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  • © 1999

Laser Cooling and Trapping

Part of the book series: Graduate Texts in Contemporary Physics (GTCP)

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Review of Quantum Mechanics

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 3-16
    3. The Density Matrix

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 17-27
    4. Force on Two-Level Atoms

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 29-37
    5. Multilevel Atoms

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 39-56
    6. General Properties Concerning Laser Cooling

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 57-70
  3. Cooling & Trapping

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-71
    2. Deceleration of an Atomic Beam

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 73-86
    3. Optical Molasses

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 87-97
    4. Cooling Below the Doppler Limit

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 99-122
    5. The Dipole Force

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 123-136
    6. Magnetic Trapping of Neutral Atoms

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 137-148
    7. Optical Traps for Neutral Atoms

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 149-164
    8. Evaporative Cooling

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 165-175
  4. Applications

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 177-177
    2. Newtonian Atom Optics and its Applications

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 179-198
    3. Ultra-cold Collisions

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 199-218
    4. deBroglie Wave Optics

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 219-229
    5. Optical Lattices

      • Harold J. Metcalf, Peter van der Straten
      Pages 231-240

About this book

Laser cooling is a relatively new technique that has led to insights into the behavior of atoms as well as confirming with striking detail some of the fundamental notions of quantum mechanics, such as the condensation predicted by S.N. Bose. This elegant technique, whereby atoms, molecules, and even microscopic beads of glass, are trapped in small regions of free space by beams of light and subsequently moved at will using other beams, provides a useful research tool for the study of individual atoms and clusters of atoms, for investigating the details of chemical reactions, and even for determining the physical properties of individual macromolecules such as synthetic polymers and DNA. Intended for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students who have some basic knowledge of optics and quantum mechanics, this text begins with a review of the relevant results of quantum mechanics, it then turns to the electromagnetic interactions involved in slowing and trapping atoms and ions, in both magnetic and optical traps. The concluding chapters discuss a broad range of applications, from atomic clocks and studies of collision processes to diffraction and interference of atomic beams at optical lattices and Bose-Einstein condensation.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Physics, SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, USA

    Harold J. Metcalf

  • Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Debye Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Peter Straten

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access