Manipulation of cold atoms using a corrugated magnetic reflector - art. no. 031404

A corrugated magnetic reflector is realized by adding a bias field to a sta tic magnetic mirror. This permits real-time manipulation of a cold-atom clo ud on time scales down to 100 mu s. We show that rotation of the bias field generates a traveling corrugation of adjustable depth and velocity. Moment um is transferred from the traveling wave to the atoms, resulting in a disp lacement of the cloud that depends on the wave velocity. This is a step tow ards a new method of manipulation in which neutral atoms could be transport ed across the surface by surfing along the moving wave.