Reflection of Slow Atoms
Although the principles of quantum mechanics apply to any particles, usually the term quantum reflection means reflection of atoms from a surface of condensed matter (liquid or solid). The full potential experienced by the incident atom does become repulsive at a very small distance from the surface (of order of size of atoms). This is when the atom becomes aware of the discrete character of material. This repulsion is responsible for the classical scattering one would expect for particles incident on a surface. Such scattering is diffuse rather than specular, and so this component of the reflection is easy to distinguish. Indeed to reduce this part of the physical process, a grazing angle of incidence is used; this enhances the quantum reflection. This requirement of small incident velocities for the particles means that the non-relativistic approximation to quantum mechanics is all that is required.
Read more about this topic: Quantum Reflection
Famous quotes containing the words reflection of, reflection, slow and/or atoms:
“The reflection of her here, and then there,
Is another shadow, another evasion,
Another denial. If she is everywhere,
She is nowhere, to him.
But this she has made.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“What chiefly distinguishes the daily press of the United States from the press of all other countries is not its lack of truthfulness or even its lack of dignity and honor, for these deficiencies are common to the newspapers everywhere, but its incurable fear of ideas, its constant effort to evade the discussion of fundamentals by translating all issues into a few elemental fears, its incessant reduction of all reflection to mere emotion. It is, in the true sense, never well-informed.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“They are tireless folk, but slow and sad
Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad
With none among them that ever sings....”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“Scatter my ashes, strew them in the air:
Lord since thou know’st where all these atoms are,
I’m hopeful thou’lt recover once my dust,
And confident thou’lt raise me with the just.”
—James Graham Marquess of Montrose (1612–1650)