Construction of Wannier functions from localized atomic-like orbitals

The problem of construction of the Wannier functions (WFs) in a restricted Hilbert space of eigenstates of the one-electron Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$ (forming the so-called low-energy part of the spectrum) can be formulated in several different ways. One possibility is to use the projector-operator techniques, which pick up a set of trial atomic orbitals and project them onto the given Hilbert space. Another possibility is to employ the downfolding method, which eliminates the high-energy part of the spectrum and incorporates all related to it properties into the energy-dependence of an effective Hamiltonian. We show that by modifying the high-energy part of the spectrum of the original Hamiltonian $\hat{H}$, which is rather irrelevant to the construction of WFs in the low-energy part of the spectrum, these two methods can be formulated in an absolutely exact and identical form, so that the main difference between them is reduced to the choice of the trial orbitals. Concerning the latter part of the problem, we argue that an optimal choice for trial orbitals can be based on the maximization of the site-diagonal part of the density matrix. The main idea is illustrated for a simple toy model, consisting of only two bands, as well as for a more realistic example of $t_{2g}$ bands in V$_2$O$_3$. An analogy with the search of the ground state of a many-electron system is also discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Laser cooling of a trapped two-component Fermi gas

The collective Raman cooling of a trapped two-component Fermi gas is analyzed. We develop the quantum master equation that describes the collisions and the laser cooling, in the festina lente regime, where the heating due to photon reabsorption can be neglected. The numerical results based on Monte Carlo simulations show, that three-dimensional temperatures of the order of 0.008 T_F can be achieved. We analyze the heating related to the background losses, and conclude that our laser-cooling scheme can maintain the temperature of the gas without significant additional losses. Finally we derive an analytic expression for the temperature of a trapped Fermi gas heated by background collisions, that agrees very well with the data obtained from the numerical simulation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

On The Existence of Roton Excitations in Bose Einstein Condensates: Signature of Proximity to a Mott Insulating Phase

Within the last decade, artificially engineered Bose Einstein Condensation has been achieved in atomic systems. Bose Einstein Condensates are superfluids just like bosonic Helium is and all interacting bosonic fluids are expected to be at low enough temperatures. One difference between the two systems is that superfluid Helium exhibits roton excitations while Bose Einstein Condensates have never been observed to have such excitations. The reason for the roton minimum in Helium is its proximity to a solid phase. The roton minimum is a consequence of enhanced density fluctuations at the reciprocal lattice vector of the stillborn solid. Bose Einstein Condensates in atomic traps are not near a solid phase and therefore do not exhibit roton minimum. We conclude that if Bose Einstein Condensates in an optical lattice are tuned near a transition to a Mott insulating phase, a roton minimum will develop at a reciprocal lattice vector of the lattice. Equivalently, a peak in the structure factor will appear at such a wavevector. The smallness of the roton gap or the largeness of the structure factor peak are experimental signatures of the proximity to the Mott transition.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Rotating perfect fluid sources of the NUT metric

Locally rotationally symmetric perfect fluid solutions of Einstein's gravitational equations are matched along the hypersurface of vanishing pressure with the NUT metric. These rigidly rotating fluids are interpreted as sources for the vacuum exterior which consists only of a stationary region of the Taub-NUT space-time. The solution of the matching conditions leaves generally three parameters in the global solution. Examples of perfect fluid sources are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, late

The PLATO Dome A Site-Testing Observatory : instrumentation and first results

The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory that was deployed to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January. PLATO consists of a suite of site-testing instruments designed to quantify the benefits of the Dome A site for astronomy, and science instruments designed to take advantage of the unique observing conditions. Instruments include CSTAR, an array of optical telescopes for transient astronomy; Gattini, an instrument to measure the optical sky brightness and cloud cover statistics; DASLE, an experiment to measure the statistics of the meteorological conditions within the near-surface layer; Pre-HEAT, a submillimeter tipping radiometer measuring the atmospheric transmission and water vapor content and performing spectral line imaging of the Galactic plane; and Snodar, an acoustic radar designed to measure turbulence within the near-surface layer. PLATO has run completely unattended and collected data throughout the winter 2008 season. Here we present a detailed description of the PLATO instrument suite and preliminary results obtained from the first season of operation

An Atom Laser with a cw Output Coupler

We demonstrate a continuous output coupler for magnetically trapped atoms. Over a period of up to 100 ms a collimated and monoenergetic beam of atoms is continuously extracted from a Bose- Einstein condensate. The intensity and kinetic energy of the output beam of this atom laser are controlled by a weak rf-field that induces spin flips between trapped and untrapped states. Furthermore, the output coupler is used to perform a spectroscopic measurement of the condensate, which reveals the spatial distribution of the magnetically trapped condensate and allows manipulation of the condensate on a micrometer scale.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The origin of GEMS in IDPs as deduced from microstructural evolution of amorphous silicates with annealing

We present laboratory studies of the micro-structural evolution of an amorphous ferro-magnesian silicate, of olivine composition, following thermal annealing under vacuum. Annealing under vacuum was performed at temperatures ranging from 870 to 1020 K. After annealing spheroidal metallic nano-particles (2-50 nm) are found within the silicate films. We interpret this microstructure in terms of a reduction of the initial amorphous silicate FeO component, because of the carbon-rich partial pressure in the furnace due to pumping mechanism. Annealing in a controlled oxygen-rich atmosphere confirms this interpretation. The observed microstructures closely resemble those of the GEMS (Glass with Embedded Metal and Sulphides) found in chondritic IDPs (Interplanetary Dust Particles). Since IDPs contain abundant carbonaceous matter, a solid-state reduction reaction may have occurred during heating in the hot inner regions of the proto-solar disc. Related to this, the presence of forsterite grains grown from the amorphous precursor material clearly demonstrates that condensation from gaseous species is not required to explain the occurrence of forsterite around young protostars and in comets. Forsterite grains in these environments can be formed directly in the solid phase by thermal annealing of amorphous ferro-magnesian silicates under reducing conditions.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication A&A Letter to the Edito

A method for collective excitation of Bose-Einstein condensate

It is shown that by an appropriate modification of the trapping potential one may create collective excitation in cold atom Bose-Einstein condensate. The proposed method is complementary to earlier suggestions. It seems to be feasible experimentally --- it requires only a proper change in time of the potential in atomic traps, as realized in laboratories already.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; major revision, several references added, interacting particles case adde

Search for the Neutron Decay n→\rightarrow X+γ\gamma where X is a dark matter particle

In a recent paper submitted to Physical Review Letters, Fornal and Grinstein have suggested that the discrepancy between two different methods of neutron lifetime measurements, the beam and bottle methods can be explained by a previously unobserved dark matter decay mode, n$\rightarrow$ X+$\gamma$ where X is a dark matter particle. We have performed a search for this decay mode over the allowed range of energies of the monoenergetic gamma ray for X to be a dark matter particle. We exclude the possibility of a sufficiently strong branch to explain the lifetime discrepancy with greater than 4 sigma confidence.Comment: 6 pages 3 figure