Atomic collision dynamics in optical lattices



: Piilo J, Suominen KA, Berg-Sorensen K

Publisher: AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOC

: 2002

: Physical Review A

: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

: PHYS REV A

: ARTN 033411

: 65

: 3

: 16

: 1050-2947

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.65.033411(external)


We simulate collisions between two atoms, which move in an optical lattice under the dipole-dipole interaction. The model describes simultaneously the two basic dynamical processes, namely the Sisyphus cooling of single atoms, and the light-induced inelastic collisions between them. We consider the J=1/2-->J=3/2 laser cooling transition for Cs and Na. We find that the hotter atoms in a thermal sample are selectively lost or heated by the collisions, which modifies the steady-state distribution of atomic velocities, reminiscent of the evaporative cooling process.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:33