Reflection of Neutral Atoms and Molecules with a Pulsed Atom Mirror

Richard J. Cook, Richard K. Hill

Pasi Ryytty, M. Kaivola

G. I. Opat, Steven J. Wark, Alberto Cimmino

G. I. Opat, Steven J. Wark, Joseph V. Hajnal +1 more

Pasi Ryytty, M. Kaivola, C.G. Aminoff

Pasi Ryytty, M. Kaivola

Reflection of neutral atoms and molecules by a pulsed standing wave with a duration on the order of nanoseconds is studied. It is shown that, with a suitable choice of the laser parameter values, each period of the standing-wave pattern functions as an independent mirror, thus providing a novel way to manipulate large samples of neutral gas-phase particles even with a single laser pulse. At moderate field intensities, the pulsed standing-wave mirror would be directly applicable, e.g., for the manipulation of buffer-gas cooled molecules.