Abstract
Matter wave diffraction at periodic potentials made of light was first demonstrated in 1983 [1]. In Bragg diffraction, which is well known from X-ray scattering at solids, the interaction with a periodic potential is only weak and clearly shows wave properties. This effect was first observed with atoms at standing light waves in 1988 [2] and later studied in detail [3]. By increasing the light intensity one can realize higher potentials and can thus reach the regime of channeling, where now the atoms behave like particles and their propagation can be described with classical trajectories.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
P. E. Moskowitz, P. L. Gould, S. R. Atlas, and D. E. Pritchard, in: Phys. Rev. Lem, 51, 1983, pp. 370–373.
P. J. Martin, B. G. Oldaker, A. H. Miklich, and D. E. Pritchard, “Bragg scattering of atoms from a standing light wave”, in: Phys. Rev. Leu., 60, 1988, pp. 515–518.
P. R. Berman (Ed.), Atom lnterferometry,New York: Academic Press 1997, and references therein; from our group: M. K. Oberthaler, R. Abfalterer, S. Bernet, J. Schmiedmayer, and A. Zeilinger, “Atom Waves in Crystals of Light”, in: Phys. Rev. Len., 77, 1996, pp. 4980–4983;
S. Bernet, M. K. Oberthaler, R. Abfalterer, J. Schmiedmayer, and A. Zeilinger, “Coherent Frequency Shift of Atomic Matter Waves”, in: Phys. Rev. Leu., 77, 1996, pp. 5160–5163;
C. Keller, M. K. Oberthaler, R. Abfalterer, S. Bernet, J. Schmiedmayer, and A. Zeilinger, “Tailored Complex Potentials and Friedel’s Law in Atom Optics”, in: Phys. Rev. Lett., 79, 1997, pp. 3327–3330.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Keller, C., Schmiedmayer, J., Zeilinger, A. (1999). Matter Wave Diffraction at Standing Light Waves. In: Greenberger, D., Reiter, W.L., Zeilinger, A. (eds) Epistemological and Experimental Perspectives on Quantum Physics. Vienna Circle Institute Yearbook [1999], vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1454-9_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1454-9_23
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5354-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1454-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive