  We explore properties of atoms whose magnetic hyperfine sub-levels are
coupled by an external magnetic radio frequency (rf) field. We perform a
thorough theoretical analysis of this driven system and present a number of
systematic approximations which eventually give rise to dressed adiabatic radio
frequency potentials. The predictions of this analytical investigation are
compared to numerically exact results obtained by a wave packet propagation. We
outline the versatility and flexibility of this new class of potentials and
demonstrate their potential use to build atom optical elements such as
double-wells, interferometers and ringtraps. Moreover, we perform simulations
of interference experiments carried out in rf induced double-well potentials.
We discuss how the nature of the atom-field coupling mechanism gives rise to a
decrease of the interference contrast.
