SIMPLE QUANTUM-MECHANICAL PICTURE OF COLD OPTICAL COLLISIONS

被引:21
作者
BOESTEN, HMJM
VERHAAR, BJ
机构
[1] Department of Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven
来源
PHYSICAL REVIEW A | 1994年 / 49卷 / 05期
关键词
D O I
10.1103/PhysRevA.49.4240
中图分类号
O43 [光学];
学科分类号
070207 ; 0803 ;
摘要
We present a quantum-mechanical study of the dynamics of collisions of cold atoms in a (magneto-) optical trap valid in the linear intensity regime. We find further evidence for a discrepancy with results of the semiclassical optical-Bloch-equation method at lower collision energies and detunings, referred to as ''quantum suppression'' in previous work. We find a strong dependence on the detuning: for the lowest energies considered the suppression factor ranges from more than three orders of magnitude for DELTA = -GAMMA(at) to a factor 2 at DELTA = -10GAMMA(at). The fraction of atoms surviving at small interatomic distances for a single l value can in good approximation be described by a simple formula in the form of a product of a Landau-Zener excitation function and a WKB survival factor. Summed over partial waves this formula allows a relatively easy calculation of loss rates in a two-channel linear-intensity description. The role of such an approach in a future more complete treatment including hyperfine channels is pointed out.
引用
收藏
页码:4240 / 4242
页数:3
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