Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: We present a theoretical model for the propagation of non-self-interacting atom laser beams. We start from a general propagation integral equation and we use the same approximations as in photon optics to derive tools to calculate the atom-laser-beam propagation. We discuss the approximations that allow one to reduce the general equation whether to a Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral calculated by using the stationary phase method, or to the eikonal. Within the paraxial approximation, we also introduce the $ABCD$ matrices formalism and the beam quality factor. As an example, we apply these tools to analyze the recent experiment by Riou et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 070404 (2006)].
Source: Physical Review A
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1990566648