TY  - JOUR
A1  - Westbrook, N.
A1  - Henkel, Carsten
A1  - Westbrook, C. I.
A1  - Landragin, A.
A1  - Labeyrie, G.
A1  - Cognet, L.
A1  - Savalli, V.
A1  - Horvath, G.
A1  - Aspect, Alain
A1  - Moelmer, Klaus
A1  - Courtois, J.-Y.
A1  - Phillips, W. D.
A1  - Kaiser, Rolf
A1  - Bagnato, V.
T1  - New physics with evanescent wave atomic mirrors : the van der Waals force and atomic diffraction
N2  - After a brief introduction to the field of atom optics and to atomic mirrors, we present experimental results obtained in our group during the last two years while studying the reflection of rubidium atoms by an evanescent wave. These involve the first measurement of the van der Waals force between an atom in its ground state and a dielectric wall, as well as the demonstration of a reflection grating for atoms at normal incidence. We also consider the influence of quantum reflection and tunnelling phenomena. Further studies using the atomic mirror as a probe of the van der Waals interaction, and of very small surface roughness are briefly discussed.
Y1  - 1998
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Henkel, Carsten
A1  - Courtois, J.-Y.
T1  - Recoil and momentum diffusion of an atom close to a vacuum-dielectric interface
N2  - We derive the quantum-mechanical master equation (generalized optical Bloch equation) for an atom in the vicinity of a flat dielectric surface. This equation gives access to the semiclassical radiation pressure force and the atomic momentum diffusion tensor, that are expressed in terms of the vacuum field correlation function (electromagnetic field susceptibility). It is demonstrated that the atomic center-of-mass motion provides a nonlocal probe of the electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations. We show in particular that in a circularly polarized evanescent wave, the radiation pressure force experienced by the atoms is not colinear with the evanescent wave's propagation vector. In a linearly polarized evanescent wave, the recoil per fluorescence cycle leads to a net magnetization for a Jg = 1/2 ground state atom.
Y1  - 1998
ER  -