Manipulation of an atomic beam by a computer-generated hologram
Manipulation of an atomic beam by a computer-generated hologram
复制标题
通过计算机生成的全息图操纵原子束
DOI：
10.1038/380691a0
复制
发表时间：
1996
期刊：
影响因子：
64.8
通讯作者：
Fujio Shimizu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jun;M. Morinaga;T. Kishimoto;Masami Yasuda;S. Matsui;Fujio Shimizu
操纵中性原子的技术是研究表面的宝贵工具，并为制造用于技术应用的原子结构带来了希望。使用扫描隧道显微镜 (STM) 已证明能够以晶格常数的精度定位单个原子。另一方面，激光操纵提供了一种批量控制原子的方法，尽管它缺乏 STM 的位置精度。使用激光产生超冷原子2-5的能力开辟了新的可能性：由于其长德布罗意波长，冷原子易于干涉操纵，例如通过光栅6,7偏转和通过菲涅尔透镜8聚焦。在这里，我们展示了一种基于全息原理的潜在更灵活的原子操纵方法。我们让一束超冷亚稳态氖原子穿过计算机生成的全息图，该全息图对所需原子图案的傅里叶变换进行编码。然后，全息图对原子束的衍射以类似于光学全息术的方式重建图案。这种方法原则上应该能够将任意强度和相位信息施加到原子束上。
TECHNIQUES for manipulating neutral atoms are valuable tools for the investigation of surfaces, and hold promise for the fabrication of atomic structures for technological applications. The ability to position individual atoms with the accuracy of a crystal lattice constant has been demonstrated1 using the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). On the other hand, manipulation with lasers offers a means of controlling atoms in bulk, although it lacks the positional accuracy of the STM. The ability to generate ultra-cold atoms2–5 using lasers has opened new possibilities: because of their long de Broglie wavelengths, cold atoms are amenable to interferometric manipulation, such as deflection by a grating6,7 and focusing by a Fresnel lens8. Here we demonstrate a potentially more flexible approach to atomic manipulation based on holographic principles. We pass a beam of ultra-cold metastable neon atoms through a computer-generated hologram that encodes the Fourier transform of a desired atomic pattern. Diffraction of the atomic beam by the hologram then reconstructs the pattern, in a manner analogous to optical holography. This approach should in principle enable the imposition of arbitrary intensity and phase information onto an atomic beam.