$\frac{\lambda}{8}$-period optical potentials

Abstract

A Raman configuration of counterpropagating traveling wave fields, one of which is $lin\bot lin$ polarized and the other $lin\Vert lin$ polarized, is shown to lead to optical potentials having $\frac{\lambda}{8}$ periodicity. Such optical potentials may be used to construct optical lattices having $% \frac{\lambda}{8}$ periodicity. Using numerical diagonalization, we obtain the optical potentials for $^{\text{85}}$Rb atoms.