Atom optics is a field of research exploring the possibilities of manipulating beams of atoms in the same way that conventional optics controls light beams. Atomic beams can be reflected, diffracted and focussed using the action of lasers tuned to the atomic resonances. In particular, the very small dimensions of a light wave, combined with the very short de Broglie wavelength of atoms, allows atom beams to be focussed down to nanoscopic dimensions. The Nanofocusing page shows some nanoscopic lines of chromium created in this way.

We are exploring the physics of laser-atom interactions on an experimental and theoretical basis. At the moment, we're using light to control the quantum state of atoms, for EIT (electromagnetically induced transparency) and LWI (lasing without inversion). We're also working on new imaging techniques, for example to image ultracold atom clouds without destroying the cloud, most recently to separately image atoms in different atomic states, and also to determine detailed aspects of the cooling process. To find out more, explore some of the links below, or read some of our publications:

Publications

Current research areas

• Ultracold plasma, ultracold Rydberg gases
• Non-interferometric phase imaging of atomic wavefields (paper)
• Diffraction contrast imaging (software)
• Blue light from red: electromagnetically induced transparency, lasing without inversion, frequency up-conversion
• Instrumentation and technical development (diode lasers, electronics, recirculating "candlestick" Rubidium oven, fast shutter, etc.)

Previous areas of interest

• Nanofocusing atom beams with standing waves
• The donut-mode laser as an atomic lens
• Nonlinear atom-laser interactions

People

Robert Scholten, scholten sometimesat unimelb.edu.au

Postgraduate Students

Simon Bell (BSc Hons) sbell from ph.unimelb.edu.au
David Sheludko (BSc Hons) dsheludko from pobox.com
Sebastian Saliba (BSc Hons) s.saliba from ph.unimelb.edu.au
Liam McGuiness (BSc Hons) l.mcguinness from ugrad.unimelb.edu.au
Martijn Jasperse (BSc Hons) martijnj from physics.unimelb.edu.au

Contact

Assoc. Prof. Robert Scholten
School of Physics
The University of Melbourne
Melbourne VIC 3010
AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 3 8344 5457
Tel: +61 3 8344 8974 (lab)
Fax: +61 3 9347 4783
Email: r.scholten sometimesat unimelb.edu.au
Web:  optics.ph.unimelb.edu.au

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Created: 10 March, 1999
Last modified:
Authorised and maintained by: A/Prof. R. Scholten, School of Physics