Quantum-State-Selective Mirror Reflection of Atoms by Laser Light

Abstract

We have demonstrated the specular reflection of Na atoms at a nonuniform laser field, the reflection coefficient of the "atomic mirror" being close to 100%. A specific feature of the reflection process is its quantum-state-selective character. The experimentally measured reflection selectivity (the ratio between the reflection coefficients of the sodium atoms in the ground-state sublevels with $F=2$ and $F=1$ was around 100.