Journal of Modern Optics

Laser-near-field-based Atomic Lens: Quantum Wave Optics Consideration

В. В. Климов, Vladilen S Letokhov

Published Jul 1, 1995• 5 citations

Abstract

This paper examines the focusing of an atomic beam by the near field of laser radiation diffracted by a small aperture. The wave properties of the atom are taken into consideration within the framework of an approximate Schrödinger equation. The possibility is demonstrated of focusing an atomic beam into a spot some 3 nm across, the atomic and laser beam characteristics being quite acceptable. The main contribution to the spot size is shown to be from spherical aberrations and diffraction effects, the chromatic aberrations of the atomic beam with a 5% velocity distribution broadening having a lesser effect.

DOI: 10.1080/09500349514551301

Related papers

Laser near rield lens for atoms

V. I. Balykin, В. В. Климов, Vladilen S Letokhov

We suggest and examine an atom optics focusing element based on the near field arising in the diffraction of laser radiation by an aperture of small size (less than an optical wavelength) in a thin conducting screen. The quasi-resonant interaction potential of the atom and the near field is found to be close to the potential of the ideal lens. Within the quasi-classical dynamics of atoms we consider the role of chromatic, spherical aberration. Taking the diffraction aberrations into account we find that it is possible to focus atoms into spot with radius 4-7 nm.

Journal de Physique IINov 1, 199414 citations

Laser focusing of atomic beams

Gregg M. Gallatin, P. L. Gould

The focusing of an atomic beam using near-resonant laser light is considered. Path-integral techniques are employed to transform the problem into a standard diffraction integral. This approach is general and allows us to deal with thick laser lenses. Starting from the basic form of the potential energy for an atom in a laser beam, we derive the propagation kernel for the atomic wave function for the particular case of a TEM01*, or doughnut, mode laser beam. Both the full three-dimensional propagation kernel and its paraxial approximation are discussed. We show that the paraxial case can be obtained from the three-dimensional case by a stationary-phase approximation of the propagation equation. Numerical results for the focusing of a Gaussian atomic beam are presented. These results show that spot diameters on the order of 20 Å are obtainable for many reasonable choices of laser and atomic beam parameters and that for most of these cases the thin-lens approximation is not valid. The effects of the lowest-order aberrations are also briefly discussed. Spherical aberration is found to contribute significantly to the focal spot diameter, at least for the doughnut mode laser beam considered here.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BMar 1, 199172 citations

Laser focusing of atoms: a particle-optics approach

Jabez J. McClelland, Michael R. Scheinfein

The use of a TEM01*-mode laser beam has been proposed as a means of focusing an atomic beam to nanometer- scale spot diameters. We have analyzed the classical trajectories of atoms through a TEM01*-mode laser beam, using methods developed for particle optics. The differential equation that describes the properties of the: first- order paraxial lens hi exactly the same form as the bell-shaped magnetic Newtonian lens that was first analyzed by Glaser for the focusing of electrons in an electron-microscope objective. We calculate the first-order properties of the lens, obtaining cardinal elements that are valid over the entire operating range of the lens including the thick and the immersion regimes. Contributions to the spot size are discussed, including four aberrations plus diffraction and atomic-beam-collimation effects. Explicit expressions for spherical chromatic, spontaneous-emission, and dipole-fluctuation aberrations are obtained. Examples are discussed for a sodium atomic beam, showing that subnanometer-diameter spots may be achieved with reasonable laser and atomic- beam parameters. Optimization of the lens is also discussed.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BSep 1, 199193 citations

Atomic beam focusing by a near-field atomic microlens

V. I. Balykin, Vladimir G. Minogin, S. N. Rudnev

Atomic beam focusing by an atomic microlens formed by the optical field diffracted from a circular aperture in a metallic screen is considered for an aperture diameter smaller than the wavelength of the field. Analytic expressions are derived for the dipole gradient force acting on an atom in the field of diffracted radiation. It is shown that the action of the gradient force makes it possible to focus the atomic beam into a spot with a diameter on the order of a few nanometers. Numerical estimates are obtained for the focusing properties of the atomic microlens in the model describing the dipole interaction of Rb atoms with laser radiation in the vicinity of the D line.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical PhysicsNov 1, 20061 citation

Laser Focusing of Atoms: A Particle Optics Approach

Jabez J. McClelland, Michael R. Scheinfein

The use of a TEMoi*-mode laser beam has been proposed as a means of focusing an atomic beam to nanometerscale spot diameters. We have analyzed the classical trajectories of atoms through a TEM01*-mode laser beam, using methods developed for particle optics. The differential equation that describes the properties of the firstorder paraxial lens has exactly the same form as the bell-shaped magnetic Newtonian lens that was first analyzed by Glaser for the focusing of electrons in an electron-microscope objective. We calculate the first-order properties of the lens, obtaining cardinal elements that are valid over the entire operating range of the lens, including the thick and the immersion regimes. Contributions to the spot size are discussed, including four aberrations plus diffraction and atomic-beam-collimation effects. Explicit expressions for spherical, chromatic, spontaneous-emission, and dipole-fluctuation aberrations are obtained. Examples are discussed for a sodium atomic beam, showing that subnanometer-diameter spots may be achieved with reasonable laser and atomicbeam parameters. Optimization of the lens is also discussed.

Jan 1, 19900 citations

Focusing of atomic beams by near-field atom microlenses: The Bethe-type and the Fresnel-type microlenses

V. I. Balykin, Vladimir G. Minogin

We analyze focusing of atomic beams by the atom near-field microlenses produced by the laser fields diffracted on the apertures in the metallic screens. Analysis of the focusing properties of the atom microlenses is given in a model describing dipole interaction of atoms with a far-off-resonance laser light. Two types of the atom microlenses are considered: The Bethe-type microlens with aperture less than the light wavelength and the Fresnel-type microlens with aperture about the wavelength. It is shown that both types of the atom microlenses are able to produce strong dipole gradient forces which can focus the atomic beams. However, while the Bethe-atom microlens is able to produce sharp focusing of the beams the Fresnel-atom microlens possesses weak focusing property due to high anharmonicity of the gradient force. We conclude that the Bethe-atom microlens can be considered as a promising tool of the atom optics potentially able to focus atomic beams into spot sizes about nanometers.

Physical Review AJan 2, 20087 citations