Laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics

Ion drift in a magnetic field under the combined action of LID and light pressure

A. I. Parkhomenko

Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk

Abstract: The effect of magnetic field on the ion drift in a weakly ionised gas under the combined action of light-induced drift (LID) and light pressure is theoretically investigated. It is shown that the imposition of an external magnetic field may give rise to a velocity component of light-induced ion drift orthogonal to the direction of radiation propagation. The effect of light pressure in sufficiently strong magnetic fields is found to prevail over the LID effect, while the reverse is true for weak magnetic fields. The dependence of the ion drift velocity on the frequency detuning drastically changes in the magnetic field when ions experience the Lorenz force. It is predicted that the projection of the ion drift velocity on the direction of radiation propagation should change its sign with increasing magnetic field, and an anomalous LID can be observed.

PACS: 32.80.Lg, 42.50.Vk

Received: 13.11.2001

 English version: Quantum Electronics, 2002, 32:6, 516–522

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