Atom manipulation using atomic de Broglie waves

We demonstrated several techniques to manipulate laser-cooled Ne atoms interferometrically by using a silicon nitride film with holes and electrodes. Laser-cooled neon atoms passed through a computer-generated through-hole binary hologram and generated an atomic image on a substrate. The hologram can be designed to provide a spherical phase correction, where the reconstructed pattern is focused on the substrate at a finite distance from the hologram. A resolving power over 150 was achieved. This type of holographic manipulation can be further developed extended to reconstruct gray-scale patterns, which can be used to deposit a relief-like 3D atomic pattern on surfaces. Unlike photons, atoms interact with electric, magnetic, and optical fields. This enables a holographic atomic-wave manipulation to perform functions that are difficult for a light wave. We also demonstrated using a Stark shift induced by an external electric field to switch and modify atomic patterns in real time. We also discuss how to develop reflective interferometric devices by using quantum reflection. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.