The velocity dependence of the deflection of a Na atomic beam under the influence of light at resonance absorption

W. Yuzhu, Z. Rufang, Z. Zhiyao +2 more

P. Jacquinot, Sylvain Liberman, J. L. Picqué +1 more

E. Arimondo, Hin Lew, Takeshi Oka

A symmetric deflection of a Na beam by resonant standing-wave radiation has been observed. The combination of absorption and stimulated emission of the two oppositely traveling waves ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ results in a net deflection of the beam. The observed magnitude of the beam deflection and its dependence on the radiation power agree with a calculation based on the random-walk picture that the two traveling waves ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ are utilized randomly in the stimulated-emission and absorption processes.

Yu-Shu Wang, Yudan Cheng, Zhou Shan-Yu +2 more

The measurement is reported of the velocity distribution in an atomic beam by means of atomic beam deflection under resonant light pressure. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results are given.

Ganghua Mei

William D. Phillips, Harold J. Metcalf

Deceleration and velocity bunching of Na atoms in an atomic beam have been observed. The deceleration, caused by absorption of counterpropagating resonant laser light, amounts to 40% of the initial thermal velocity, corresponding to about 15 000 absorptions. Atoms were kept in resonance with the laser by using a spatially varying magnetic field to provide a changing Zeeman shift to compensate for the changing Doppler shift as the atoms decelerated.