Laser Radiation Pressure Research Articles

Collimation of atomic beams by resonant laser radiation pressure

The application of the resonant light pressure created by an axially symmetrical light field for collimating atomic beams has been considered. As an example, consideration is given to the possibility of collimating an atomic beam by the light field produced by the reflection of a plane wave from the internal surface of a metal cone. It has been shown that the radiation pressure can reduce the atomic-beam transverse velocities to the value of the order of 100 cm/s which corresponds to effective temperature of about 10−3 K. A method for producing collimated beams of cold atoms based on simultaneous deceleration and collimation of atomic beams by resonant laser radiation pressure is proposed.

Laser radiation pressure on free atoms

Theoretical and experimental investigations into the action of laser radiation pressure on atoms are reviewed. The paper describes briefly the history of the problem, presents the foundations of the theory of light pressure, describes and analyzes experimental work and discusses possible applications of light pressure to various fields of physics. In presenting the theory of light pressure primary attention is centered on the analysis of atomic motion in travelling and standing light waves. When discussing the possible applications of light pressure particular emphasis is placed upon the ways of realizing such principal ideas as radiative cooling, trapping and storing of atoms in laser fields.

Applications of Laser Radiation Pressure

Use of lasers has revolutionized the study and applications of radiation pressure. Light forces have been achieved which strongly affect the dynamics of individual small particles. It is now possible to optically accelerate, slow, stably trap, and manipulate micrometer-sized dielectric particles and atoms. This leads to a diversity of new scientific and practical applications in fields where small particles play a role, such as light scattering, cloud physics, aerosol science, atomic physics, quantum optics, and high-resolution spectroscopy.

Possibility of accumulation and storage of gold atoms in magnetic traps

An atomic magnetic trap is proposed to accumulate and store atoms cooled by laser radiation pressure. Some applications of the trap in spectroscopy and in atomic physics are specified.

Deceleration and monochromatization of atomic beams by laser radiation pressure

Deceleration and velocity distribution narrowing of an atomic beam irradiated by a counter-running resonant light wave is discussed. Velocity distribution evolution under the action of light pressure force and diffusion is found. The results of a numerical solution of the kinetic equation for the atomic velocity distribution function are presented. These results show the efficiency of using the light pressure to decelerate atomic beams and narrow their velocity distribution.

Optical Motion Control Applied to the Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory (ACPL)

The use of laser radiation pressure for optical motion control (OMC) of spherical water droplets (5-130 /*m radius) is discussed. It is shown that a Gaussian beam can be used to manipulate and stabilize individual particles for studying cloud droplet or ice crystal growth and for investigating collision/coalescence phenomena. In the near-zero-gravity environment of the Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory (ACPL) payload on Shuttle/Spacelab, OMC can provide 1) velocities from <0.01 to 5 cm/s; 2) precise positioning (±5 /*m) of water droplets up to 130 jun; and 3) simulation of l-g conditions (velocity or acceleration) for droplets of up to ~ 13 jim. ACPL experiments benefiting from OMC are also discussed.