Abstract
We present a theoretical study of the localization1 of atoms with an angular momentumJ g=3 toJ e=4 transition (e.g., chromium atoms) in quantized optical molasses created by two counterpropagating linearly polarized laser beams. We study the localization as a function of the potential depth, the angle between the polarizations and the interaction time with the molasses in the low-intensity limit, and discuss the possibility of adiabatic compression and squeezing of the atomic distribution.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
G. Timp, R. E. Behringer, D. M. Tennant, J. E. Cunningham, M. Prentiss, K. K. Berggren: Phys. Rev. Lett.69, 1636 (1992)
J.J. McClelland, R.E. Scholten, E.C. Palm: Science262, 877 (1993)
V. I. Balykin, V. S. Letokhov: Opt. Commun.64, 151 (1987)
O. Carnal, M. Sigel, T. Sleator, H. Takuma, J. Mlynek: Phys. Rev. Lett.67, 3231 (1991)
J.J. McClelland, M.R. Scheinfein: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B8, 1974 (1991)
G. M. Gallatin, P. L. Gould: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B8, 502 (1991)
I. Sh. Averbukh, V. M. Akulin, W. P. Schleich: Phys. Rev. Lett.72, 437 (1994)
Y. Castin, J. Dalibard: Europhys. Lett.14, 761 (1991)
P. Marte, R. Dum, R. Taieb, P.D. Lett, P. Zoller: Phys. Rev. Lett.71, 1335 (1993)
T. Bergemann: Phys. Rev. A48, R3425 (1993)
P. S. Jessen, C. Gerz, P. D. Lett, W. D. Phillips, S. L. Rolston, R. J. C. Spreeuw, C. I. Westbrook: Phys. Rev. A69, 49 (1992)
G. Grynberg, B. Lounis, P. Verkerk, J.-Y. Courtois, C. Salomon: Phys. Rev. Lett.70, 2249 (1993)
A. Hemmerich, T. W. Hänsch: Phys. Rev. Lett.70, 410 (1993)
Adiabatic cooling of atoms in optical molasses by a slow turn-off of the optical potential has been observed experimentally at NIST Gaithersburg; W. D. Phillips, S. Rolston: Private communication (1994)
J. Janitzky, Y. Y. Yushin: Opt. Commun.59, 151 (1986)
G. S. Agarwal, S. A. Kumar: Phys. Rev. Lett.26, 3665 (1991)
I. Averbhuk, B. Sherman, G. Kurizki: Phys. Rev. A (submitted)
This squeezing limit in a finite depth optical potential with perioda coincides with the diffraction limit [5] obtained for (coherent) focusing with an atomic lens of aperturea
P. Marte, R. Dum, R. Taieb, P. Zoller: Phys. Rev. A47, 1378 (1993)
R. Taieb, P. Marte, R. Dum, P. Zoller: Phys. Rev. A47, 4986 (1993)
Since it is well known [8] that, whenever the GOBE can be approximated by a rate equation γ0≪ωosc=[E n (q)−E n+1(q)]/ħ, the time scale for laser cooling scales with ϒ −10 . Within this approximation, the results of Figs. 4a,b depend only on the scaled time ϒ0 t
P. Storey, M. Collett, D. Walls: Phys. Rev. Lett.68, 472 (1992)
M. A. M. Marte, P. Zoller: Appl. Phys. B54, 477 (1992)
B.E.A Saleh, M.C. Teich:Fundamentals of Photonics (Wiley-Interscience, New York 1990)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to H. Walther on the occasion of his 60th birthday
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marksteiner, S., Walser, R., Marte, P. et al. Localization of atoms in light fields: Optical molasses, adiabatic compression and squeezing. Appl. Phys. B 60, 145–153 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01135856
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01135856