  We provide a comprehensive study of atomic Raman and Bragg diffraction when
coupling to a pair of counterpropagating light gratings (double diffraction) or
to a single one (single diffraction) and discuss the transition from one case
to the other in a retroreflective geometry as the Doppler detuning changes. In
contrast to single diffraction, double Raman loses its advantage of high
diffraction efficiency for short pulses and has to be performed in a Bragg-type
regime. Moreover, the structure of double diffraction leads to further
limitations for broad momentum distributions on the efficiency of mirror
pulses, making the use of (ultra) cold ensembles essential for high diffraction
efficiency.

Quantum Physics;Atomic Physics