Nonlinear resonances of accelerated atoms and molecules

A.Yu. Pusep

H. K. Avetissian, A. K. Avetissian, G. F. Mkrtchian

A nonlinear threshold phenomenon at the interaction of atoms with two counter-propagating light beams of different frequencies is presented. The existence of a critical intensity of the interference field is shown, which is the threshold of nonlinear resonance achieved in the field. This phenomenon leads to acceleration or deceleration of the atom, depending on its initial velocity. Such acceleration/deceleration of shock character, because of the impact with the potential barrier, occurs on ultrashort distances on the order of laser wavelengths, and depends neither on the field magnitude nor on interaction length.

A. P. Kazantsev

Laura Rebuzzini, Roberto Artuso, Shmuel Fishman +1 more

We consider the influence of the inclusion of interatomic interactions on the $\ensuremath{\delta}$-kicked accelerator model. Our analysis concerns in particular quantum accelerator modes, namely quantum ballistic transport near quantal resonances. The atomic interaction is modeled by a Gross-Pitaevskii cubic nonlinearity, and we address both attractive (focusing) and repulsive (defocusing) cases. The most remarkable effect is enhancement or damping of the accelerator modes, depending on the sign of the nonlinear parameter. We provide arguments showing that the effect persists beyond mean-field description, and lies within the experimentally accessible parameter range.

Edward Shuryak

Evgeniy B. Alexandrov, Marcis P. Auzinsh, Dmitry Budker +3 more

A brief review is given of topics relating to dynamical processes arising in nonlinear interactions between light and resonant systems (atoms or molecules) in the presence of a magnetic field.