Modelling the diffraction of laser-cooled atoms from magnetic gratings |
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Authors: | TJ Davis |
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Institution: | (1) CSIRO, Manufacturing Science & Technology, Private Bag 33, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia, AU |
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Abstract: | The diffraction of laser-cooled atoms from a spatially-periodic potential is modelled using rigorous coupled-wave analysis.
This numerical technique, normally applied to light-diffraction, is adapted for use with atomic de Broglie waves incident
on a reflecting diffraction grating. The technique approximates the potential by a large number of constant layers and successively
solves the complex eigenvalue problem in each layer, propagating the solution up to the surface of the grating. The method
enables the diffraction efficiencies to be calculated for any periodic potential. The results from the numerical model are
compared with the thin phase-grating approximation formulae for evanescent light-wave diffraction gratings and idealised magnetic
diffraction gratings. The model is applied to the problem of diffracting Rb atoms from a grating made from an array of permanent
magnets.
Received 13 June 2000 and Received in final form 15 December 2000 |
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Keywords: | PACS 03 75 Be Atom and neutron optics – 42 25 Fx Diffraction and scattering |
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