Light reflector element and atomic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a light reflector element having several reflector surfaces oriented at one or more predefined angles with respect to a predefined direction of incidence of the light reflector element, wherein the reflector surfaces are arranged, for example, in a ring around a center of the light reflector element, and wherein the reflector surfaces are arranged opposite each other with respect to the center of the light reflector element, such that light incident in the direction of incidence is deflected by the reflector surfaces into light rays that converge in different spatial directions and meet at a central axis that passes through the center of the light reflector element in the direction of incidence. The central axis is thus aligned parallel to the direction of incidence of the light.The light rays deflected by the reflector surfaces from several or all reflector surfaces can meet at the same point on the central axis, which then forms an interaction zone for cooling trapped atoms. The invention further relates to an atomic device, e.g., an atom interferometer or a quantum gradiometer, with at least one such light reflector element. In general, the invention relates to the field of any atomic devices with an atom trap and atoms laser-cooled in the atom trap, in particular with a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In particular, the invention relates to atom interferometric gravimeters and gradiometers formed therefrom.

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