Momentum state preparation of a two-level atom using Kapitza – Dirac diffraction

We report a theoretical study on the possibility of preparing different types of momentum state distributions by two successive resonant Kapitza – Dirac diffractions. It is shown that tableshaped and Gaussian distributions can be obtained as well as the initial single-momentum state can be almost completely reconstructed by the end of the second phase of scattering. We outline the interferometric purposes for which these distributions can be promising. The advantage of the method proposed is the weak dependence of the scattering patterns of interest on such parameters of the system as the field intensity and interaction time. (atom interferometry)