We present a novel method for fabricating precisely positioned small openings in thin silicon nitride membranes. Several optical elements for atoms have been constructed, including amplitude diffraction gratings and zone plates, and the results of experiments using these devices are presented. A method for creating a blazed diffraction grating is discussed. PACS: 35.10.-d, 42.25.-p Atom optics ...

W. K. Hensinger, B. Upcroft, C. A. Holmes, N. R. Heckenberg, G. J. Milburn, and H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop Centre for Laser Science, Department of Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia Department of Mathematics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia Centre for Quantum Computer Technology, Department of Physics, The University of Quee...

We present experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates on a combined atom chip. The combined structure consists of a large-scale “carrier chip” and smaller “atom-optics chips,” containing micron-sized elements. This allows us to work with condensates very close to chip surfaces without suffering from fragmentation or losses due to thermally driven spin flips. Precise three-dimensional positionin...