Light Reflector Element and Atomic Device

Abstract

A light reflector element has a plurality of reflector surfaces which are aligned at one or more predefined angles with respect to a predefined light incidence. The reflector surfaces may be are arranged annularly around a center of the light reflector element. The reflector surfaces are arranged opposite one another with respect to the center of the light reflector element so that light shining in the light incidence direction is deviated by the reflector surfaces into light rays that converge with one another in different spatial directions and meet at a central axis which extends through the center of the light reflector element in the light incidence direction. The central axis is aligned parallel to the light incidence direction. The light rays of several or all of the reflector surfaces can meet at the same point of the central axis, which then forms an interaction zone for the cooling of trapped atoms. The light reflector element has particular application in an atom interferometer or a quantum gradiometer. The light reflector element may be used in any atomic device having an atom trap and atoms which are laser-cooled in the atom trap, in particular having a magneto-optical trap (MOT).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.