Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Refractive components for magnetic atom optics

Wilhelm G. Kaenders, Frank Lison, I. Müller, A. Richter, R. Wynands, Dieter Meschede

Published Dec 1, 1996• 53 citations
Publisher

Abstract

With strong rare-earth permanent magnets we have built highly refractive atom-optical components for laser-cooled atoms. We have studied the influence of axially symmetric multipole components on a cesium atomic beam. In analogy to traditional optics the action of a quadrupole ring parallels a conical prism, or axicon. Hexapole lenses were applied for focusing with a more than 1000-fold increase in atomic flux density at the focal spot and for imaging with the atomic beam. Two hexapole lenses were combined to form a telescope, which was operated off axis in order to separate fast thermal and slowed atoms. The experiments can approximately be described in terms of geometrical optics. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.54.5067

Related papers

Atom optics with permanent magnetic components

Dieter Meschede, Immanuel Bloch, A. Goepfert +5 more

We have fabricated and investigated efficient magnetic lenses, waveguides, and mirrors from rare earth permanent materials. They are affordable and maintenance free. In contrast to corresponding light force components they do not need any supplies, they have large apertures, high reflectivity, and there is no spontaneous emission. The cylindrical shape of magnetic components is furthermore well suited to steer atomic beams.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 1, 1997•7 citations

SLOW ATOM OPTICAL COMPOhNTS USING LONGITUDINAL MAGNETIC GRADEYTS

Frank Lison, D. Haubrich, P. Sehuh +5 more

Efficmt bear steering components far paramagnetic atoms CUI be manufacrured from permanent magnets. In contrast to atom optical components denved from light forces permanent magnetic components do not need any supplies, they have large apenures, and rpontilneous cmissroe is absent. Mayetic acceleration is one ardor of magnitude smaller than typlcal accelerations by gpantaneous light farces, but the maximum momentum transfer can be increased through extended components or by loucrhg the longrludunal vclucity of the atoms. With strong rare carth permanent magnets we have built lenses [I] .ind nllrrors (fig. 1) for atomic bcams. Our lenses have ibcill lengths in the centimcler regims for sloniic ~elocillrs of abour 70 mis and a opening ofseveral miilimeters. Hexapolc IC~SCS can bc iiscd for fociising anid ~magmg with B monachromaric atomic beam 121. It is wll known 111 hght optics that minors haw fewer aberratrons thla lenses. A magnetic mirror for aloin 0pOcs has been constructed from B periodic airily of milgnctic slabs with alternating direction uf lhe magnetization. The dwice has a length of 90 mm and reilccts ces~um atom with B vclocicy component of up LO 5 nvs perpendicular to the mirror surface.

•Jan 1, 1996•0 citations

Slow Atomic Beams Manipulation with Magnetic Videotapes

H. Merimeche

Laser cooling methods provide the possibility to obtain very well collimated and slow atomic beams. These intense sources have attracted new interest in the manipulation of atomic trajectories. Atom optical schemes based on the optical dipole force are very attractive, for example in atom lithography where atomic beams are focused by standing wave light elds, to create periodic nanostructures. However, in applications where more complex structures are desirable or decoherence due to spontaneous emission has to be avoided, magnetic atom optical components are more attractive. For example, at and curved atomic mirrors with high reflectivity and low surface rough ness can be built from periodically magnetized videotapes. First, with a collimated and polarized cesium atomic beam from a Zeeman-slower apparatus, we have investigated the deflection of the atomic beam by a sinusoidally magnetized videotape with a period length of 30 μm. From these measurements we have determined the magnetic eld strength at the surface to be 0.05 Tesla. The reflectivity has been found to be consistent with 100%. The very large eld gradients produced by the tape can be exploited to guide atoms on curved trajectories with small radii of curvature. With a radius of 9.5 cm we have obtained a maximum deflection angle of 25° which is limited by technical constraint. Second, we have built a setup based on a 2D-MOT for generating a slow atomic beam with a velocity of 20 m/s. After leaving the optical collimation and the optical polarization stages, the atomic beam is reflected after one bounce onto the videotape up to angles as large as 7°. We exploited the natural curvature of our videotape and we demonstrated the focusing of the atomic beam after one and two bounces depending on the curvature of the videotape. The focal length and the angles of deflection enable to deduce the local radii of curvature. We have confronted our results by testing the focusing of the videotape with a red laser and by performing a numerical simulation which prove the consistency with the atomic beam experiments.

•Jan 1, 2004•1 citation

A Complex atom lens

Erik Anciaux

This dissertation presents progress on an atomic beam brightening and focusing experiment that has been shown to create a beam with higher brightness and greater resolution than that of any previous atomic focusing experiment. Our method of beam brightening relies upon using a permanent magnetic hexapole as a lens in conjunction with transverse laser cooling to focus and collimate a supersonic beam of metastable neon atoms. We then use an adjustable electromagnetic hexapole as a lens to focus the brightened atomic beam. Neutral atom beams have long been used as a tool to spectroscopically probe two dimensional surfaces, however the lack of a means to create bright, high-resolution neutral atom beams has limited their utility as a nanoscale resolution probing mechanism. While optical and electron microscopy have been the workhorses of microscopy for decades, we believe that our scheme for beam brightening and focusing will unleash the promise of neutral atom microscopy. Our scheme of beam brightening and focusing can be repeated in series and reveals a pathway to true high density nanoscale neutral atom focusing. Simulations suggest that when combined with aberration correction, our scheme will be able to produce an atomic beam with sufficient brightness and resolution to be useful as a surface sensitive nanoscale probe.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Atom optics(I):geometric and wave atom optics and their devices

Yin Jian

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.

