What the Atom Looks Like

Subhankar Ray, J. Shamanna

It is shown that, in the article 'Looking back into Bohr's atom', Bhattacharyya (2006 Eur. J. Phys. 27 497–500) has made several redundant assumptions for arriving at rather restrictive results. The article also uses certain approximations, which do not follow from the assumptions made therein.

James Gerald Crowther

Yu Wang

Reminiscences of the beginning of our research on the laser cooling of atomic gases are recounted, describing what motivated us to progress from atomic clocks to laser cooling. At the beginning, we pondered upon the mechanism of laser cooling, such as the cooling of atoms in red shifted diffuse light in an integrating sphere and using light frequency shifting (the A.C. Stark effect). A description of the atomic beam experimental equipment in our lab, which was used in laser cooling, is given, and some experimental results that we obtained are displayed. Finally, we summarize our experiences and lessons learnt. In looking back on our arduous beginnings, we cherish the present, and look forward to a bright future.

Lea Winerman

W. McCarthy

This paper provides a brief description of how to build an atom laser and discusses some of its potential practical applications.