Suppressed spontaneous emission for coherent momentum transfer

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Long, Xueping, Yu, Scarlett S, Jayich, Andrew M, Campbell, Wesley C
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 20.07.2019
• Subjects: Atom interferometry; Deceleration; Molecular beams; Momentum transfer; Physics - Atomic Physics; Quantum theory; Spontaneous emission; Ultrafast lasers; Vibrational states
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1903.01627

Strong optical forces with minimal spontaneous emission are desired for molecular deceleration and atom interferometry applications. We report experimental benchmarking of such a stimulated optical force driven by ultrafast laser pulses. We apply this technique to accelerate atoms, demonstrating up to an average of \(19\) \(\hbar k\) momentum transfers per spontaneous emission event. This represents more than an order of magnitude improvement in suppression of spontaneous emission compared to radiative scattering forces. For molecular beam slowing, this technique is capable of delivering a many-fold increase in the achievable time-averaged force to significantly reduce both the slowing distance and detrimental losses to dark vibrational states.