Quantum Effects in Atomic Diffraction and Reflection

Abstract

In this paper we consider the effects of spontaneous emission on two simple problems in atomic optics, namely the diffraction of an atomic wave which impinges at normal incidence on a classical optical standing wave and the reflection of an atomic wavepacket from an evanescent travelling light field. Spontaneous emission is modelled using a fully quantum mechanical model based on the Monte Carlo technique and includes the effects of atomic recoil. The spontaneous emission leads to a broadening of the outgoing wave packet and mechanisms for this broadening are discussed.