Trapping of Atoms by Resonance Radiation Pressure

Abstract

A method of stably trapping, cooling, and manipulating atoms on a continuous-wave basis is proposed using resonance radiation pressure forces. Use of highly focused laser beams and atomic beam injection should give a very deep trap for confining single atoms or gases at temperatures \ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. An analysis of the saturation properties of radiation pressure forces is given.