Magneto-optic drift of ions - art. no. 063403

Light-induced drift of optically active atoms in a buffer gas is a conseque nce of the unequal diffusive frictions suffered by the excited and the grou nd-state atoms. This drift can be used to create an "optical piston." in wh ich the active atoms are pushed forward by light through the semipermeable membrane of the buffer gas. Normally, optical piston effect is studied when the active atoms are neutral in a confined one-dimensional situation. We p resent a detailed theory of this phenomenon when the active atoms are charg ed and a magnetic held is applied for "timing" the direction as well as the magnitude of the drift. thus removing the necessity of confinement. Our st udy is in different geometries of the light beam and the magnetic field, fi rst in the weak collision model. and then for the strong collision and the Boltzmann-Lorentz models,