Properties of a Raman atom-laser output coupler

Mark Edwards, David A. Griggs, Philip L. Holman, Charles W. Clark, S. L. Rolston, W. D. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied the characteristics of an atom laser created by removing atoms from a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) via a two-photon Raman process. In contrast with outcoupling by RF transitions, Raman outcoupling offers spatial selectivity within the condensate and delivers significant momentum transfer to the outcoupled atoms. We develop a version of zero-temperature mean-field theory for BECs which includes the internal state of the atom and the effect of laser fields focused into the cloud. For a model condensate we find that the outcoupled matter wave develops sharp peaks at spatial positions where the two-photon Raman process is resonant with the hyperfine splitting of the atomic ground state. As time proceeds the width of the outcoupled wave expands and a steady stream of matter waves travels outside the condensate volume.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2935-2950
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume32
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 28 1999

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Properties of a Raman atom-laser output coupler'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this