Laser-Focused Atomic Deposition for Nanascale Grating

Laser-focused atomic deposition is a technique with which nearly resonant light is used to pattern an atom beam. To solve the problem that the result of laser-cooled atoms cannot be monitored during the 30-min depositing time, we present a three-hole mechanically precollimated aperture apparatus. A 425 nm laser light standing wave is used to focus a beam of chromium atoms to fabricate the nanoscale grating. The period of the grating is 213±0.1 nm, the height is 4 nm and the full width at half miximum is 64±6 nm.