Radiation pressure on a two-level atom: an exact analytical approach

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Podlecki, L
Glover, RD
Martin, J
Bastin, T
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2018
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Abstract

The mechanical action of light on atoms is currently a tool used ubiquitously in cold atom physics. In the semiclassical regime, where atomic motion is treated classically, the computation of the mean force acting on a two-level atom requires numerical approaches in the most general case. Here we show that this problem can be tackled in a purely analytical way. We provide an analytical yet simple expression of the mean force that holds in the most general case, where the atom is simultaneously exposed to an arbitrary number of lasers with arbitrary intensities, wave vectors, and phases. This yields a novel tool for engineering the mechanical action of light on single atoms.

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Journal of the Optical Society of America B

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35

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1

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© Optical Society of America, 2018. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited.

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Applied mathematics

Atomic, molecular and optical physics

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