LIMIT OF RESOLUTION OF A STANDING-WAVE ATOM OPTICAL LENS

Using a Gaussian standing wave at lambda=589 nm as an atom optical len s, we have focused a thermal atomic sodium beam. We have examined the limits of the resolution of this focusing technique, and have made str uctures with linewidths of 13 nm and contrast of 6:1 with a short foca l length atom optical lens. While numerical simulations predict that s maller structures should be attainable with shorter focal lengths, we find that the resolution deteriorates for focal length shorter than f approximate to 16 mu m. (C) 1996 American Vacuum Society.