Kinetic theory of the magneto-optical trap for multilevel atoms

A single-particle kinetic theory of the magneto-optical trap (MOT) for cold atoms is developed for a multilevel dipole interaction scheme. The theory analyzes the one-dimensional motion of (3+5)-level atoms in an inhomogeneous magnetic field and in the field of two counterpropagating circularly polarized laser waves. It is shown that in multilevel interaction schemes two-photon and generally even-order multiphoton processes are responsible for the formation of the narrow velocity and spatial structures in the radiation pressure force. The structures are located at zero velocity and near the origin of the trap. It is found that in the case of a (3+5)-level atom, single- and two-photon processes produce the two-component structure of the MOT potential well. Near the bottom of a conventional spatially broad potential well caused by one-photon processes, there is a much narrower well caused by two-photon processes. The double-structure MOT potential well is shown to be responsible for the two-component spatial distribution of the trapped atomic cloud. It is proposed that tight confinement of atoms near the narrow bottom of the MOT potential well can be used for the creation of a pointlike source of cold atoms for various applications in atom optics; [S1050-2947(99)09511-6].