Specular reflection of matter waves from a rough mirror.
We present a high resolution study of the specularity of the atomic reflection from an evanescent wave mirror using velocity selective Raman transitions. We observed a double structure in the velocity distribution after reflection: a peak consistent with specular reflection and a diffuse reflection pedestal whose contribution decreases rapidly with increasing detuning. The diffuse reflection is due to two distinct effects: spontaneous emission in the evanescent wave and roughness in the evanescent wave potential whose amplitude is smaller than the de Broglie wavelength of the reflected atoms.
Savalli
V
V
Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique, UMR 8501 du CNRS, 91403 Orsay Cedex, France.
Stevens
D
D
Estève
J
J
Featonby
P D
PD
Josse
V
V
Westbrook
N
N
Westbrook
C I
CI
Aspect
A
A