Optical purification of materials based on atom walking in traveling-wave lights

Abstract

An optical method for precise purification of chemical elements is introduced in this paper. The materials are supposed to be in the states of gaseous beams, which are coherently coupled to an external traveling light during purification. Before decoherence occurs, atoms periodically move in the light with different speeds that depends on masses and optical transition wave lengths of these atoms. The speed gradient leads to deflections of different atoms in different directions. The model is described by Schrödinger equations with analytical results. This method could be used for some hardly separable atoms and isotopes depending on the condition of atom coherent time. The present work opens a platform for applications of cold atom technology in the purification of atoms and molecules.

Figures (4)

• Figure 1: (Color on line) (a) Schematic illustration of separation and purification. Three kinds of atoms are considered in this picture. (b) Energy structure and electromagnetically induced walking of the atom. $\omega$ is frequency of the electromagnetic field and $\Lambda$ is one step length of the atom walk.
• Figure 2: (Color on line) Comparisons between the original energy levels and eigenfrequencies of the atom with (a) resonant coupling and (b) a detuning equal to the back action shift.
• Figure 3: (Color on line) (a) Displacements of different atom samples versus time. (b) Displacements of different Magnesium isotopes. (c) Displacements of different Rubidium isotopes.
• Figure 4: Velocity-table of chemical elements for given transition wavelengths. Corresponding wavelength with unit nm is written above each element. The inset is total data bars shown below.