TY - JOUR
T1 - Zero-order filter for diffractive focusing of de Broglie matter waves
AU - Eder, S. D.
AU - Ravn, Anders Komar
AU - Samelin, B.
AU - Bracco, G.
AU - Palau, A. Salvador
AU - Reisinger, T.
AU - Knudsen, Elias Stapput
AU - Lefmann, Kim
AU - Holst, Birgitte
PY - 2017/2/21
Y1 - 2017/2/21
N2 - The manipulation of neutral atoms and molecules via their de Broglie wave properties, also referred to as de Broglie matter wave optics, is relevant for several fields ranging from fundamental quantum mechanics tests and quantum metrology to measurements of interaction potentials and new imaging techniques. However, there are several challenges. For example, for diffractive focusing elements, the zero-order beam provides a challenge because it decreases the signal contrast. Here we present the experimental realization of a zero-order filter, also referred to as an order-sorting aperture for de Broglie matter wave diffractive focusing elements. The zero-order filter makes it possible to measure even at low beam intensities. We present measurements of zero-order filtered, focused, neutral helium beams generated at source stagnation pressures between 11 and 81 bars. We show that for certain conditions the atom focusing at lower source stagnation pressures (broader velocity distributions) is better than what has previously been predicted. We present simulations with the software ray-tracing simulation package mcstas using a realistic helium source configuration, which gives very good agreement with our measurements
AB - The manipulation of neutral atoms and molecules via their de Broglie wave properties, also referred to as de Broglie matter wave optics, is relevant for several fields ranging from fundamental quantum mechanics tests and quantum metrology to measurements of interaction potentials and new imaging techniques. However, there are several challenges. For example, for diffractive focusing elements, the zero-order beam provides a challenge because it decreases the signal contrast. Here we present the experimental realization of a zero-order filter, also referred to as an order-sorting aperture for de Broglie matter wave diffractive focusing elements. The zero-order filter makes it possible to measure even at low beam intensities. We present measurements of zero-order filtered, focused, neutral helium beams generated at source stagnation pressures between 11 and 81 bars. We show that for certain conditions the atom focusing at lower source stagnation pressures (broader velocity distributions) is better than what has previously been predicted. We present simulations with the software ray-tracing simulation package mcstas using a realistic helium source configuration, which gives very good agreement with our measurements
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevA.95.023618
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.95.023618
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2469-9926
VL - 95
JO - Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
JF - Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
IS - 2
M1 - 023618
ER -