Creation of an effective magnetic field in ultracold atomic gases using electromagnetically induced transparency

We consider the influence of the control and probe beams in the electromagnetically induced transparency configuration on the mechanical motion of ultracold atomic gases (atomic Bose-Einstein condensates or degenerate Fermi gases). We carry out a microscopic analysis of the interplay between radiation and matter and show that the two beams of light can provide an effective magnetic field acting on electrically neutral atoms in the case where the probe beam has an orbital angular momentum. As an example, we demonstrate how a Meissner-like effect can be created in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. (c) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.