Matter wave optical systems in which an atomic beam intersects a diffraction grating at a grazing incidence
US4886964A · kind A · utility
8Cited by
8References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21K2201/068
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The optical system includes a matter diffraction grating and an atomic beam intersecting the grating at a grazing angle of incidence. The grazing incidence angle should be less than 10.sup.-2 radians. At such shallow angles of incidence, neutral atomic beams are diffracted by conventional diffraction gratings. A suitable grating has a local flatness of 10 Angstroms and has 2400 lines per millimeter. Preferred embodiments include interferometers, beam splitters and combiners, and velocity selectors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.