Atomic deflection in the transition between diffractive and diffusive regimes: A numerical simulation.

Abstract

The transition between diffractive and diffusive regimes in the deflection of atoms by a standing-wave light field has recently been observed experimentally by Gould et al, [Phys. Rev. A 43, 585 (1991)]. We describe and present the results of a numerical simulation which allows these results to be understood in terms of the theory developed by Tanguy, Reynaud, and Cohen-Tannoudji [J. Phys. B 17, 4623 (1984)].