physics with evanescent wave atomic mirrors: the van der waals force and atomic diffraction, Phys

After a brief introduction to the Ðeld of atom optics and to atomic mirrors, we present experimental results obtained in our group during the last two years while studying the reÑection of rubidium atoms by an evanescent wave. These involve the Ðrst measurement of the van der Waals force between an atom in its ground state and a dielectric wall, as well as the demonstration of a reÑection grating for atoms at normal incidence. We also consider the inÑuence of quantum reÑection and tunnelling pheno-mena. Further studies using the atomic mirror as a probe of the van der Waals interaction, and of very small surface roughness are brieÑy discussed. 1