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Using atomic interference to probe atom-surface interaction

R. Marani·L. Cognet·V. Savalli·N. Westbrook·C. I. Westbrook·A. Aspect
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Abstract

We show that atomic interference in the reflection from two suitably polarized evanescent waves is sensitive to retardation effects in the atom-surface interaction for specific experimental parameters. We study the limit of short and long atomic de Broglie wavelength. The former case is analyzed in the semiclassical approximation (Landau-Zener model). The latter represents a quantum regime and is analyzed by solving numerically the associated coupled Schroedinger equations. We consider a specific experimental scheme and show the results for rubidium (short wavelength) and the much lighter meta-stable helium atom (long wavelength). The merits of each case are then discussed.

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R. Marani, L. Cognet, V. Savalli, N. Westbrook, C. I. Westbrook, A. Aspect. 2000-01-06. Using atomic interference to probe atom-surface interaction. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.61.053402

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