Quantum accelerator modes: A tool for atom optics - art. no. 013411

We describe an atom-optical technique for producing large changes in the mo mentum of cold atoms using a pulsed standing wave of off-resonant light. Ex perimental results are presented showing how the efficiency and the amount of momentum transfer depend on the parameters of the light field. We also p resent a theoretical analysis and derive a closed formula which is in excel lent agreement with the experimental data.