ABSTRACT
Depending on the spatial and temporal structure of light field, its strength and wavelength, the radiation force may be a very complex function of the atoms position and velocity. But, since all the known studies on the application of the radiation forces have been carried out mainly using three types of light fields, namely, a plane traveling light field, a Gaussian laser beam and a standing light wave, or their combination, this chapter restricts to qualitative consideration of these types of fields only. At low radiation intensity and for a two level atom the radiation force in the standing wave is determined by the sum of the forces from each traveling waves. In the presence of static magnetic field the radiative forces acting on a multilevel atom in a laser field may acquire new properties. Of particular interest for the creation of new types of atomic traps is a confining potential — like character of the radiation force.
