Atom Optics

Abstract

Atom optics [17.1], in analogy with electron or neutron optics, deals with manipulation of matter waves. As such, they are characterized by a wavelength, which is the de Broglie wavelength λ_dB ≡ h/p and the momentum p = mv. The momentum of a typical atom is larger than that of a typical photon, absorbed or emitted by that atom. There are several advantages of using atoms instead of photons for optical experiments:

• Atoms have a non-zero rest mass, which is interesting when, for example, we want to detect gravitational waves.

• Atoms, as opposed to neutrons or electrons, are less susceptible to stray fields, but cannot be manipulated as easily as charged particles.

• Atoms have variable velocities, and as a result, one can in principle, control their de Broglie wavelengths.

• Atoms are easy and cheap to produce, as compared, for instance, to neutrons.

• A very important aspect of the atom optics, is that atoms have internal structure, whcih can be probed and modified using light.