Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 200405 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 100 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 May 2008 |
Abstract
Atom reflection is studied in the presence of a non-Abelian vector potential proportional to a spin-1/2 operator. The potential is produced by a relatively simple laser configuration for atoms with a tripod level scheme. We show that the atomic motion is described by two different dispersion branches with positive or negative chirality. As a consequence, atom reflection shows unusual features, since an incident wave may split into two reflected ones at a barrier, an ordinary specular reflection, and an additional nonspecular one. Remarkably, the latter wave can exhibit negative reflection and may become evanescent if the angle of incidence exceeds a critical value. These reflection properties are crucial for future designs in non-Abelian atom optics.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 100, No. 20, 200405, 21.05.2008.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Double and negative reflection of cold atoms in non-Abelian gauge potentials
AU - Juzeliunas, Gediminas
AU - Ruseckas, Julius
AU - Jacob, Andreas
AU - Santos, Luis
AU - Öhberg, Patrik
PY - 2008/5/21
Y1 - 2008/5/21
N2 - Atom reflection is studied in the presence of a non-Abelian vector potential proportional to a spin-1/2 operator. The potential is produced by a relatively simple laser configuration for atoms with a tripod level scheme. We show that the atomic motion is described by two different dispersion branches with positive or negative chirality. As a consequence, atom reflection shows unusual features, since an incident wave may split into two reflected ones at a barrier, an ordinary specular reflection, and an additional nonspecular one. Remarkably, the latter wave can exhibit negative reflection and may become evanescent if the angle of incidence exceeds a critical value. These reflection properties are crucial for future designs in non-Abelian atom optics.
AB - Atom reflection is studied in the presence of a non-Abelian vector potential proportional to a spin-1/2 operator. The potential is produced by a relatively simple laser configuration for atoms with a tripod level scheme. We show that the atomic motion is described by two different dispersion branches with positive or negative chirality. As a consequence, atom reflection shows unusual features, since an incident wave may split into two reflected ones at a barrier, an ordinary specular reflection, and an additional nonspecular one. Remarkably, the latter wave can exhibit negative reflection and may become evanescent if the angle of incidence exceeds a critical value. These reflection properties are crucial for future designs in non-Abelian atom optics.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=44249119854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.200405
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.200405
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:44249119854
VL - 100
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 20
M1 - 200405
ER -