Quantized atom-field force at the surface of a microsphere

The dipole force experienced by an atom in a nonresonant spatially inhomogeneous light field is quantized by the discrete nature of the photon. We propose to detect this quantization by studying the scattering of slow atoms that pass in the evanescent field of a microsphere whispering gallery mode....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 1994-10, Vol.19 (20), p.1651-1653
Main Authors: Treussart, F, Hare, J, Collot, L, Lefèvre, V, Weiss, D S, Sandoghdar, V, Raimond, J M, Haroche, S
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The dipole force experienced by an atom in a nonresonant spatially inhomogeneous light field is quantized by the discrete nature of the photon. We propose to detect this quantization by studying the scattering of slow atoms that pass in the evanescent field of a microsphere whispering gallery mode. This constitutes an inverse Stern-Gerlach experiment in which the atomic deflection is correlated to the state of the scattering field.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.19.001651