Generalized Bloch states of a two-level atom in the field of counterpropagating waves: application to the Kapitza–Dirac diffraction problem

Abstract

The Bloch-state approach to atomic translational states is extended out of adiabatic following and Raman-Nath approximations, taking into account the possible transfer of population from the initially populated internal energy level. The presented theory suggests a notion of potential energy corresponding to the initially populated internal state, and makes a generalization in the treatment of energy spectrum band-gap structure. Applying the theory to off-resonant Kapitza-Dirac diffraction and two-pulse standing wave atom interferometer (for the study of noncoherent processes in the cold atomic gases) we discuss the ability of the present approach for large-angle split multipath atom interferometry.