Abstract

We have observed momentum transfer from a standing-wave light field to an atomic beam. The atomic beam is split symmetrically into two peaks whose separation increases with field strength. The short interaction time ensures that this deflection is due to induced forces; these are described using a semiclassical dressed-atom treatment, which gives good agreement with the data. In addition to the splitting, we have observed diffraction of the atomic beam due to the exchange of even numbers of photons with the field.

© 1985 Optical Society of America

Experimental possibilities for observation of unidirectional momentum transfer to atoms from standing-wave light

David E. Pritchard and Phillip L. Gould
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2(11) 1799-1804 (1985)

Dressed-atom approach to atomic motion in laser light: the dipole force revisited

J. Dalibard and C. Cohen-Tannoudji
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2(11) 1707-1720 (1985)

Interference of atoms in separated optical fields

V. P. Chebotayev, B. Ya. Dubetsky, A. P. Kasantsev, and V. P. Yakovlev
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2(11) 1791-1798 (1985)

Scattering of atoms by coherent interaction with light

V. A. Grinchuk, E. F. Kuzin, M. L. Nagaeva, G. A. Ryabenko, A. P. Kazantsev, G. I. Surdutovich, and V. P. Yakovlev
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2(11) 1805-1813 (1985)

One-dimensional localization of atoms in a standing spherical light wave

V. I. Balykin, Yu. E. Lozovik, Yu. B. Ovchinnikov, A. I. Sidorov, S. V. Shul’ga, and V. S. Letokhov
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6(11) 2178-2187 (1989)