Real time interferometric manipulation of a neutral atomic beam by electric field

Electric-field-controlled holography for atoms is demonstrated. Platinum electrodes are deposited among the array of parallel slits that are made on a silicon nitride film. A cold neon atomic beam in the 1s3[p^5(2P 1\2)3s : J = 0] metastable state is sent through the film and form a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern on a microchannel plate detector that is placed in the downstream of the film. By controlling the potential of each electrode an arbitrary onedimensional diffraction pattern of atoms has been generated.