Towards coherent control of supersonic beams: a new approach to atom optics

A supersonic beam of noble gas atoms is a source of unprecedented brightness. A novel short pulse supersonic nozzle is developed with beam intensity that is higher by at least an order of magnitude than other available sources. We show how this beam can be coherently slowed and focused using elastic reflection from single crystals. Simulations show beam fluxes of 1011 atoms s−1 at velocities of 50 m s−1 and temperatures of less than 20 μK in the longitudinal direction. Possible applications of this slow beam to the study of atom–surface interactions and atom interferometry are discussed.