TY  - JOUR
A1  - Henkel, Carsten
A1  - Pötting, Sierk
T1  - Coherent transport of matter waves
N2  - A transport theory for atomic matter waves in low-dimensional waveguides is outlined. The thermal fluctuation spectrum of magnetic near fields leaking out of metallic microstructures is estimated. The corresponding scattering rate for paramagnetic atoms turns out to be quite large in micrometer-sized waveguides (approx. 100/s). Analytical estimate for the heating and decoherence of a cold atom cloud are given. We finally discuss numerical and analytical results for the scattering from static potential imperfections and the ensuing spatial diffusion process.
Y1  - 2001
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Henkel, Carsten
T1  - Coherent transport
N2  - We discuss the transport of matter waves in low-dimensional waveguides. Due to scattering from uncontrollable noise fields, the spatial coherence gets reduced and eventually lost. We develop a description of this decoherence process in terms of transport equations for the atomic Wigner function. We outline its derivation and discuss the special case of white noise where an analytical solution can be found.
Y1  - 2001
SN  - 1296-2147
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Greffet, Jean-Jacques
A1  - Carminati, Rémi
A1  - Joulain, Karl
A1  - Mulet, J. P.
A1  - Henkel, Carsten
T1  - Coherence properties of thermal near fields : implications for nanometer-scale radiative transfer
N2  - With the recent development of local (optical and thermal) probe microscopy and the advent of nanotechnology, it seems necessary to revisit the old subject of coherence properies of thermal sources of light. Concerning temporal coherence, we show that thermal sources may produce quasi-monochromatic near fields. In light of this result, the possibility of perfoming near-field solid-state spectroscopy and of designing near-field infrared sources is discussed. The problem of radiative transfer between two thermal sources held at subwavelength distance is studied. The radiative flux may be enhanced by several orders of magnitude due to the excitation of resonant surface waves, and this may occur at particular frequencies. Finally, we study the spatial coherence of thermal sources and the substantial influence of the near field. Surface waves may induce long-range spatial correlation, on a scale much larger than the wavelength. Conversely, quasi-static contributions, as well as skin-layer currents, induce arbitary small correlations. With the recent development of local (optical and thermal) probe microscopy and the advent of nanotechnology, it seems necessary to revisit the old subject of coherence of thermal fields.
Y1  - 2001
ER  -