Momentum exchange between atoms and photons allow laser physicists to control atomic motion. It is possible to decelerate and/or focus an atomic beam, to stop it. The average velocity of the almost stopped atoms can be decreased to very small values close to or even below the one photon recoil velocity V R = ħk L /M, corresponding to temperatures in the microkelvin range or below. Laser manipulation of atoms is also essential for the recently developing field of atom optics.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)Jan 1, 19940 citations

MOTION OF THE ATOM IN A LASER FIELD

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksJul 1, 19982 citations

Springer eBooks

Recent Progress in the Control of the Motion of Atomic Beams by Laser Fields

V. I. Balykin, Vladilen S Letokhov, Yu. B. Ovchinnikov, A. I. Sidorov, Sergei V. Shulga

Published Jan 1, 1989• 0 citations

Publisher

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-74501-0_44

Related papers

Notes on free fall of a particle and bouncing on a reflecting surface

Tri Sulistiono

Considerable progress has recently been made in controling the motion of free atomic particles by means of light pressure exerted by laser radiation. The free fall of atoms and bouncing on a reflecting surface made from evanescent wave formed by internal reflection of a quasiresonant laser beam at a curved glass surface in the presence of homogeneous gravitational field has been observed. In this paper we present the energy quantization of this system by making use the asymptotic expansion method. It is shown that for large $n$ the levels go like $n^{2/3}$ which may be compared with $n^2$ for the infinite square well.Considerable progress has recently been made in controling the motion of free atomic particles by means of light pressure exerted by laser radiation. The free fall of atoms and bouncing on a reflecting surface made from evanescent wave formed by internal reflection of a quasiresonant laser beam at a curved glass surface in the presence of homogeneous gravitational field has been observed. In this paper we present the energy quantization of this system by making use the asymptotic expansion method. It is shown that for large $n$ the levels go like $n^{2/3}$ which may be compared with $n^2$ for the infinite square well.

arXiv:quant-ph/9703055Apr 1, 19970 citations

Laser light control of atomic beams

V. I. Balykin, Vladilen S Letokhov, Vladimir G. Minogin

Journal of the Optical Society of America BFeb 1, 19860 citations

Transient atom optics: reflection and transmission of atoms by a time-dependent laser field

Xia M. Zeng, Weiping Zhang

Although there are many kinds of different techniques developed to manipulate atomic matter waves, a laser beam is still considered as the most effective `optical element' to manipulate atomic waves in atom optics. In the laser-based atom optic devices, the spatial profiles of a laser beam play a central role in controlling the motion of atoms. By choosing different spatial profiles of laser beams, one can construct atom optic devices for different purposes. Recently experimental demonstrations of manipulation of center of mass motion of atoms by time-dependent light field were reported. In this paper we theoretically study the transient effects in atom optics by using a laser pulse train. The reflection and transmission of atoms through the laser pulse train are studied in detail. We find that the laser pulse train acts as both a spatial beam splitter and a `temporal grating' which can both reflect or transmit atoms in spatial domain and `diffract' atoms in the time domain.Although there are many kinds of different techniques developed to manipulate atomic matter waves, a laser beam is still considered as the most effective `optical element' to manipulate atomic waves in atom optics. In the laser-based atom optic devices, the spatial profiles of a laser beam play a central role in controlling the motion of atoms. By choosing different spatial profiles of laser beams, one can construct atom optic devices for different purposes. Recently experimental demonstrations of manipulation of center of mass motion of atoms by time-dependent light field were reported. In this paper we theoretically study the transient effects in atom optics by using a laser pulse train. The reflection and transmission of atoms through the laser pulse train are studied in detail. We find that the laser pulse train acts as both a spatial beam splitter and a `temporal grating' which can both reflect or transmit atoms in spatial domain and `diffract' atoms in the time domain.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIEMay 1, 19970 citations

Velocity selection of atomic beams in a laser field

A. D. Gazazyan, Razmik G. Unanyan

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical PhysicsDec 1, 19950 citations

Laser Manipulation of Atoms

Alain Aspect

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)Jan 1, 19940 citations

MOTION OF THE ATOM IN A LASER FIELD

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksJul 1, 19982 citations

n

the levels go like

n^{2/3}

which may be compared with

n^2

for the infinite square well.