam resonances are major candidates to develop effective atom beam splitters. We study the interaction with classical light fields as well as with quantum fields. In the second part we take incoherent processes, i.e. spontaneous emission, into account and present a numerical scheme for the solution of the generalized optical Bloch equations. This scheme is based on the split-operator technique, and we use it to study numerically the influence of spontaneous emission on the diffraction process. We compare our results with recent experimental data, and investigate the impact of spontaneous emission on the performance of two-beam resonances.