Scattering of atoms by light

Abstract This review discusses the latest theoretical and experimental achievements in the resonant light pressure acting on the translational motion of atoms. Alongside with the effects due to the spontaneous light pressure (atomic deflection, velocity bunching, cooling), various manifestations of the effects of induced light pressure are considered in detail. This paper provides the theory and experiments of atoms scattering by a standing light wave under the conditions of coherent and non-coherent interaction, diffraction and interference of atomic beams. The problems where atomic motion along two trajectories and Landau-Zener transitions between them are essential, are studied. The kinetic phenomena (scattering, cooling, channeling) due to the motion of the particles exposed to gradient force and also friction and diffusion caused by spontaneous emission are considered. The influence of the recoil effect under spontaneous emission of atoms on non-linear polarization phenomena is discussed.