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Surface-induced exo-energetic inelastic transitions among atomic Zeeman states in a magnetic field (“van der Waals – Zeeman” transitions) are useable as tuneable beam splitters. A transversally coherent atom beam impinging a pair of opposite surfaces (e.g. 2 edges of a slit or of an ensemble of periodic slits) gives rise to two coherently diffracted wave packets. Within the wave packet overlap, non-localised interference fringes of the Young-slit type are predicted. From the diffraction pattern observed in the Fraunhofer regime (Schlieren image), detailed information about the transition amplitude on a scale of a few nanometers should be derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffraction of thermal velocity metastable atoms by non-magnetic and magnetic reflection gratings of micrometric period has been observed. This observation is made possible by the use of an ultra narrow beam generated by metastability exchange. Grazing incidence angles are exploited to minimise the quenching of metastable atoms on the grating surface. Potential applications are beam splitting, atom holography and probing of micro-sized solid surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Stern Gerlach interferometer operating with a nozzle beam of metastable argon atoms Ar* (3p5 4s, ³P2) is described. The selection of incoming (polarisation) and outgoing (analysis) Zeeman sublevels is achieved by use of laser induced transitions at two wavelengths, 811.5 nm (closed J = 2 → J = 3 transition) and 801.5 nm (open J = 2 → J = 2 transition). Linear superpositions of Zeeman sublevels, just beyond the polariser and just before the analyser, are prepared by means of two zones where Majorana transitions take place. In between, a controlled magnetic field configuration (the phase object) is produced within a triple μ-metal shielding. Standard interference patterns are obtained by scanning the field and detecting the atoms by secondary electron emission from a Faraday cup. When a static radial magnetic gradient is used, the beam profile is modulated by interference. The transverse pattern, which can be translated at will by adding a homogeneous field, is observed for the first time using a multi-channel electron multiplier followed by a phosphor screen and a CCD camera. The results satisfactorily agree with all theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At nanometer separation, the dominant interaction between an atom and a material surface is the fluctuation-induced Casimir-Polder potential. We demonstrate that slow atoms crossing a silicon nitride transmission nanograting are a remarkably sensitive probe for that potential. A 15% difference between nonretarded (van der Waals) and retarded Casimir-Polder potentials is discernible at distances smaller than 51 nm. We discuss the relative influence of various theoretical and experimental parameters on the potential in detail. Our work paves the way to high-precision measurement of the Casimir-Polder potential as a prerequisite for understanding fundamental physics and its relevance to applications in quantum-enhanced sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]