Velocity-tuned resonances in atomic diffraction by a standing-wave light field.

Abstract

Multi-photon Doppleron resonances are investigated for the diffraction of atoms by a classical standing-wave optical field in the regime where energy conservation limits the diffraction orders. In this regime, atomic recoil is incorporated into the description, and consideration of the dynamical shift of the resonance condition from the purely kinematic results becomes critical to observing the desired diffraction of the atomic wave function. Special attention is given to the development of a technique for evaluating the resonances which constitutes a significant simplification of the usual degenerate perturbation theory approach for a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian. Also developed is a specialized off-resonant atom-field interaction which is shown to be maximally efficient at producing high-order diffraction of the atomic wave function. Suggestions for its implementation are given.