Brief Summary
Both far off-resonance and resonant scattering of light from single atoms trapped by 3D harmonic potentials has thoroughly been studied. Novel effects are predicted for different physical regimes. We have shown that dynamics of the atomic center-of-mass strongly influences the scattering cross section. Possibility of using spectrum of the scattered light in far-off-resonance regime to nondestructively measure the temperature of ultracold atoms is advocated: off-resonance scattering can be used as an ‘optical thermometer’. The realistic Compton-like regime in resonant scattering has been investigated in detail. Another interesting quantum effect in resonant regime, which has not been discussed here due to the lack of space, is the time resolved scattering, showing up when the atom can remain in the excited state long enough to make many trips back and forth in the trap before emitting a photon. The possibility of the experimental observation of the predicted effects is now being scrutinized.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
F. Ruschewitz, D. Bettermann, J. L. Peng, and W. Ertmer, Statistical investigations on single trapped neutral atoms, Europhys. Lett. 34(9), 651–656 (1996); D. Haubrich, H. Schadwinkel, F. Strauch, 13. Ueberholz, R. Wynands, and D. Meschede, Observation of individual neutral atoms in magnetic and magneto-optical traps, Europhys. Lett. 34 (9), 663–668 (1996).
D.M. Meekhof, C. Monroe, B.E. King, W.M. Itano, and D.J. Wineland, Generation of nonclassical motional states of a trapped atom, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76 (11), 1796–1799 (1996); D. Leibfried, D. M. Meekhof, B. E. King, C. Monroe, W. M. Itano, and D. J. Wineland, Experimental determination of the motional quantum state of atrapped atom, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77(21), 4281–4285 (1996); C. Monroe, D. M. Meekhof, B. E. King, and D. J. Wineland, A “Schroedinger cat” superposition state of an atom, Science 272 (5265), 1131–1136 (1996).
The first observation of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) was reported for rubidium: M. H. Anderson, J. R. Ensher, M. R. Matthews, C. E. Wieman, and E. A. Cornell, Observation of Bose-Einstein condensation in a dilute atomic vapor, Science 269(5221), 198–201 (1995). The same year BEC was observed also for lithium: C. C. Bradley, C. A. Sackett, J. J. Tollett, and R. G. Hulet, Evidenceof Bose-Einstein condensation in a natomic gas with attractive interactions, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75(9), 1687–1690 (1995), and for sodium: K. B. Davis, M.-O. Mewes, M. R. Andrews, N. J. van Druten, D. S. Durfee, D. M. Kurn, and W. Ketterle, Bose-Einstein condensation in a gas of sodium atoms, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75(22), 3969–3973 (1995). Up to now several other groups have also produced BEC.
R. J. Glauber, Scattering of neutrons by statistical media, in: “Lectures in Theoretical Physics,” Vol. IV, edited by W. E. Brittin, B. W. Downs, and J. Downs (Wiley, New York, 1962) pp. 571–615.
R. J. Glauber and A. Oriowski, Off-resonance light scattering from single atom trapped by harmonic potential (unpublished).
M. Gajda, P. Krekora, and J. Mostowski, Light scattering by anultracold trapped atom, Phys. Rev. A 54(1), 928–942 (1996).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Orlowski, A., Gajda, M., Krekora, P., Glauber, R.J., Mostowski, J. (2002). Novel Quantum Effects in Light Scattering from Cold Trapped Atoms. In: Kumar, P., D’Ariano, G.M., Hirota, O. (eds) Quantum Communication, Computing, and Measurement 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47097-7_39
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47097-7_39
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46307-5
Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47097-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive