Quantum reflection from a solid surface at normal incidence

被引：184

作者：

Pasquini, TA

Shin, Y

Sanner, C

Saba, M

Schirotzek, A

Pritchard, DE

Ketterle, W

机构：

[1] MIT, MIT Harvard Ctr Ultracold Atoms, Dept Phys, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA

[2] MIT, Elect Res Lab, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA

来源：

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS | 2004年 / 93卷 / 22期

基金：

美国国家航空航天局; 美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

D O I：

10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.223201

中图分类号：

O4 [物理学];

学科分类号：

0702 ;

摘要：

We observed quantum reflection of ultracold atoms from the attractive potential of a solid surface. Extremely dilute Bose-Einstein condensates of Na-23, with peak density 10(11)-10(12) atoms/cm(3), confined in a weak gravitomagnetic trap were normally incident on a silicon surface. Reflection probabilities of up to 20% were observed for incident velocities of 1-8 mm/s. The velocity dependence agrees qualitatively with the prediction for quantum reflection from the attractive Casimir-Polder potential. Atoms confined in a harmonic trap divided in half by a solid surface exhibited extended lifetime due to quantum reflection from the surface, implying a reflection probability above 50%.

引用

页数：4

共 25 条

[1] REFLECTION OF THERMAL CS ATOMS GRAZING A POLISHED GLASS-SURFACE [J].