LASER NEAR-FIELD LENS FOR ATOMS

We suggest and examine an atom optics focusing element based on the ne ar field arising in the diffraction of laser radiation by an aperture of small size (less than an optical wavelength) in a thin conducting s creen. The quasi-resonant interaction potential of the atom and the ne ar field is found to be close to the potential of the ideal lens. With in the quasi-classical dynamics of atoms we consider the role of chrom atic, spherical aberration. Taking the diffraction aberrations into ac count we find that it is possible to focus atoms into spot with radius 4-7 nm.