Ultra thin coherent atom beam by Stern-Gerlach interferometry

It is demonstrated that a Stern-Gerlach interferometer including a special transverse phase shifter can generate an atomic beam of a small diameter (few tens of nm). Calculations carried out in a coherent regime confirm this point. They also show that the device is almost insensitive to velocity dispersion and that the required mechanical accuracy is quite accessible. Due to the peculiar transverse amplitude distribution (of the Lorentz type), the spreading of the generated beam profile is very small compared to that given by a circular diaphragm or a Gaussian profile of comparable initial diameter. This is a key property as regards applications, e.g. in atom lithography and surface probing. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2007