MONTE-CARLO WAVE-FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF 3D OPTICAL MOLASSES

A full quantum treatment of laser cooling in three dimensions is performed. It is based on a recently developed Monte Carlo wave-function technique, which reduces an otherwise unmanageable density matrix problem by at least a factor of 104 in computing requirements. For different atomic transitions and temporal phases of the laser beams, our calculated mean kinetic energies are in good agreement with experimental results. Momentum distributions are shown to develop escape lines when the optical molasses is close to disintegration. Spatial distributions are also calculated and discussed. © 1995 The American Physical Society.