Specular reflection of matter waves from a rough mirror

Abstract

We have made a high resolution study of the specularity of the atomic reflection from an evanescent wave mirror using velocity selective Raman transitions. We have observed a double structure in the velocity distribution after reflection: a peak consistent with specular reflection and a diffuse reflection pedestal, whose contribution decreases rapidly with increasing detuning. The diffuse reflection is due to two distinct effects: spontaneous emission in the evanescent wave and a roughness in the evanescent wave potential whose amplitude is smaller than the de Broglie wavelength of the reflected atoms.

4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters