Abstract
The concept that all de Broglie particles can form vortex beams is analyzed for neutral atoms. It is shown
how atoms diffracted from a suitably constructed optical mask configuration employing light of l units of orbital
angular momentum and at far-off resonance with an atomic transition can lead to the generation of a discrete set of
atom vortex beams each endowed with the property of quantized orbital angular momentum about the beam axis
in units of l. Selection criteria of atom vortex beams are derived and the functioning of themask configuration for
angular dispersion of beams in terms of de Broglie wavelength is analyzed. Prospects of applications in the areas
of atom interferometry and dispersion, and quantum information processing via atom vortices are pointed out.
how atoms diffracted from a suitably constructed optical mask configuration employing light of l units of orbital
angular momentum and at far-off resonance with an atomic transition can lead to the generation of a discrete set of
atom vortex beams each endowed with the property of quantized orbital angular momentum about the beam axis
in units of l. Selection criteria of atom vortex beams are derived and the functioning of themask configuration for
angular dispersion of beams in terms of de Broglie wavelength is analyzed. Prospects of applications in the areas
of atom interferometry and dispersion, and quantum information processing via atom vortices are pointed out.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 053616 |
| Pages (from-to) | 053616 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Physical Review A |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 May 2014 |