Physical Review A
Quantum-mechanical analysis of atom lithography
Chang Jae Lee
Abstract
We analyze by direct numerical simulations the effects of the wave nature of an atom on lithography with a laser standing wave. Specific calculations are done for chromium atom deposition with the experimental parameters given in the literature. In the absence of source imperfections and atomic motion during and after the deposition most of the feature width comes from diffractive aberration. Spontaneous emission broadens the linewidth further, giving a full width at half maximum about 8.9 nm and a contrast about 26:1. These are what may be achieved ultimately with the said experimental parameters and show that the nonclassical properties of the atom cannot simply be ignored. We then suggest some strategies for improving atom lithography experiments.