Nanopatterning by atomic nanofabrication: Interaction of laser cooled atoms with surfaces

By using laser manipulation techniques, we have produced a cesium beam with sub-thermal velocity; atoms of the beam have then been deposited onto graphite substrates. Analyses of the samples, carried out in vacuum by tunneling microscopy, demonstrate that, at reduced surface coverage rates, isolated atom-sized structures are formed on the substrate. Results are of interest for the development of an atomic nanofabrication approach exploitable also with soft materials.