Effects of phase fluctuations of a laser on the dynamics of an atom in metallic cavities - art. no. 063817

We studs the effects of phase fluctuations of a laser on the dynamics of a two-level atom. We assume that the atom is in a cavity and consider two cas es in which the atom is either sandwiched between two parallel metal plates or placed inside a rectangular metallic waveguide. We use the well-known m aster equation and utilize the phase diffusion model for our analysis. We d erive expression for the dipolar and dissipative forces acting on the atom. We then show that the laser fluctuations produce an increase in the magnit ude of the dissipative force and a reduction in the dipolar force, We illus trate that the atom-laser interaction gives rise to a potential, which bind s the atom to the central part of the cavity. We also show that the atomic velocity produces significant changes on the potential and on the force act ing on the atom, The combined effects of the velocity arid laser fluctuatio ns on the atomic motion are discussed.