Eur. Phys. J. D 7, 369-372 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050580

Pulsed standing wave deflection of sodium atoms

Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Helsinki University of Technology, 02015 HUT, Espoo, Finland

Received: 23 November 1998
Revised: 27 January 1999
Published online: 15 October 1999

Abstract

We study the deflection of sodium atoms by a resonantly tuned pulsed standing wave of high field intensity. The effects of the phase fluctuations of the pulsed laser field on the momentum distribution of the deflected atoms are experimentally determined. The results are explained using a theoretical model based on the generalized density matrix formalism of two-level atoms.