Scanning probe microscope based on matter-wave surface trap

In order to scan nanostructures on a surface, we present a new recurrence tracking microscope based on an atomic trap. An evanescent wave trap is formed by the total internal reflection of two laser fields having different signs of detuning and penetration depths into the vacuum. The microscope employs the quantum recurrence phenomena of trapped atoms. Recurrence times depend on the initial energy of the wave packet in the trap and vary following the nanostructures on the surface under investigation.