Semiclassical theory of sub-Doppler forces in an asymmetric magneto-optical trap with unequal laser detunings
- Department of Physics and Institute of Opto-Electronic Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757 (Korea, Republic of)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747 (Korea, Republic of)
We present a semiclassical theory of the sub-Doppler forces in an asymmetric magneto-optical trap where the trap-laser frequencies are unequal to one another. To solve the optical Bloch equations, which contain explicit time dependence, unlike in the symmetric case of equal laser detunings, we have developed a convenient and efficient method to calculate the atomic forces at various oscillating frequencies for each atomic density matrix element. In particular, the theory provides a qualitative understanding of the array of sub-Doppler traps (SDTs) recently observed in such an asymmetric trap. We find that the distances between SDTs are proportional to the relative detuning differences, in good agreement with experimental results. The theory presented here can be applied to a dynamic system with multiple laser frequencies involved; the number of coupled equations to solve is much reduced and the resulting numerical calculation can be performed rather simply and efficiently.
- OSTI ID:
- 20982553
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Vol. 75, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.75.053411; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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