Abstract

Two of the major classes of atom optical elements are microfabricated structures and light beams. For instance, a standing light wave can act as a phase grating for atoms, as each absorption and emission process is accompanied by a coherent atomic recoil. After a simple discussion of the mechanical effects of light on atoms, we use a band-theoretical approach to categorize the main resonances (Bragg and Doppleron) that can be exploited to operate such a grating effectively. We discuss the incoherent effects of spontaneous emission, showing when and how they lead from a diffractive to a diffusive regime of atom–field interactions. We turn next to the diffraction of atoms by quantized fields and show the sensitivity of the resulting atomic diffraction pattern to the field photon statistics. In this quantized regime, the atom–field interaction leaves the system in an entangled state. We conclude by reviewing some proposals that exploit this property to perform measurements on the field (atom) to prepare and/or monitor specific atomic (field) states.

© 1992 Optical Society of America