title: Quantum features in atomic nanofabrication using exactly resonant standing waves.
abstract: We report on the first fabrication of nanostructures with exactly resonant light revealing the quantum character of the atom-light interaction. Classically the formation of nanostructures is not expected; thus, the observed formation of complex periodic line patterns can be explained only by treating atom-light interaction and propagation of the atoms quantum mechanically. Our numerical quantum calculations are in quantitative agreement with this experimental finding. Moreover, the theory predicts that for small detunings nanostructures with lambda/4 period can be produced, which beats the standard nanofabrication limit of lambda/2. Our experiments confirm this prediction.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, Fach M696, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. dirk.juergens@uni-konstanz.de
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jürgens
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stützle
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habenicht
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: te Sligte
authors.forename: Markus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oberthaler