COHERENT ATOMIC WAVE-GUIDES FROM HOLLOW OPTICAL FIBERS - QUANTIZED ATOMIC MOTION

We present a theoretical analysis of coherent atomic motion through a straight atomic waveguide constructed from a hollow optical fiber. Ato ms are guided by the evanescent light field at the fiber's interior gl ass-vacuum interface. The atoms' internal structure is modeled by a J( g)=0 to J(e)=1 transition. The atomic wave functions are determined an d the loss rates due to spontaneous emission, tunneling to the wall, a nd nonadiabatic transitions are estimated. The influence of Casimir-Po lder forces is considered. We conclude with a discussion of the feasib ility of the proposed waveguides.