Manipulation of cold atoms using a corrugated magnetic reflector

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.

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