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Atom-Optical Properties of a Standing-Wave Light Field

Published

Author(s)

Jabez J. McClelland

Abstract

The focusing of atoms to nanometer-scale dimensions by a near-resonant standing-wave light field is examined from a particle optics perspective. The classical equation of motion for atoms traveling through the lens formed by a node of the standing wave is derived and converted to a spatial trajectory equation. A paraxial solution is obtained, which results in simple expressions for the focal properties of the lens, useful for estimating its behavior. Aberrations are also discussed, and an exact numerical solution of the trajectory equation is presented. The effects on focal linewidth of angualr collimation and velocity spread in the atomic beam are investigated, and it is shown that angular collimation has a much more significant effect than velocity spread, even when the velocity spread is thermal.
Citation
Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics
Volume
12
Issue
10

Citation

McClelland, J. (1995), Atom-Optical Properties of a Standing-Wave Light Field, Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics (Accessed October 31, 2024)

Issues

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Created October 1, 1995, Updated June 2, 2021