Abstract

It is well known that light waves have a mechanical effect on atoms. Such a mechanical effect is employed to manipulate the center of mass of atoms in atom optics. As a result, light waves can act as mirrors, gratings and lens for atoms. In this sense, atoms and photons in atom optics exchange their roles in conventional optics. The current research in atom optics is concerned with atomic beams with low densities which are theoretically described by a single-atom approach.

© 1994 Optical Society of America