Abstract. The transverse velocity distribution of a sodium atomic beam, laser cooled in one dimension, has been measured with sub-recoil resolution. A velocity-selective detection system was employed to separate the longitudinal and transverse velocity components to provide a direct measure of the transverse velocity distribution. The effects of varying the cooling laser intensity and detuning on the derived transverse temperature are presented, and show a remarkable insensitivity to the laser intensity. Atomic velocities within a factor of two of the recoil velocity are

Print publication: Issue 3 (June 1996)
Received 1 February 1996, in final form 12 February 1996