Quantum jump calculations of velocity-selective coherent population trapping in one and two dimensions

Velocity-selective coherent population trapping is a technique for laser-cooling atoms to below the recoil limit where the momenta of the atoms and photons in the light field are equal. We have studied this mechanism using an efficient simulation model, which both simplifies the calculations and gives a physical insight into the dynamics of the anomalous diffusion process. Our calculations have been carried out for transitions in which the total atomic angular momentum is F=1 to 1 in both one and two dimensions and F=2 to 2 in one dimension. In the latter case, no exact dark state exists, and the momentum distribution tends towards a Lorentzian in the steady state. © 1995 IOP Publishing Ltd.