Abstract
A corrugated magnetic reflector is realized by adding a bias field to a static magnetic mirror. This permits real-time manipulation of a cold-atom cloud on time scales down to 100 μs. We show that rotation of the bias field generates a traveling corrugation of adjustable depth and velocity. Momentum is transferred from the traveling wave to the atoms, resulting in a displacement of the cloud that depends on the wave velocity. This is a step towards a new method of manipulation in which neutral atoms could be transported across the surface by surfing along the moving wave.
- Received 20 September 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.61.031404
©2000 American Physical Society
