9507639 Meystre The effects of the long range atomic interactions on optically driven atoms is studied theoretically using a mean field approximation. This results in an effective, non-linear equation which is solved numerically using modern computational techniques. this regime, which is termed nonlinear atom optics, suggests that it should be possible to observe atomic solitons, atomic wave mixing and atomic phase conjugation in ultra-cold atom collisions. Even more intriguing is the possibility of observing a coherent atomic beam generator which would be the rough equivalent in atom optics of a laser. ***
