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Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

Optical elements for slowly moving neutral atoms based on magnetic fields

G. I. Opat, Síle Nic Chormaic, B. P. Cantwell, James T. Richmond

Published Aug 1, 1999• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Magnetostatic and quasi-magnetostatic devices can act as optical elements for the de Broglie waves of magnetic atoms, i.e. atoms with a net static magnetic dipole moment in the ground (or isomeric) state. Such magnetic atom optical elements complement, and are alternatives to, resonantly tuned laser atom optical elements which rely on dynamically generated electric dipole moments. The physical principles behind such magnetic devices are discussed briefly, as well as the potential problems of decoherence and its management. The way that these optical elements may be realized is also discussed, with special reference to mirrors and static and quasi-static gratings. Gratings are important to atom interferometry as they can act as beam-splitters.

DOI
10.1088/1464-4266/1/4/310

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Magnetostatic and quasi-magnetostatic devices can act as optical elements for the de Broglie waves of magnetic atoms, i.e. atoms with a net static magnetic dipole moment in the ground (or isomeric) state. Such magnetic atom optical elements complement, and are alternatives to, resonantly tuned laser atom optical elements which rely on dynamically generated electric dipole moments. The physical principles behind such magnetic devices are discussed briefly, as well as the potential problems of decoherence and its management. The way that these optical elements may be realized is also discussed, with special reference to mirrors and static and quasi-static gratings. Gratings are important to atom interferometry as they can act as beam-splitters.
There is a need in atom optics and atom interferometry for high quality atomic mirrors and beamsplitters that will permit the manipulation and control of beams of slowly moving atoms. We have an established programme for developing and testing mirrors for atom optics based on the interaction between the magnetic dipole moment of an atom and the exponentially varying magnetic field above a periodic array of magnetic elements. Previously we have observed reflection of cold atoms from mirrors of a number of different designs, including a macroscopic array of permanent rare-earth magnets of alternating polarity, grooved ferromagnetic structures, arrays of current-carrying conductors and structures recorded onto magneto-optical films.
The term of atom optics is due to the natural analogy with light optics or the optics of photons. Some elements of the optics of atoms and molecules, based on the interaction between spatially nonuniform static magnetic or electrical fields and the magnetic or electrical dipole moment of the particles, have long been known and used fairly successfully in experimental physics. In the presence of a magnetic or electric field, the quantum state of atom or molecule is shifted, the shift depending on the initial quantum state of the particle and the field strength. A particle in nonuniform magnetic field is acted upon by the force directed along the field strength gradient. The focusing properties of a magnetic lens depend on the magnetic sublevel of atoms.
Atom optics has seen fast development and vast achievements,and has wide application prospects.The basic principles of the manipulation and control of cold atoms using magnetic and laser fields are briefly introduced,followed by a detailed review of recent progress of geometric and wave atom optics as well as potential applications and the development of atom optics devices Topics include the reflection of atom beams and mirrors,the deflection(refraction) and focusing of atom beams and lenses,the diffraction of atom matter waves and gratings,atom interferometers,and atomic holography.
Atom optical analoga exist for many light-optical elements like mirrors, lenses and beam splitters. Light - or generally electromagnetic fields - and matter virtually exchange roles: Optical elements correspond to electromagnetic fields and light fields to matter waves. The goal of this thesis was to realize a de Broglie waveguide: A standing wave was generated by reflecting a laser beam on a gold coated prism surface. Near the resonance frequency of an atomic transition in metastable argon the light field exercises a dipole force, which can be described by a potential proportional to the intensity distribution of the interferece patterns of the light field. Atoms with small enough kinetic energy can be stored in the potential minima. In longitudinal direction to the standing wave the center of mass motion of these atoms is strongly confined. It is characterised by a discreet quantum mechanical mode structure where the energy distance of the indivdual motional states is big compared to their uncertainty. Transversally the atoms can virtually move freely, i.e. their mode spectrum is continual. Therefore one single potential minimum can be considered a resonator for atomic de Broglie waves and can be regarded as the atom optical analogon of a two-dimensial waveguide in light optics. A de Broglie waveguide provides a possiblity of examining a nearly two-dimensional gas of ultracold atoms in front of a surface. Moreover a continuous laser-like source of atoms may be realized on this basis.
The ability to cool a cloud of atoms to such low temperatures that they form a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) and the ability to extract a coherent matter beam from this cloud promise the potential to do with atoms what can be achieved with optical lasers—interferometry, holography, scattering, and spectroscopy. However, full exploitation of the atom laser requires the development of precision atom-optic devices such as mirrors, lenses, beam splitters, and resonators. One distinguishing property of a BEC is that all of the atoms have the same magnetic moment and so experience a force in the presence of an inhomogeneous magnetic field. Under optical stimulation, the magnetic moment of the atoms can be flipped so that the force on the atoms is reversed. Bloch et al. use this effect—the switching of the force the atoms experience with optically induced transitions of the magnetic moment—to demonstrate the atom-optic equivalent devices that will help allow the manipulation of coherent atom beams with the same precision and control as that available for optical lasers. — ISO
We report on the atom optical manipulation of an atom laser beam. Reflection, focusing, and its storage in a resonator are demonstrated. Precise and versatile mechanical control over an atom laser beam propagating in an inhomogeneous magnetic field is achieved by optically inducing spin flips between atomic ground states with different magnetic moment. The magnetic force acting on the atoms can thereby be effectively switched on and off. The surface of the atom optical element is determined by the resonance condition for the spin flip in the inhomogeneous magnetic field. More than 98% of the incident atom laser beam is reflected specularly.