STUDIES INVOLVING THE RESONANT INTERACTION OF LASER-LIGHT WITH ATOMS

In this article, we review three areas of study in which the resonant interaction between atoms and laser radiation plays a central role. Fi rstly, coherent optical transients are discussed in which the direct o bservation of this interaction can be studied via the detection of the Rabi frequency in optical nutations. Secondly, the response of atoms to resonant radiation in an optical cavity leading to optical bistabil ity and other effects is described. Finally, the new field of atom man ipulation by resonant laser fields is introduced, in particular, the d eflection of atomic beams. The underlying theoretical framework for th e experiments performed is discussed, ranging from full quantum electr odynamic to semiclassical models.