Manipulating atoms and molecules with evanescent-wave mirrors

S. Kallush, B. Segev, R. Côté

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We explore how atoms and polar molecules can be manipulated using evanescent-wave mirrors (EWM). We review the simpler case of ultracold atoms incident on EWM, and show that quantum effects such as tunneling, above barrier reflection, and Casimir retardation corrections, can be probed. We show that it is possible to enhance significantly quantum effects by engineering sharp features in the effective atom-EWM potential. We illustrate the concept with a bichromatic EWM created by using red and blue detuned lasers. Finally, we extend the treatment to ultracold diatomic polar molecules. Quantum reflection and molecular state selection are demonstrated under attainable physical conditions. By facilitating the manipulation and trapping of ultracold molecules, such molecular mirrors could have several applications, e.g., as devices to filter and select state for ultracold chemistry, or to manipulate states for quantum information processing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-14
Number of pages12
JournalEuropean Physical Journal D
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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