Cryogenically cooled microelectromagnet mirrors were used to reflect a clou
d of free-falling laser-cooled Rb-85 atoms at normal incidence. The mirrors
consisted of microfabricated current-carrying Au wires in a periodic serpe
ntine pattern on a sapphire substrate. The fluorescence from the atomic clo
ud was imaged after it had bounced off a mirror. The transverse width of th
e cloud reached a local minimum at an optimal current corresponding to mini
mum mirror roughness. A distinct increase in roughness was found for mirror
configurations with an even versus odd number of lines. These observations
confirm theoretical predictions. [S1050-2947(99)08711-9].