We extend the kinetic theory of the laser cooling of atoms to four multilevel atomic schemes: (3+5)-, (5+7)-, (7+9)-, and (9+11)-level atom. In all four atomic schemes the atoms are considered to be excited by two counterpropagating circularly polarized laser waves. A comparison of four multilevel atomic schemes shows that the even-order multiphoton processes are responsible for the narrow structures near zero velocity in the atomic coherences, atomic populations, dipole radiation forces, and the diffusion coefficients. The even-order multiphoton processes in a multilevel atom with a big number of magnetic sublevels are shown to produce the velocity structures, which are much narrower than that produced by the two-photon processes in a (3+5)-level atom. It is found that the multiphoton processes enhance the radiation force at low velocities and the friction produced by the force at a negative detuning. The even-order multiphoton processes caused by the laser waves are identified as the basic physical mechanism responsible for the sub-Doppler laser cooling of atoms. The temperature of laser-cooled atoms is derived for all four models and found to be lower for atomic schemes with a larger number of magnetic sublevels.

• Received 23 October 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.64.013404