LIGHT-FORCE TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING POLARIZABILITIES

We have developed a light-force technique for measuring polarizabilities. This new method uses the polarization forces experienced by an atom in the intense, inhomogeneous electric field of a standing-wave laser to deduce the polarizability. Using a Nd:YAG laser at lambda(SW) = 1.064-mu-m for the light force, we measured the polarizability of rubidium at this wavelength to be alpha(omega(SW)) = 114 +/- 9 angstrom 3 (sigma). Conversion of this ac polarizability to a static value using a semiempirical formula gives a value of alpha(dc) = 52 angstrom 3, within 10% of the best published experimental results.