  We propose a method for slowing particles by laser fields that potentially
has the ability to generate large forces without the associated momentum
diffusion that results from the random directions of spontaneously scattered
photons. In this method, time-resolved laser pulses with periodically modified
detunings address an ultranarrow electronic transition to reduce the particle
momentum through repeated absorption and stimulated emission cycles. We
implement a shortcut to adiabaticity approach that is based on Lewis-Riesenfeld
invariant theory. This affords our scheme the advantages of adiabatic transfer,
where there can be an intrinsic insensitivity to the precise strength and
detuning characteristics of the applied field, with the advantages of rapid
transfer that is necessary for obtaining a short slowing distance. For typical
parameters of a thermal oven source that generates a particle beam with a
central velocity on the order of meters per second, this could result in
slowing the particles to near stationary in less than a millimeter. We compare
the slowing scheme to widely-implemented slowing techniques that rely on
radiation pressure forces and show the advantages that potentially arise when
the excited state decay rate is small. Thus, this scheme is a particularly
promising candidate to slow narrow-linewidth systems that lack closed cycling
transitions, such as occurs in certain molecules.
