https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050157
Recoil and momentum diffusion of an atom close to a vacuum-dielectric interface
Institut d'Optique (Unité de recherche no. 14
associée au CNRS) , B.P. 147, 91403 Orsay Cedex, France
Corresponding author: a Carsten.Henkel@quantum.physik.uni-potsdam.de
Received:
2
February
1998
Revised:
23
April
1998
Accepted:
29
April
1998
Published online: 15 August 1998
We derive the quantum-mechanical master equation (generalized optical Bloch
equation) for an atom in the vicinity of a flat dielectric surface. This
equation gives access to the semiclassical radiation pressure force and the
atomic momentum diffusion tensor, that are expressed in terms of the vacuum
field correlation function (electromagnetic field susceptibility). It is
demonstrated that the atomic center-of-mass motion provides a nonlocal
probe of the electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations. We show
in particular that in a circularly polarized evanescent wave, the radiation
pressure force experienced by the atoms is not colinear with the
evanescent wave's propagation vector.
In a linearly polarized evanescent wave, the recoil per fluorescence
cycle leads to a net magnetization for a 
ground state atom.
PACS: 32.80.Pj – Optical cooling of atoms; trapping / 03.75.Be – Atom and neutron optics / 42.50.Vk – Mechanical effects of light on atoms, molecules, electrons, and ions
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1998
