학술논문

Interaction of frequency modulated light pulses with rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap.
Document Type
Article
Source
European Physical Journal D (EPJ D). Jul2006, Vol. 39 Issue 1, p59-66. 8p. 2 Diagrams, 5 Graphs.
Subject
*LIGHT sources
*ATOMS
*MOLECULES
*ION traps
*ATOMIC beams
*ULTRASHORT laser pulses
Language
ISSN
1434-6060
Abstract
The spatial displacement of the 85Rb atoms in a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) under the influence of series of frequency modulated light pulse pairs propagating opposite to each other is measured as a function of the time elapsed after the start of the pulse train, and compared with the results of simulations. Adiabatic excitation and consecutive de-excitation take place between the ground 52S1/2 (F=3) and the 52P3/2 (F'=2, 3, 4) excited levels as the result of the interaction. The displacement of the 85Rb atoms is calculated as the solution of simple equation of motion where the expelling force is that arising from the action of the frequency modulated light pulses. The restoring and friction forces of the MOT are taken into account also. The system of Bloch equations for the density matrix elements is solved numerically for transitions between six working hyperfine levels of the atom interacting with the sequence of the frequency modulated laser pulses. According to these simulations, the momentum transferred by one pulse pair is always smaller than the expected 2ħk, (1) where ħ is the Plank constant and k=2π/λ where λ is the wavelength, (2) having a maximum value in a restricted region of variation of the laser pulse peak intensity and the chirp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]