Researchers of the Plasmo-Nano-Devices Network have shown that surface matter waves are possible in properly designed structures. These waves can enhance transmission of rubidium atoms through an array of slits much narrower than the de Broglie wavelength of the atoms. These results open up the possibility of using surface matter waves to control the flow of neutral atoms.

Calculated transmittance of cold 87Rb atoms through a film perforated by a periodic array of very narrow slits, as a function of the incident energy. Atoms incide along the direction z normal to the film. Red line: transmittance reaches 100% when the structure supports surface states. The corresponding 2D potential is displayed in the inset.

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