Scattering of atomic matter waves from ridged surfaces

Abstract

Motivated by recent experiments that demonstrated a strongly enhanced reflection efficiency of atoms on microfabricated, gratinglike surface structures, we develop a detailed description of the scattering of atomic matter waves on such structures. We start with a simple model that describes the ridged surface as an equivalent absorbing medium. This model correctly predicts the experimentally observed scaling and magnitude of the reflection efficiency. We then calculate the accurate solutions for the Fresnel diffraction of waves at grazing incidence at a periodic set of idealized, parallel edges. Both numerical and analytical solutions are presented. The specular reflectivity and its phase, as well as the efficiencies of higher diffraction orders are calculated. We compare our results to experimental data in a wide range of parameters. We extend the model including the finite size of the grating ridges and the van der Waals attraction and suggest a more general estimate of the reflection coefficient.