Laser Control of Atoms and Molecules

by Letokhov, Vladilen

• ISBN13: 9780198528166
• ISBN10: 0198528167
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-04-12
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Rather different problems can be lumped together under the general term 'laser control of atoms and molecules'. They include the laser selection of atomic and molecular velocities for the purpose of Doppler-free spectroscopy, laser control of the position and velocity of atoms (i.e. laser trapping and cooling of atoms), and laser control of atomic and molecular processes (ionization, dissociation) with a view of detecting single atoms and molecules and particularly separating isotopes and nuclear isomers. Over the last decades the principal problems posed have been successfully solved, and many of them have evolved remarkably in the subsequent investigations of the international research community. For example, the solution of the problem of laser cooling and trapping of atoms has given birth to the new field of physics of ultracold mater, i.e. quantum atomic and molecular gases. The laser non-coherent control of uni-molecular processes have found an interesting extension in the field of laser coherent control of molecules. The concept of laser control of positions has been successfully demonstrated with microparticles (optical tweezers), concurrently with investigations into atomic control. The laser photo-ionization of molecules on surfaces has led to the development of novel techniques of laser assisted mass spectrometry of macromolecules, and so on. The aim of this book is to review these topics from a unified or 'coherent' point of view. It will be useful for many readers in various fields of laser science and its applications.

Author Biography

Professor Vladilen Letokhov, Institute of Spectroscopy, Troitsk, and Russian Academy of Sciences.
Professor Letokhov was born in Irkutsk, Siberia (1939). He was educated at the prestigious Moscow Physical-Technical Institute (1957-1963).
He graduated in P.N.Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow with Nobel Prize Winner Professor N.Basov. Since 1970 (to present) he has been Head of Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory (later Department) and Associate Director for research (1971-1989) at the Institute of Spectroscopy, Troitsk, and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Awards: Lenin Prize for science and technology (1978);
State Prize for science and technology (2002);
European Physical Society Quantum Electronics Prize
(1998) etc.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Elementary radiative processes

Laser velocity-selective excitation

Optical orientation of atoms and nuclei

Laser cooling of atoms

Laser trapping of atoms

Atom optics

From laser-cooled and trapped atoms to atomic and molecular quantum gases

Laser photoselective ionization of atoms

Multiphoton ionization of molecules

Photoselective laser control of molecules via molecular vibrations

Coherent laser control of molecules

Related topics: laser control of microparticles and force electrons

Conclusion

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