Laser-cooling simulation based on the semiclassical approach

We investigate the region of validity of the semiclassical approach to simulating laser cooling. We conclude that for the commonly used pi(x) pi(y) polarization-gradient configuration, the semiclassical approach is valid only for transitions with recoil parameters epsilon(r), on the order of 10(-4) or less. For the standard laser-cooling transitions only the transitions in Rb and Cs satisfy this condition. For the Doppler and sigma(+)sigma(-) polarization-gradient configuration the semiclassical approach is valid for most of the commonly used transitions; however, the expected gain in execution speed compared with quantum Monte Carlo calculations has been realized only in part. A drastic reduction in calculation time is to be expected by implementing an analytical approach to the long-term contribution of the diffusion coefficient. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America