Atomic Motion in a Misaligned Standing-Wave Field

Theoretical and experimental results of laser cooling and laser heating of an atomic beam in a standing-wave field and in a misaligned standing-wave field are reported. The results show that in strong fields, laser heating in a standing-wave field become laser cooling in a misaligned standing-wave field and in weak fields, laser cooling become more efficient in a standing-wave field than in a misaligned standing-wave field.