We have demonstrated the specular reflection of Na atoms at a nonuniform laser field, the reflection coefficient of the "atomic mirror" being close to 100%. A specific feature of the reflection process is its quantum-state-selective character. The experimentally measured reflection selectivity (the ratio between the reflection coefficients of the sodium atoms in the ground-state sublevels with $F=2\mathrm{}$ and $F=1\mathrm{}$ was around 100.

• Received 12 February 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.60.2137