Magnetic mirrors with micron-scale periodicities for slowly moving neutralatoms

We report recent progress on the development of magnetic mirrors for reflec ting beams of slowly moving neutral atoms. Different approaches for constru cting periodic magnetic structures with micron-scale periodicities are desc ribed, including the use of arrays of current-carrying wires fabricated by photolithography, grooved ferromagnetic structures fabricated by electron-b eam lithography, and magnetic structures recorded on magneto-optical film b y a focused diode laser beam. Results on the reflection of free-falling las er-cooled caesium atoms from these microfabricated magnetic mirrors are pre sented.