Microstructured switchable mirror for polar molecules -: art. no. 020406

By miniaturizing electrode geometries high electric fields can be produced using modest voltages. A planar array of 20 mum wide gold electrodes, spaced 20 mum apart, is made on a sapphire substrate. A voltage difference of up to 350 V is applied to adjacent electrodes, generating an electric field that decreases exponentially with distance from the substrate. This microstructured array can be used as a mirror for polar molecules and can be rapidly switched on and off. This is demonstrated by retroreflecting a beam of state-selected ammonia molecules with a forward velocity of about 30 m/s.