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arXiv:cond-mat/0012398 · Physical Review Letters

Optics with an Atom Laser Beam

Immanuel Bloch, Michael Köhl, Markus Greiner, Theodor W. Hänsch, Tilman Esslinger

Published Jul 2, 2001• 83 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report on the atom optical manipulation of an atom laser beam. Reflection, focusing, and its storage in a resonator are demonstrated. Precise and versatile mechanical control over an atom laser beam propagating in an inhomogeneous magnetic field is achieved by optically inducing spin flips between atomic ground states with different magnetic moment. The magnetic force acting on the atoms can thereby be effectively switched on and off. The surface of the atom optical element is determined by the resonance condition for the spin flip in the inhomogeneous magnetic field. More than 98% of the incident atom laser beam is reflected specularly.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.87.030401

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We report preliminary results on the deflection of a beam of ultra-cold atoms by a static magnetic field. Caesium atoms trapped in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are cooled using optical molasses, and then fall freely under gravity to form a beam of ultra-cold atoms. The atoms pass through a static inhomogeneous magnetic field produced by a single current-carrying wire, and are deflected by a force ?(µB) dependent on the magnetic substate of the atom. The population of atoms in various magnetic substates can be altered by using resonant laser radiation to optically pump the atoms.
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Magnetostatic and quasi-magnetostatic devices can act as optical elements for the de Broglie waves of magnetic atoms, i.e. atoms with a net static magnetic dipole moment in the ground (or isomeric) state. Such magnetic atom optical elements complement, and are alternatives to, resonantly tuned laser atom optical elements which rely on dynamically generated electric dipole moments. The physical principles behind such magnetic devices are discussed briefly, as well as the potential problems of decoherence and its management. The way that these optical elements may be realized is also discussed, with special reference to mirrors and static and quasi-static gratings. Gratings are important to atom interferometry as they can act as beam-splitters.