Properties of Microelectromagnet Mirrors as Reflectors of Cold Rb Atoms
Atomic Physics
2009-10-31 v1 Quantum Physics
Abstract
Cryogenically cooled microelectromagnet mirrors were used to reflect a cloud of free-falling laser-cooled 85Rb atoms at normal incidence. The mirrors consisted of microfabricated current-carrying Au wires in a periodic serpentine pattern on a sapphire substrate. The fluorescence from the atomic cloud was imaged after it had bounced off a mirror. The transverse width of the cloud reached a local minimum at an optimal current corresponding to minimum mirror roughness. A distinct increase in roughness was found for mirror configurations with even versus odd number of lines. These observations confirm theoretical predictions.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/9908038,
title = {Properties of Microelectromagnet Mirrors as Reflectors of Cold Rb Atoms},
author = {M. Drndic and G. Zabow and C. S. Lee and J. H. Thywissen and K. S. Johnson and M. Prentiss and R. M. Westervelt and P. D. Featonby and V. Savalli and L. Cognet and K. Helmerson and N. Westbrook and C. I. Westbrook and W. D. Phillips and A. Aspect},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/9908038},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Physical Review A, in print; 11 pages, 4 figures