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arXiv · 1809.10905

Scaling Law in Laser Cooling on Narrow-Line Optical Transitions

O. N. Prudnikov·R. Ya Il'enkov·A. V. Taichenachev·V. I. Yudin
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Abstract

In this paper laser cooling of atoms with a narrow-line optical transition, i.e. in regimes of quantum nature of laser-light interactions resulting in a significant recoil effect, is studied. It is demonstrated that a minimum laser cooling temperature for two-level atom in standing wave reached for red detuning close to 3 recoil frequency greatly different from the theory used for a semiclassical description of Doppler cooling. A set of dimensionless parameters uniquely characterizing the time evolution and the steady state of different atoms with narrow-line optical transitions in the laser field is introduced. The results can be used for analysis of optimal conditions for laser cooling of atoms with narrow lines such as $Ca$, $Sr$, and $Mg$, which are of great interest for atomic clocks.

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O. N. Prudnikov, R. Ya Il'enkov, A. V. Taichenachev, V. I. Yudin. 2018-09-28. Scaling Law in Laser Cooling on Narrow-Line Optical Transitions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.99.023427

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