Deflection of barium atoms by a standing-wave light field

Abstract

Experimental results are reported for the deflection of barium atoms from a collimated atomic beam (divergence⩽0.35 mrad) at nonorthogonal incidence to a standing-wave laser field. A deflection along the axis of the standing-wave laser cavity was observed, which is proportional to the average velocity-dependent light pressure force projected along the propagating direction of the laser light field. These results demonstrate that cooling and heating of atoms along the propagating direction of laser field depend not only on frequency detuning from resonance but also on the initial velocity in the direction of the laser light field.