Steady state of atoms in a resonant field with elliptical polarization

We present a complete set of analytical and invariant expressions for the steady-state density matrix of atoms in a resonant radiation field with arbitrary intensity and polarization. The field drives the closed dipole transition with arbitrary values of the angular momenta $J_{g}$ and $J_{e}$ of the ground and excited state. The steady-state density matrix is expressed in terms of spherical harmonics of a complex direction given by the field polarization vector. The generalization to the case of broad-band radiation is given. We indicate various applications of these results.Comment: revtex, 26 pages, including 3 eps figures; PRA accepted for publication;v2 three typos are fixe

Dissipative light field as a way to create strongly localized structures for atom lithography

Generally, the conditions for deep sub-Doppler laser cooling do not match the conditions for the strong atomic localization that takes a place in deeper optical potential and, in consequence, leads to larger temperature. Moreover, for a given detuning in a deep optical potential the secular approximation which is usually used for quantum description of laser cooling becomes no more valid. Here we perform an analysis of atomic localization in optical potential based on a full quantum approach for atomic density matrix. We also show that the laser cooling in a deep far-off detuned optical potential, created by a light field with a polarization gradient, can be used as an alternative method for forming high contrast spatially localized structures of atoms for the purposes of atom lithography and atomic nanofabrication. Finally, we perform an analysis of the possible limits for the width and the contrast of localized atomic structures that can in principle be reached by this type of the light mask.Comment: 4 figure

Microwave Spectroscopy of Cold Rubidium Atoms

The effect of microwave radiation on the resonance fluorescence of a cloud of cold $^{85}Rb$ atoms in a magnetooptical trap is studied. The radiation frequency was tuned near the hyperfine splitting frequency of rubidium atoms in the 5S ground state. The microwave field induced magnetic dipole transitions between the magnetic sublevels of the 5S(F=2) and 5S(F=3) states, resulting in a change in the fluorescence signal. The resonance fluorescence spectra were recorded by tuning the microwave radiation frequency. The observed spectra were found to be substantially dependent on the transition under study and the frequency of a repump laser used in the cooling scheme.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure