A reflection grating for atoms at normal incidence
- A Landragin, L. Cognet, G. Zs. K. Horvath, C. I. Westbrook, N. Westbrook, A. Aspect
- Physics
- 1997
We have observed efficient atomic diffraction at normal incidence on an evanescent standing wave with a very weak spatial modulation. A modulation as small as 1.5% causes 66% of the atoms to be…
Laser manipulation of neutral atoms
- A. Aspect, R Kaiser, N Vansteenkiste, C. I. Westbrook
- Physics
- 1995
We present an overview of the field of laser manipulation of atoms. Examples and trends are given for: laser cooling and trapping; subrecoil cooling; probes of cold atoms; collective effects in cold…
New Physics with Evanescent Wave Atomic Mirrors: The van der Waals Force and Atomic Diffraction
- N. Westbrook, C. I. Westbrook, V Bagnato
- Physics
- 1998
After a brief introduction to the field of atom optics and to atomic mirrors, we present experimental results obtained in our group during the last two years while studying the reflection of rubidium…
Magneto-Optical Trapping of Metastable Helium: Collisions in the Presence of Resonant Light
- F. Bardou, O. Emile, J.-M. Courty, C. I. Westbrook, A. Aspect
- Physics
- 1992
About 104 triplet metastable helium atoms have been trapped in a magneto-optical trap, based on the 23S1–23P2 transition at 1.083 μm (volume 0.1 mm3, temperature 1 mK). The losses of the trap are…
Experimental and MCHF isotope shifts of strongly perturbed levels in Ca I and Sr I
- A. Aspect, J Bauche, M Godefroid, P Grangier, J E Hansen, N Vaeck
- Physics
- 1991
Theoretical and experimental isotope shifts for Ca I and Sr I levels are presented. The isotope shifts of the levels 4s6s 1S0, 4p2 1S0 and 4p2 1D2 of calcium have been measured between the isotopes…
Bistability in Laser Cooling
- A. Aspect, R. Bonifacio, F. Casagrande, L. A. Lugiato
- Physics
- 1988
We illustrate a novel “opto-mechanical” bistability, which is generated by the interaction of an atom with two laser beams, via resonant radiation pressure, in a cavityless configuration. Contrary to…
Smoothing a current-carrying atomic mirror
- L. Cognet, V. Savalli, M. Prentiss
- Physics
- 1999
We have measured the magnitude and roughness of the reflecting potential produced by a current-carrying magnetic mirror from which cold rubidium atoms have been bounced at normal incidence. By…
Experimental Evidence for a Photon Anticorrelation Effect on a Beam Splitter: A New Light on Single-Photon Interferences
- P Grangier, G. Roger, A. Aspect
- Physics
- 1986
We report on two experiments using an atomic cascade as a light source, and a triggered detection scheme for the second photon of the cascade. The first experiment shows a strong anticorrelation…