We study and analyse the optical dipole potential for guiding atoms in various forms of both Laguerre-Gaussian and Bessel light bt:ams, We find that Laguerre-Gaussian beams of high azimuthal index are advantageous for focusing atoms. We identify that high-order Bessel beams offer significant advantages fur atom transport over extended distances when compared to Laguerre-Gaussian light beams. Possible future experimental methods to channel atoms into a high-order Bessel beam via a Laguerre-Gaussian light beam are discussed.

doi:10.1007/s003400000376