Measurements on impulsive force-induced dynamics of a cold 85Rb atom cloud in a magneto-optical trap

We report on the study of impulsive force-induced dynamics of a cold 85Rb atom cloud in a magneto-optical trap. The impulse, imparted by a laser beam of variable pulsewidth, forces the atom cloud away from the centre of the trap. Depending on the initial drift velocity of the atom cloud, we observe either oscillation or escape of the cloud. We investigate these processes as a function of the trap parameters, especially around the onset of the multiple scattering regime.