A well-collimated quasi-continuous atom laser

Authors
Hagley, EW Deng, L Kozuma, M Wen, J Helmerson, K Rolston, SL Phillips, WD
Citation
Ew. Hagley et al., A well-collimated quasi-continuous atom laser, SCIENCE, 283(5408), 1999, pp. 1706-1709
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary
Journal title
SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00368075 → ACNP
Volume
283
Issue
5408
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1706 - 1709
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-8075(19990312)283:5408<1706:AWQAL>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Extraction of sodium atoms from a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) by a coherent, stimulated Raman process is demonstrated. Optical Raman pulses drive transitions between trapped and untrapped magnetic sublevels, giving the output-coupled BEC fraction a well-defined momentum. The pulsed output coupling can be run at such a rate that the extracted atomic wave packets strongly overlap, forming a highly directional, quasi-continuous matter wav e.