Quantum description of atomic diffraction by material nanostructures

authored by: Charles Garcion, Quentin Bouton, Julien Lecoffre, Nathalie Fabre, Éric Charron, Gabriel Dutier, Naceur Gaaloul
Abstract: We present a theoretical model of matter-wave diffraction through a material nanostructure. This model is based on the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, which goes beyond the standard semiclassical approach. In particular, we consider the dispersion force interaction between the atoms and the material, which is responsible for high energy variations. The effect of such forces on the quantum model is investigated, along with a comparison with the semiclassical model. In particular, for atoms at low velocity and close to the material surface, the semiclassical approach fails, while the quantum model accurately describes the expected diffraction pattern. This description is thus relevant for slow and cold atom experiments where increased precision is required, e.g., for metrological applications.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
QuantumFrontiers
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
External Organisation(s): University of Paris Sorbonne North
Université Paris-Saclay
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review Research
Volume: 6
No. of pages: 10
ISSN: 2643-1564
Publication date: 13.05.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2312.12818 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.023165 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{14702e5e5b9941e0a3c9c7a258cf64d7,
title = "Quantum description of atomic diffraction by material nanostructures",
abstract = "We present a theoretical model of matter-wave diffraction through a material nanostructure. This model is based on the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schr{\"o}dinger equation, which goes beyond the standard semiclassical approach. In particular, we consider the dispersion force interaction between the atoms and the material, which is responsible for high energy variations. The effect of such forces on the quantum model is investigated, along with a comparison with the semiclassical model. In particular, for atoms at low velocity and close to the material surface, the semiclassical approach fails, while the quantum model accurately describes the expected diffraction pattern. This description is thus relevant for slow and cold atom experiments where increased precision is required, e.g., for metrological applications.",
author = "Charles Garcion and Quentin Bouton and Julien Lecoffre and Nathalie Fabre and {\'E}ric Charron and Gabriel Dutier and Naceur Gaaloul",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 authors. Published by the American Physical Society. ",
year = "2024",
month = may,
day = "13",
doi = "10.48550/arXiv.2312.12818",
language = "English",
volume = "6",
journal = "Physical Review Research",
issn = "2643-1564",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "2",
}