Abstract
Reflection of thermal atoms by a pulsed standing wave with a duration in the nanosecond range is studied. The momentum distribution of the reflected atoms is determined by calculations based on the adiabatic atom-photon interactions. It is shown that with a proper choice of the field intensity and the pulse duration the standing-wave pattern functions as a row of independent atom mirrors. At an optimum choice of the parameter values, the fraction of the elastically reflected atoms is more than 20%. Furthermore, we show that the pulsed standing-wave mirror can be used to manipulate their final momentum distribution. When using laser pulses with an intensity of several tens of MW/cm2, tens of thousands of atoms can be reflected by a single laser pulse.
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Ryytty, P., Kaivola, M. Reflection of thermal atoms by a pulsed standing wave. Eur. Phys. J. D 12, 415–423 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530070003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530070003