An atom-focusing mirror
Abstract
The recent interest in atom-optics has mainly been directed at the manipulation of atomic beams by static fields or lasers. Using an alternative approach we have succeeded in focusing in two dimensions a neutral atomic helium beam at room temperature with a reflective optical element (an atom mirror). Such focusing relies on specular elastic scattering, which leaves the coherence of incoming wavepackets unchanged.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- November 1997
- DOI:
- 10.1038/36769
- Bibcode:
- 1997Natur.390..244H