Abstract
We have observed both diffractive and diffusive regimes in the transfer of momentum to an atomic beam by a standing-wave radiation field. The transition from diffractive to diffusive behavior is associated with an increase in the average number of spontaneous decays occurring during the interaction. In the diffractive regime, spontaneous decay is insignificant, and momentum transfer proceeds by pairs of absorption/stimulated emission processes.
© 1986 Optical Society of America
PDF ArticleMore Like This
P. L. Gould, G. A. Ruff, P. J. Martin, J. L. Picque, R. E. Stoner, and D. E. Pritchard
WC6 International Laser Science Conference (ILS) 1986
Pierre Meystre
TuAAA2 OSA Annual Meeting (FIO) 1992
G Rempe, S Kunze, and S Durr
TuL113 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC) 1996