Quantum statistics of atoms in microstructures

This paper proposes groovelike potential structures for the observation of quantum information processing by trapped particles. As an illustration the effect of quantum statistics at a 50-50 beam splitter is investigated. For noninteracting particles we regain the results known from photon experimen ts, but we have found that particle interactions destroy the perfect bosoni c correlations. Fermions avoid each other due to the exclusion principle an d hence they are far less sensitive to particle interactions. For bosons, t he behavior can be explained with simple analytic considerations which pred ict a certain amount of universality. This is verified by detailed numerica l calculations. [S1050-2937(99)03205-9].