Atomic Deceleration, Monochromatization and Trapping in Laser Waves: Theory and Experiments

Abstract

Great interest has been shown recently in the problem of effect of resonant laser radiation on the translational state of atomic particles. There are evidently two main causes which are responsible for rapid progress in this field of laser physics. First, these studies are motivated by a natural wish to understand the laws of atomic motion in laser fields new for atomic physics and spectroscopy. The second serious cause is a quest to develop effective and technological methods of deep cooling of atoms and the ways of permanent localization of cooled atoms in light fields on the basis of resonant light pressure [1,2]. Such atoms are not only interesting subjects of investigation but, also, promising applications have been predicted for them in precision spectroscopic studies including frequency standards and in atomic physics.