Atom optics
Encyclopedia
Atom optics is the area of physics
which deals with beams of cold, slowly moving neutral atoms, as a special case of a particle beam
.
Like an optical beam, the atomic beam may exhibit diffraction
and interference, and can be focused with a Fresnel
zone plate
or a concave atomic mirror
.
Several scientific groups work in this field
.
Until 2006, the resolution of imaging systems based on atomic beams was not better than that of an optical microscope
,
mainly due to the poor performance of the focusing elements. Such elements use small numerical aperture
;
usually, atomic mirrors use grazing incidence, and the reflecticity drops drastically with increase of the
grazing angle; for efficient normal reflection, atoms should be ultra-cold (Bose-Einstein Condensate), and
the deal with such atoms likes a trapping rather than an optics
.
Recent scientific publications about Atom Nano-Optics,
evanescent field lenses
and ridged mirror
s
show significant improvement since the beginning of the 21st century. In particular, an
atomic hologram can be realized
An extensive review article "Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules" appeared in July 2009.
More bibliography about Atom Optics can be found at the Resource Letter.
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
which deals with beams of cold, slowly moving neutral atoms, as a special case of a particle beam
Particle beam
A particle beam is a stream of charged or neutral particles which may be directed by magnets and focused by electrostatic lenses, although they may also be self-focusing ....
.
Like an optical beam, the atomic beam may exhibit diffraction
Diffraction
Diffraction refers to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle. Italian scientist Francesco Maria Grimaldi coined the word "diffraction" and was the first to record accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1665...
and interference, and can be focused with a Fresnel
zone plate
Zone plate
A zone plate is a device used to focus light or other things exhibiting wave character. Unlike lenses or curved mirrors however, zone plates use diffraction instead of refraction or reflection. Based on analysis by Augustin-Jean Fresnel, they are sometimes called Fresnel zone plates in his honor...
or a concave atomic mirror
.
Several scientific groups work in this field
.
Until 2006, the resolution of imaging systems based on atomic beams was not better than that of an optical microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
,
mainly due to the poor performance of the focusing elements. Such elements use small numerical aperture
Numerical aperture
In optics, the numerical aperture of an optical system is a dimensionless number that characterizes the range of angles over which the system can accept or emit light. By incorporating index of refraction in its definition, NA has the property that it is constant for a beam as it goes from one...
;
usually, atomic mirrors use grazing incidence, and the reflecticity drops drastically with increase of the
grazing angle; for efficient normal reflection, atoms should be ultra-cold (Bose-Einstein Condensate), and
the deal with such atoms likes a trapping rather than an optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
.
Recent scientific publications about Atom Nano-Optics,
evanescent field lenses
and ridged mirror
Ridged mirror
In atomic physics, a ridged mirror is a kind of atomic mirror, designed for the specular reflection of neutral particles coming at the grazing incidence angle, characterised in the following: in order to reduce the mean attraction of particles to the surface and increase the reflectivity, this...
s
show significant improvement since the beginning of the 21st century. In particular, an
atomic hologram can be realized
An extensive review article "Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules" appeared in July 2009.
More bibliography about Atom Optics can be found at the Resource Letter.
See also
- Atomic mirror (physics)Atomic mirror (physics)In physics, an atomic mirror is a device which reflects neutral atoms in the similar way as the conventional mirror reflects visible light. Atomic mirrors can be made of electric fields or magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves or just silicon wafer; in the last case, atoms are reflected by the...
- Quantum reflectionQuantum reflectionQuantum reflection is a physical phenomenon involving the reflection of a matter wave from an attractive potential. In classical physics, such a phenomenon is not possible; for instance when one magnet is pulled toward another, you do not expect one of the magnets to suddenly Quantum reflection is...
- Ridged mirrorRidged mirrorIn atomic physics, a ridged mirror is a kind of atomic mirror, designed for the specular reflection of neutral particles coming at the grazing incidence angle, characterised in the following: in order to reduce the mean attraction of particles to the surface and increase the reflectivity, this...
- Atomic nanoscopeAtomic nanoscopeThe atomic de Broglie microscope is an imaging system which is expected to provide resolution at the nanometer scale....