DIFFRACTION OF ATOMS BY AN EVANESCENT-WAVE GRATING FORMED BY A PERIODIC SURFACE-STRUCTURE

It is proposed to form a gradient light field with the use of a period ic surface microstructure. Investigation of the field profile by means of a photon scanning tunneling microscope demonstrated that the profi le shape of the field depends on the relative orientation of the wave vector of the lightwave and the direction of the grooves or the gratin g. It is shown that a grating with definite parameters may display con centrating properties.