Transverse Momentum Transfer in Atom-Light Scattering

TL;DR

This paper predicts a photon Hall effect in atomic hydrogen caused by interference between electric quadrupole and dipole transitions, leading to measurable transverse forces in atom-light interactions.

Contribution

It introduces the prediction of a photon Hall effect in atomic hydrogen due to specific transition interferences, a novel theoretical insight.

Findings

Photon Hall effect predicted in atomic hydrogen

Magneto-transverse acceleration comparable to a fraction of gravity

Transverse force in two-level atoms occurs only when moving

Abstract

We predict a photon Hall effect in the optical cross-section of atomic hydrogen, which is caused by the interference between an electric quadrupole transition and an electric dipole transition from the ground state to $3D_{3/2}$ and $3P_{3/2}$. This induces a magneto-transverse acceleration comparable to a fraction of $g$. In atoms with a two level electric dipole transition, a much smaller transverse force is generated only when the atom is moving.