Semiclassical calculation of the diffusion constant for the Lambda system momentum. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We present a one-dimensional, semiclassical calculation of the momentum diffusion constant for a stationary atom. We show that if the difference detuning between the driving fields is zero, the diffusion vanishes, and we interpret this behavior in terms of the atom-field eigenstates. We present explicit solutions to the equations of motion in the special case where one of the driving fields vanishes and compare them to the case of a two-level atom at a field node. Finally, we examine the correspondence between the semiclassical and quantum-mechanical analyses at zero difference detuning and we show a correspondence between the semiclassical and quantum-mechanical dark states when the driving fields are superpositions of plane waves with the same magnitude of wave vector. 1995 The American Physical Society.

published proceedings

  • Phys Rev A

author list (cited authors)

  • Chu, A., Katz, D. P., Prentiss, M., Shahriar, M. S., & Hemmer, P. R.

citation count

  • 1

complete list of authors

  • Chu, A||Katz, DP||Prentiss, M||Shahriar, MS||Hemmer, PR

publication date

  • March 1995