82 research outputs found
Modulational instability and nonlocality management in coupled NLS system
The modulational instability of two interacting waves in a nonlocal Kerr-type
medium is considered analytically and numerically. For a generic choice of wave
amplitudes, we give a complete description of stable/unstable regimes for zero
group-velocity mismatch. It is shown that nonlocality suppresses considerably
the growth rate and bandwidth of instability. For nonzero group-velocity
mismatch we perform a geometrical analysis of a nonlocality management which
can provide stability of waves otherwise unstable in a local medium.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, to be published in Physica Script
Regular spatial structures in arrays of Bose-Einstein condensates induced by modulational instability
We show that the phenomenon of modulational instability in arrays of
Bose-Einstein condensates confined to optical lattices gives rise to coherent
spatial structures of localized excitations. These excitations represent thin
disks in 1D, narrow tubes in 2D, and small hollows in 3D arrays, filled in with
condensed atoms of much greater density compared to surrounding array sites.
Aspects of the developed pattern depend on the initial distribution function of
the condensate over the optical lattice, corresponding to particular points of
the Brillouin zone. The long-time behavior of the spatial structures emerging
due to modulational instability is characterized by the periodic recurrence to
the initial low-density state in a finite optical lattice. We propose a simple
way to retain the localized spatial structures with high atomic concentration,
which may be of interest for applications. Theoretical model, based on the
multiple scale expansion, describes the basic features of the phenomenon.
Results of numerical simulations confirm the analytical predictions.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figure
Could One Find Petroleum Using Neutrino Oscillations in Matter?
In neutrino physics, it is now widely believed that neutrino oscillations are
influenced by the presence of matter, modifying the energy spectrum produced by
a neutrino beam traversing the Earth. Here, we will discuss the reverse
problem, i.e. what could be learned about the Earth's interior from a single
neutrino baseline energy spectrum, especially about the Earth's mantle. We will
use a statistical analysis with a low-energy neutrino beam under very
optimistic assumptions. At the end, we will note that it is hard to find
petroleum with such a method, though it is not too far away from technical
feasibility.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, EPL LaTeX. Final version to be published in
Europhys. Let
Resonant radiation pressure on neutral particles in a waveguide
A theoretical analysis of electromagnetic forces on neutral particles in an
hollow waveguide is presented. We show that the effective scattering cross
section of a very small (Rayleigh) particle can be strongly modified inside a
waveguide. The coupling of the scattered dipolar field with the waveguide modes
induce a resonant enhanced backscattering state of the scatterer-guide system
close to the onset of new modes. The particle effective cross section can then
be as large as the wavelength even far from any transition resonance. As we
will show, a small particle can be strongly accelerated along the guide axis
while being highly confined in a narrow zone of the cross section of the guide.Comment: RevTeX,4 pages,3 PS figure
Quantum computation with trapped polar molecules
We propose a novel physical realization of a quantum computer. The qubits are
electric dipole moments of ultracold diatomic molecules, oriented along or
against an external electric field. Individual molecules are held in a 1-D trap
array, with an electric field gradient allowing spectroscopic addressing of
each site. Bits are coupled via the electric dipole-dipole interaction. Using
technologies similar to those already demonstrated, this design can plausibly
lead to a quantum computer with qubits, which can perform CNOT gates in the anticipated decoherence time of s.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX 4, 2 figures. Edited for length and converted to
RevTeX, but no substantial changes from earlier pdf versio
Ultrashort filaments of light in weakly-ionized, optically-transparent media
Modern laser sources nowadays deliver ultrashort light pulses reaching few
cycles in duration, high energies beyond the Joule level and peak powers
exceeding several terawatt (TW). When such pulses propagate through
optically-transparent media, they first self-focus in space and grow in
intensity, until they generate a tenuous plasma by photo-ionization. For free
electron densities and beam intensities below their breakdown limits, these
pulses evolve as self-guided objects, resulting from successive equilibria
between the Kerr focusing process, the chromatic dispersion of the medium, and
the defocusing action of the electron plasma. Discovered one decade ago, this
self-channeling mechanism reveals a new physics, widely extending the frontiers
of nonlinear optics. Implications include long-distance propagation of TW beams
in the atmosphere, supercontinuum emission, pulse shortening as well as
high-order harmonic generation. This review presents the landmarks of the
10-odd-year progress in this field. Particular emphasis is laid to the
theoretical modeling of the propagation equations, whose physical ingredients
are discussed from numerical simulations. Differences between femtosecond
pulses propagating in gaseous or condensed materials are underlined. Attention
is also paid to the multifilamentation instability of broad, powerful beams,
breaking up the energy distribution into small-scale cells along the optical
path. The robustness of the resulting filaments in adverse weathers, their
large conical emission exploited for multipollutant remote sensing, nonlinear
spectroscopy, and the possibility to guide electric discharges in air are
finally addressed on the basis of experimental results.Comment: 50 pages, 38 figure
Physics with Coherent Matter Waves
This review discusses progress in the new field of coherent matter waves, in
particular with respect to Bose-Einstein condensates. We give a short
introduction to Bose-Einstein condensation and the theoretical description of
the condensate wavefunction. We concentrate on the coherence properties of this
new type of matter wave as a basis for fundamental physics and applications.
The main part of this review treats various measurements and concepts in the
physics with coherent matter waves. In particular we present phase manipulation
methods, atom lasers, nonlinear atom optics, optical elements, interferometry
and physics in optical lattices. We give an overview of the state of the art in
the respective fields and discuss achievements and challenges for the future
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