Inelastic scattering of light by a cold trapped atom: Effects of the quantum center-of-mass motion

Abstract

The light scattered by a cold trapped ion, which is in the stationary state of laser cooling, presents features due to the mechanical effects of atom-photon interactions. These features appear as additional peaks (sidebands) in the spectrum of resonance fluorescence. Among these sidebands the literature has discussed the Stokes and anti-Stokes components: namely, the sidebands of the elastic peak. We show that the motion also gives rise to sidebands of the inelastic peaks. These are not always visible, but, as we show, can be measured in parameter regimes which are experimentally accessible. © 2006 The American Physical Society.