Abstract
We report improved precision measurements of the van der Waals potential strength (C3) for Na atoms and a silicon-nitride (SiNx) surface. We studied diffraction from nanofabricated gratings with a particular "magic" open fraction that allows us to determine C3 without the need for separate measurements of the width of the grating openings. Therefore, finding the magic open fraction improves the precision of C3 measurements. The same effect is demonstrated for a grating with an arbitrary open fraction by rotating it to a particular "magic" angle, yielding C3 =3.42±0.19 eV 3 for Na and a SiNx surface. This precision is sufficient to detect a change in C3 due to a thin metal coating on the grating surface. We discuss the contribution to C3 of core electrons and edge effects.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 062904 |
| Journal | Physical Review A |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 18 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Cite this
Magic ratio of window width to grating period for van der Waals potential measurements using material gratings. / Lonij, Vincent P A; Holmgren, William F.; Cronin, Alexander D.
In: Physical Review A, Vol. 80, No. 6, 062904, 18.12.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Magic ratio of window width to grating period for van der Waals potential measurements using material gratings
AU - Lonij, Vincent P A
AU - Holmgren, William F.
AU - Cronin, Alexander D
PY - 2009/12/18
Y1 - 2009/12/18
N2 - We report improved precision measurements of the van der Waals potential strength (C3) for Na atoms and a silicon-nitride (SiNx) surface. We studied diffraction from nanofabricated gratings with a particular "magic" open fraction that allows us to determine C3 without the need for separate measurements of the width of the grating openings. Therefore, finding the magic open fraction improves the precision of C3 measurements. The same effect is demonstrated for a grating with an arbitrary open fraction by rotating it to a particular "magic" angle, yielding C3 =3.42±0.19 eV 3 for Na and a SiNx surface. This precision is sufficient to detect a change in C3 due to a thin metal coating on the grating surface. We discuss the contribution to C3 of core electrons and edge effects.
AB - We report improved precision measurements of the van der Waals potential strength (C3) for Na atoms and a silicon-nitride (SiNx) surface. We studied diffraction from nanofabricated gratings with a particular "magic" open fraction that allows us to determine C3 without the need for separate measurements of the width of the grating openings. Therefore, finding the magic open fraction improves the precision of C3 measurements. The same effect is demonstrated for a grating with an arbitrary open fraction by rotating it to a particular "magic" angle, yielding C3 =3.42±0.19 eV 3 for Na and a SiNx surface. This precision is sufficient to detect a change in C3 due to a thin metal coating on the grating surface. We discuss the contribution to C3 of core electrons and edge effects.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=72449155617&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.062904
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.062904
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:72449155617
VL - 80
JO - Physical Review A
JF - Physical Review A
SN - 2469-9926
IS - 6
M1 - 062904
ER -