Abstract

In the emerging field of integrated atom optics at surfaces [1], atom sources tailored for confined geometries at surfaces are of great interest. As demonstrated in our earlier work, laser-cooled metastable argon atoms can be transferred into a single optical potential well of a far off resonance standing light wave in sub-µm distance above a surface, forming a quasi-2D gas in a planar matter waveguide (WG)[2J. In our present work we have realized a continuous source within the WG potential via a magneto-optical surface trap (MOST) as well as the outcoupling of a continuous beam of surface-guided atoms.

© 2000 IEEE