https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-10566-3
Time reversal in matter-wave optics
1
Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (CNRS-UMR 7538), Université Paris 13, 99 Av. J.B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
2
Department of Physics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mekkah, Saudi Arabia
Corresponding author: a jacques.baudon@univ-paris13.fr
Received:
6
October
2010
Revised:
25
November
2010
Published online:
14
January
2011
The evolution of atomic wave packets experiencing so-called comoving potential pulses is examined theoretically, in the framework of the stationary-phase approximation. The negative refraction induced by this potential is a characteristic property of negative-index media, the atomic counterpart of negative-index materials of light optics. A novel process, specific of negative-index for matter waves, is evidenced, namely a narrowing of the wave packet transiently counterbalancing the natural spreading. This is the manifestation of a general property of negative-index media, i.e. a time reversal effect. It is shown that, for a statistical ensemble of wave packets leading to a moderate dispersion of the times of flight, this time reversal phenomenon should be observable.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2011
