Polarization gradient light masks in atom lithography

Lithography is a key technology enabling progress both in fundamental research and in widespread applications. Besides standard technologies new alternative approaches have emerged over the last few years. Here we summarize the status of the field of atom lithography where light is used to focus matter on the nanometre scale. Using the special features of the atom-light interaction a variety of structures can be produced with a spatial period limited to half the wavelength of the light. Further reduction of feature separation can be obtained utilizing the substructure of atomic matter and light polarization. Also we show how, besides various lateral structures, three-dimensional patterns can be generated in a single-step process utilizing the selectivity of the atom-light interaction.

show abstract

“…Two-dimensional polarization masks are also possible [28]. For the experimental demonstration the configuration as shown in figure 14 was chosen.…”

Section: Two-dimensional Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

One-, two-and three-dimensional nanostructures with atom lithography

Oberthaler

Pfau

2003

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The potential landscape is determined therefore by the spatial variation of the light intensity. Except operating near the surface [4][5][6][7][8][9] or using special masks [10,11], the spatial intensity variation is often limited by the wavelength λ of the light. To realize subwavelength resolution in the far field, various approaches have been proposed , such as multi-tone dressing [18][19][20], multi-photon process [21][22][23][24], and atomic dark states in Λ-configurations [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dark-state optical potential barriers with nanoscale spacing

Zubairy

2020

Phys. Rev. A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Optical potentials have been a versatile tool for the study of atomic motions and many-body interactions in cold atoms. Recently, optical subwavelength single barriers were proposed to enhance the atomic interaction energy scale, which is based on non-adiabatic corrections to Born-Oppenheimer potentials. Here we present a study for creating a new landscape of non-adiabatic potentials-multiple barriers with subwavelength spacing at tens of nanometers. To realize these potentials, spatially rapid-varying dark states of atomic Λ-configurations are formed by controlling the spatial intensities of the driving lasers. As an application, we show that bound states of two and three atoms via magnetic dipolar interactions with weak magnetic moments can be realized in our scheme. Imperfections and experimental realizations of the multiple barriers are also discussed.

show abstract

“…8 A number of different SW geometries were used: a onedimensional SW created from two counter-propagating laser beams resulted in periodic nanolines; 5-8 a SW composed of four laser beams at right angles resulted in a square lattice of nanostructures; 9 and a SW obtained by three laser beams crossing at mutual angles of 120°resulted in a hexagonal nanostructured array. 10 More complicated periodic patterns were written by using more complex laser fields, such as those obtained by making use of polarization gradients, 11,12 by reflecting a laser beam from a holographic mirror, 13 by utilizing a slight misalignment of four initially orthogonal laser beams 14 or by beating of two atomic resonances. 3 All nanostructures fabricated via atom optics so far exhibited ''allowed'' symmetries, videlicet two-, four-, and six-fold symmetries.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%