Ridged Mirror
The effect of quantum reflection can be enhanced using ridged mirrors . If one produces a surface consisting of a set of narrow ridges then the resulting non-uniformity of the material allows the reduction of the effective van der Waals constant; this extends the working ranges of the grazing angle. For this reduction to be valid, we must have small distances, between the ridges. Where becomes large, the non-uniformity is such that the ridged mirror must be interpreted in terms of multiple Fresnel diffraction or the Zeno effect; these interpretations give similar estimates for the reflectivity . See ridged mirror for the details.
Similar enhancement of quantum reflection takes place where one has particles incident on an array of pillars . This was observed with very slow atoms (Bose-Einstein condensate) at almost normal incidence.
Read more about this topic: Quantum Reflection
Famous quotes containing the word mirror:
“If intellection and knowledge were mere passion from without, or the bare reception of extraneous and adventitious forms, then no reason could be given at all why a mirror or looking-glass should not understand; whereas it cannot so much as sensibly perceive those images which it receives and reflects to us.”
—Ralph J. Cudworth (1617–1688)