  We propose an optical means to realize a spin hall effect (SHE) in neutral
atomic system by coupling the internal spin states of atoms to radiation. The
interaction between the external optical fields and the atoms creates effective
magnetic fields that act in opposite directions on "electrically" neutral atoms
with opposite spin polarizations. This effect leads to a Landau level structure
for each spin orientation in direct analogy with the familiar SHE in
semiconductors. The conservation and topological properties of the spin
current, and the creation of a pure spin current are discussed.
