Abstract
The interference pattern of a set of intersecting laser beams creates a stable periodic potential for neutral atoms through the AC Stark shift (light shift), which cools, traps, and organizes the atoms in an ordered, crystal-like structure [1]. Bragg reflection of a weak probe arises due to this long-range atomic order, even for low filling factors ( ~ 1 %) [2]. The intensity of the reflected light is a strong function of the degree of atomic localization. By observing the Bragg signal as a function of time for different initial conditions, we study the dynamics of laser cooling as the atomic localization evolves. We measure the equilibration time for atoms loading into a lattice from an optical molasses (Fig. 1 a), and the oscillation and damping times of the atomic center-of-mass wave packet driven by sudden changes in the potential well depth (Fig. lb).
© 1996 Optical Society of America
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