Dynamics of laser cooling of atoms below the recoil temperature

Based on the numerical solution of the quantum kinetic equation for the atomic density matrix, which makes it possible to accurately take into account the recoil effects in the interaction of atoms with field photons, we have studied the limits of laser cooling of atoms using closed optical transitions characterised by different recoil parameters (the ratio of the recoil energy to the natural linewidth). It is shown that for optical transitions with an insufficiently small recoil parameter, the polarisation effects, which lead to the possibility of sub-Doppler laser cooling, lose their efficiency and do not ensure an attainment of the temperature below the Doppler limit. The analysis performed allows one to outline the boundaries of the sub-Doppler theory of laser cooling of atoms.Based on the numerical solution of the quantum kinetic equation for the atomic density matrix, which makes it possible to accurately take into account the recoil effects in the interaction of atoms with field photons, we have studied the limits of laser cooling of atoms using closed optical transitions characterised by different recoil parameters (the ratio of the recoil energy to the natural linewidth). It is shown that for optical transitions with an insufficiently small recoil parameter, the polarisation effects, which lead to the possibility of sub-Doppler laser cooling, lose their efficiency and do not ensure an attainment of the temperature below the Doppler limit. The analysis performed allows one to outline the boundaries of the sub-Doppler theory of laser cooling of atoms.

Quantum ElectronicsSep 28, 202012 citations

Laser Cooling of Atoms

Hidekazu Hachisu

Nihon Kikai Gakkaishi/Journal of the Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersJan 1, 20090 citations

Laser Cooling of Atoms and Impact in Theoretical Physics

Ghosh, Pradip N

Jan 1, 19990 citations

Laser cooling below a photon recoil with three-level atoms

Mark A. Kasevich, Steven Chu

We demonstrate a new cooling technique which is used to cool sodium atoms in one dimension to an effective temperature of 100 nK, less than 1/10 of the single photon recoil temperature ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$ ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{rec}}$ =(\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k ${)}^{2}$ /2M.We demonstrate a new cooling technique which is used to cool sodium atoms in one dimension to an effective temperature of 100 nK, less than 1/10 of the single photon recoil temperature ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{rec}}$=(\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k${)}^{2}$/2M.

Physical Review LettersSep 21, 1992449 citations

We demonstrate a new cooling technique which is used to cool sodium atoms in one dimension to an effective temperature of 100 nK, less than 1/10 of the single photon recoil temperature

{\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}

{\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{rec}}

=(\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k

{)}^{2}

/2M.