Abstract
Using a simple model, we calculate the heating rates arising from laser intensity noise and beam-pointing fluctuations in far-off resonance optical traps. Intensity noise causes exponential heating, while beam-pointing noise causes heating at a constant rate. The achievement of heating time constants well beyond 10 sec imposes stringent requirements on the laser noise power spectra. Noise spectra are measured for a commercial argon-ion laser to illustrate the expected time scales.
- Received 25 April 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.56.R1095
©1997 American Physical Society
