Magic Wavelengths for the np - ns Transitions in Alkali-Metal Atoms

Published

November 15, 2007

Author(s)

B Arora, M S. Safronova, Charles W. Clark

Abstract

Extensive calculations of the electric-dipole matrix elements in alkali-metal atoms are conducted using the relativistic all-order method. This approach is a linearized version of the coupled-cluster method, which sums infinite sets of many-body perturbation theory terms. All allowed transitions between the lowest ns, np1/2, np3/2 states and a large number of excited states are considered in these calculations and their accuracy is evaluated. The resulting electric-dipole matrix elements are used for the high-precision calculation of frequency-dependent polarizabilities of the excited states of alkali-metal atoms. We find magic wavelengths in alkali-metal atoms for which the ns and np1/2 and np3/2 atomic levels have the same ac Stark shifts, which facilitates state-insensitive opticalcooling and trapping.

Citation

Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

Volume

76

Issue

052509

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

atom trap, atomic clock, atomic structure, cesium, laser cooling, polarizability, potassium, rubidium, sodium

Citation

Arora, B. , Safronova, M. and Clark, C. (2007), Magic Wavelengths for the np - ns Transitions in Alkali-Metal Atoms, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=840266 (Accessed October 14, 2025)