  We investigate the influence of two resonant laser beams on the mechanical
properties of degenerate atomic gases. The control and probe beams of light are
considered to have Orbital Angular Momenta (OAM) and act on the three-level
atoms in the Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) configuration. The
theory is based on the explicit analysis of the quantum dynamics of cold atoms
coupled with two laser beams. Using the adiabatic approximation, we obtain an
effective equation of motion for the atoms driven to the dark state. The
equation contains a vector potential type interaction as well as an effective
trapping potential. The effective magnetic field is shown to be oriented along
the propagation direction of the control and probe beams containing OAM. Its
spatial profile can be controlled by choosing proper laser beams. We
demonstrate how to generate a constant effective magnetic field, as well as a
field exhibiting a radial distance dependence. The resulting effective magnetic
field can be concentrated within a region where the effective trapping
potential holds the atoms. The estimated magnetic length can be considerably
smaller than the size of the atomic cloud.
