Precise control of atoms with optical near fields: deflection and trap

We present a new scheme of atom manipulation by means of a sharpened optical fiber with near-field light. In particular, we discuss the feasibility of deflecting and trapping Rb atoms. The optical potential produced by the dipole force is estimated from numerical calculations based on the Yukawa-type intensity distribution. We show that a slow Rb atom can be deflected at a large deflection angle. A static atom trap can be made near the tip of a sharpened fiber. A cold Rb atom is captured at the minimum of the trap potential composed of the repulsive optical potential and the attractive van der Waals potential. A spatial intensity distribution of an optical near field produced near the tip of a protrusion-type fiber is measured in the fiber-to-probe configuration with a shear-force technique. We also describe an atom funnel to form a cold atomic beam required for the near-field light manipulation.