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Laser Physics

Atomic diffraction microscope of the de Broglie waves

V. I. Balykin

Published Jan 1, 2010• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We consider a new approach to the atomic microscopy of the de Broglie waves based on the diffraction rather than refraction phenomenon. It is demonstrated that a diffraction objective that images an object with a magnification of 10 3 can be implemented at appropriate parameters of the atomic-wave diffraction by a circular aperture in a real screen.

DOI
10.1134/s1054660x09180030

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We consider a new approach to the atomic microscopy of the de Broglie waves based on the diffraction rather than refraction phenomenon. It is demonstrated that a diffraction objective that images an object with a magnification of 10 3 can be implemented at appropriate parameters of the atomic-wave diffraction by a circular aperture in a real screen.
We have developed a novel interferometer for atom de Broglie waves, where amplitude division and recombination is achieved by diffraction at standing light waves operating as phase gratings. Our new atom interferometer is the exact mirror image of interferometers for light, with the roles of atoms and photons interchanged, and it directly demonstrates coherence of the diffraction of atomic waves at standing light waves. Easy manipulation of the phase, intensity, and polarization of the standing light wave permits novel studies of atomic coherence properties.
A simple focusing device is proposed for de Broglie matter waves—a diffractive lens, based on the optical effect of diffractive multifocal focusing of radiation. This matter-wave lens consists of two coaxial circular apertures in which the second aperture of smaller diameter is located where the Fresnel number of the first aperture is unity. It is shown that diffraction of a de Broglie matter wave by a system of two pinholes on an optical axis exhibits the multifocal focusing effect of matter waves in the near-field (Fresnel) zone, which creates a very intense, spatially localized beam of atoms. Theoretical predictions for the focusing efficiency of a neutral atomic beam by the diffractive lens are as follows. The spot diameter is ~0.1 µm, the ratio of focal and incident intensities is ~15, the focal length of the diffractive lens is in the range ~0.13 to 6 cm, the focusing depth is in the range ~15 to 30 cm, and the energy transmitting efficiency is ~30 %. For the relatively large diameters of the pinholes, 5.0 µm, the proposed configuration acts as a matter-wave lens with a large focal length and a long focusing depth.
A simple focusing device is proposed for de Broglie matter-waves - a diffractive lens, based on the optical effect of diffractive multifocal focusing of radiation. This matter-wave lens consists of two co-axial circular apertures in which the second aperture of smaller diameter is located where the Fresnel number of the first aperture is unity. It is shown that diffraction of a de Broglie matter wave by a system of two pinholes on an optical axis exhibits the multifocal focusing effect of matter waves in the near-field (Fresnel) zone. The focusing, defocusing and refocusing phenomenon is explained as resulting from periodic phase changes at singular points, which are points where the intensity is zero and the phase is undefined. It is shown that the proposed matter-wave lens could create a very intense, spatially-localized beam of atoms. Theoretical predictions for the focusing efficiency of a neutral atomic beam by the diffractive lens are: the spot diameter is ~ 0.1 &mgr;m, the ratio of focal and incident intensities is ~ 15, the focal length of the diffractive lens is in the range ~ 0.13.6 cm, the focusing depth is in the range ~ 15.30 cm, and the energy transmitting efficiency is ~ 30%. For the relatively-large diameters of the pinholes, ⩾ 5.0 &mgr;m, the proposed configuration acts as a matter-wave lens with a large focal length and a long focusing depth.
Recent advancements in Transmission Electron Microscopy is built upon the remarkable achievements of the transmission electron microscope, especially, with the aberration corrected object lens, which itself is the incoherent integration of the particle electron optics and modern wave imaging technology.This involves the particle-wave duality of electrons.This book answers questions by applying the de Broglie Hypothesis and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity on the relationship between particles and electromagnetic waves to shed some light onto the electron microscopy. The first chapter explains what an electron is, which includes: (a) using the transmission electron microscope to observe the wave-particle duality of electrons, (b) the internal structure of the electron, (c) the electron as a confined electromagnetic vortices field in a corpuscle space. The following chapters, then, decipher the enigmatic relationship between the de Broglie wave of the electron and the internal electromagnetic flux circulatory motion, and analyze the spatiotemporal modification of the traveling electron corpuscle as it passes through the electron gun and magnetic lens. Based on the de Broglie wave of the traveling electron corpuscle at a certain velocity, the author defines the electron microscopy as the technology steering the velocity of the electron corpuscle assemble which encodes the information of periodic spatial grating constructed by the atoms and electromagnetic potential field, which surround the flying electrons. Then the author uses the space-time Talbot effects of the electrons to interpret the high resolution images, which was first developed by Ijima-Cowley, and expounds the contrast of the high resolution electron microscopy images as the intensity distribution of the assemble of corpuscle electron torus pulses train or beam at near field and at its far-field, which is a diffraction pattern. The final chapter of the book elaborates on how to understand the quantum electron microscopy. This book offers a comprehensive understanding what the quantum electron microscopy is, that may bring the microscopy field beyond the atom’s spatial periodicity in materials.
The manipulation of neutral atoms and molecules via their de Broglie wave properties, also referred to as de Broglie matter wave optics, is relevant for several fields ranging from fundamental quantum mechanics tests and quantum metrology to measurements of interaction potentials and new imaging techniques. However, there are several challenges. For example, for diffractive focusing elements, the zero-order beam provides a challenge because it decreases the signal contrast. Here we present the experimental realization of a zero-order filter, also referred to as an order-sorting aperture for de Broglie matter wave diffractive focusing elements. The zero-order filter makes it possible to measure even at low beam intensities. We present measurements of zero-order filtered, focused, neutral helium beams generated at source stagnation pressures between 11 and 81 bars. We show that for certain conditions the atom focusing at lower source stagnation pressures (broader velocity distributions) is better than what has previously been predicted. We present simulations with the software ray-tracing simulation package mcstas using a realistic helium source configuration, which gives very good agreement with our measurements.