Quantum reflection of metastable helium 2~(3)S atoms in hollow optical fibres

摘要

We discuss the quantum reflection of metastable 2 ~(3)S helium atoms in (square) hollow optical fibres of fused silica, used as atomic waveguides. Under realistic experimental conditions, retardation effects in the atom-surface potential play a dominant role; they can increase the reflection probability by an order of magnitude and lead to a significant yield of quantum reflected atoms, amounting to several percent of the incident atomic flux.