Description:

Abstract: We usually discuss laser cooling in terms of a single frequency of light on two-level atoms.  The effect of the multi-level structure of real atoms has been studied rigorously for the past 20 years,  but there has been little consideration of polychromatic light.  Bichromatic light opens a whole new domain of thinking, including questions about the need for spontaneous emission, the role of the light field itself, energy conservation, unitarity considerations, entropy dissipation, and more.  The talk will start with an introduction to the basic ideas of laser cooling and then discuss the case for two colors.

Harold Metcalf, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Stony Brook University

Host: Gerald Gabrielse

This will be a virtual talk. Please contact Laura Nevins at laura.nevins@northwestern.edu for the Zoom link.

Keywords: CFP, Physics