Quantum logic with channelled atomic particles

This paper discusses the time-dependent quantum description of logical oper ations based on channelled atomic particles. We envisage particle traps in the form of grooves which steer atoms or ions, make them switch potential c hannels or interact with each other. Thus the presence of a particle can ac t as a control bit steering a target particle from one course into another. This phenomenon may be used to effect conditional logic operations. We dis cuss the quantum dynamics of the system using a simple analytic model whose proposed behaviour is verified by wave packet calculation.