•Jan 1, 2006•0 citations

Construction of a low velocity metastable helium atomic beam

G.R. Woestenenk, Jan W. Thomsen, Milou van Rijnbach +2 more

We have constructed an atomic beam of metastable helium atoms He(2 3S) with a mean velocity of 300 m/s (15 K) and a yield of 3×1012 atoms/s sr. The metastable atoms are produced in a dc discharge in a cryogenic environment cooled by liquid helium. Using a hexapole magnetic lens, we have increased further the beam intensity by focusing the metastable atoms. Initial studies show a factor of 2.5 increase in the beam flux but more is expected when the hexapole is constructed from permanent hexapole magnets. The He(2 3S) atoms are subsequently loaded into a magneto-optical trap.

Review of Scientific Instruments•Oct 1, 2001•18 citations
With strong rare-earth permanent magnets we have built highly refractive atom-optical components for laser-cooled atoms. We have studied the influence of axially symmetric multipole components on a cesium atomic beam. In analogy to traditional optics the action of a quadrupole ring parallels a conical prism, or axicon. Hexapole lenses were applied for focusing with a more than 1000-fold increase in atomic flux density at the focal spot and for imaging with the atomic beam. Two hexapole lenses were combined to form a telescope, which was operated off axis in order to separate fast thermal and slowed atoms. The experiments can approximately be described in terms of geometrical optics. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Efficmt bear steering components far paramagnetic atoms CUI be manufacrured from permanent magnets. In contrast to atom optical components denved from light forces permanent magnetic components do not need any supplies, they have large apenures, and rpontilneous cmissroe is absent. Mayetic acceleration is one ardor of magnitude smaller than typlcal accelerations by gpantaneous light farces, but the maximum momentum transfer can be increased through extended components or by loucrhg the longrludunal vclucity of the atoms. With strong rare carth permanent magnets we have built lenses [I] .ind nllrrors (fig. 1) for atomic bcams. Our lenses have ibcill lengths in the centimcler regims for sloniic ~elocillrs of abour 70 mis and a opening ofseveral miilimeters. Hexapolc IC~SCS can bc iiscd for fociising anid ~magmg with B monachromaric atomic beam 121. It is wll known 111 hght optics that minors haw fewer aberratrons thla lenses. A magnetic mirror for aloin 0pOcs has been constructed from B periodic airily of milgnctic slabs with alternating direction uf lhe magnetization. The dwice has a length of 90 mm and reilccts ces~um atom with B vclocicy component of up LO 5 nvs perpendicular to the mirror surface.
Laser cooling methods provide the possibility to obtain very well collimated and slow atomic beams. These intense sources have attracted new interest in the manipulation of atomic trajectories. Atom optical schemes based on the optical dipole force are very attractive, for example in atom lithography where atomic beams are focused by standing wave light elds, to create periodic nanostructures. However, in applications where more complex structures are desirable or decoherence due to spontaneous emission has to be avoided, magnetic atom optical components are more attractive. For example, at and curved atomic mirrors with high reflectivity and low surface rough ness can be built from periodically magnetized videotapes. First, with a collimated and polarized cesium atomic beam from a Zeeman-slower apparatus, we have investigated the deflection of the atomic beam by a sinusoidally magnetized videotape with a period length of 30 μm. From these measurements we have determined the magnetic eld strength at the surface to be 0.05 Tesla. The reflectivity has been found to be consistent with 100%. The very large eld gradients produced by the tape can be exploited to guide atoms on curved trajectories with small radii of curvature. With a radius of 9.5 cm we have obtained a maximum deflection angle of 25° which is limited by technical constraint. Second, we have built a setup based on a 2D-MOT for generating a slow atomic beam with a velocity of 20 m/s. After leaving the optical collimation and the optical polarization stages, the atomic beam is reflected after one bounce onto the videotape up to angles as large as 7°. We exploited the natural curvature of our videotape and we demonstrated the focusing of the atomic beam after one and two bounces depending on the curvature of the videotape. The focal length and the angles of deflection enable to deduce the local radii of curvature. We have confronted our results by testing the focusing of the videotape with a red laser and by performing a numerical simulation which prove the consistency with the atomic beam experiments.
This dissertation presents progress on an atomic beam brightening and focusing experiment that has been shown to create a beam with higher brightness and greater resolution than that of any previous atomic focusing experiment. Our method of beam brightening relies upon using a permanent magnetic hexapole as a lens in conjunction with transverse laser cooling to focus and collimate a supersonic beam of metastable neon atoms. We then use an adjustable electromagnetic hexapole as a lens to focus the brightened atomic beam. Neutral atom beams have long been used as a tool to spectroscopically probe two dimensional surfaces, however the lack of a means to create bright, high-resolution neutral atom beams has limited their utility as a nanoscale resolution probing mechanism. While optical and electron microscopy have been the workhorses of microscopy for decades, we believe that our scheme for beam brightening and focusing will unleash the promise of neutral atom microscopy. Our scheme of beam brightening and focusing can be repeated in series and reveals a pathway to true high density nanoscale neutral atom focusing. Simulations suggest that when combined with aberration correction, our scheme will be able to produce an atomic beam with sufficient brightness and resolution to be useful as a surface sensitive nanoscale probe.
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.
We have constructed an atomic beam of metastable helium atoms He(2 3S) with a mean velocity of 300 m/s (15 K) and a yield of 3×1012 atoms/s sr. The metastable atoms are produced in a dc discharge in a cryogenic environment cooled by liquid helium. Using a hexapole magnetic lens, we have increased further the beam intensity by focusing the metastable atoms. Initial studies show a factor of 2.5 increase in the beam flux but more is expected when the hexapole is constructed from permanent hexapole magnets. The He(2 3S) atoms are subsequently loaded into a magneto-optical trap.