Difference between revisions of "Light forces"
imported>Ketterle |
imported>Kbeck |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
** [[Dressed atom approach]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/c/c8/2009-04-17-Dressed_Atoms.pdf 2009 Class notes]) | ** [[Dressed atom approach]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/c/c8/2009-04-17-Dressed_Atoms.pdf 2009 Class notes]) | ||
** [[Dipole forces within the dressed atom approach]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/b/b8/2009-04-22_Stimulated_forces.pdf 2009 Class notes]) | ** [[Dipole forces within the dressed atom approach]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/b/b8/2009-04-22_Stimulated_forces.pdf 2009 Class notes]) | ||
| − | * [[Sub-Doppler cooling]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/ | + | * [[Sub-Doppler cooling]] ([https://cua-admin.mit.edu:8443/wiki/images/1/1f/2009-04-27-Sub_Doppler_Cooling.pdf 2009 Class notes]) |
| − | [[Category:8.422|5 | + | [[Category:8.422|5] |
Latest revision as of 20:14, 13 December 2013
This chapter introduces the interaction of motional degrees of freedom with light and internal atomic states. We begin by re-visiting the optical Bloch equations, and show how that formalism already includes the basis for inclusion of spatial coordinates in the equations of motion. In particular, we show that the steady state solutions of the optical Bloch equations lead to a nice picture of how atoms excited by an electromagnetic field can feel a friction force. This formalism provides a basis for an exploration of laser cooling, due to the balance of momentum absorbed from light and momentum released in random directions through spontaneous emission. We find that this "spontaneous light force" mechanism is responsible for three important modern laser cooling techniques, optical molasses, beam slowing, and magneto-optical traps. When a very strong light field is applied, the dynamics change, allowing the dipole force of a light beam to manipulate atoms (even single atoms!) through a potential due to the AC Stark shift, as is seen through the dressed atom picture.
- Light forces from steady-state solutions (2009 Class notes)
- Applications of the spontaneous light force (2009 Class notes)
- Dipole forces and the dressed atom picture
- Sub-Doppler cooling (2009 Class notes)
[[Category:8.422|5]
