MOTIONAL STATES OF ATOMS IN CAVITY QED

We investigate the quantum-mechanical state of motion of an atom stron gly coupled to an optical cavity. The atomic motion is coupled to the environment through cavity decay and this leads to nonclassical effect s due to the dissipative evolution. The scheme is examined as an atomi c position measurement and the symmetry of the cavity field mode is fo und to lead to Schrodinger cat states of the motion in the selective e volution.