Bloch oscillations of atoms, adiabatic rapid passage, and monokinetic atomic beams

We study the dynamics of ultracold atoms in a periodic optical potential submitted to a constant external force. Bloch oscillations in the fundamental and first excited bands of the potential are observed. In addition to a solid-state analysis we give a quantum-optics interpretation of this effect in terms of photon exchanges between the atoms and the laser waves. The dynamics of Bloch oscillations are equivalent to a sequence of adiabatic rapid passages between momentum states and can be described using the dressed-atom approach. We demonstrate efficient and dissipation-free acceleration of atoms by coherent transfer of a large number of photon momenta (≈100). This technique produces atomic beams with a very small longitudinal velocity spread that may find applications in atom optics and precision measurements.