Atom manipulation using atomic de Broglie waves

We demonstrated several techniques to manipulate laser-cooled Ne atoms interferometrically by using a silicon nitride film with holes and electrodes. Laser-cooled neon atoms passed through a computer-generated through-hole binary hologram and generated an atomic image on a substrate. The hologram can be designed to provide a spherical phase correction, where the reconstructed pattern is focused on the substrate at a finite distance from the hologram. A resolving power over 150 was achieved. This type of holographic manipulation can be further developed extended to reconstruct gray-scale patterns, which can be used to deposit a relief-like 3D atomic pattern on surfaces. Unlike photons, atoms interact with electric, magnetic, and optical fields. This enables a holographic atomic-wave manipulation to perform functions that are difficult for a light wave. We also demonstrated using a Stark shift induced by an external electric field to switch and modify atomic patterns in real time. We also discuss how to develop reflective interferometric devices by using quantum reflection.