56 research outputs found
Bloch-Like Quantum Multiple Reflections of Atoms
We show that under certain circumstances an atom can follow an oscillatory
motion in a periodic laser profile with a Gaussian envelope. These oscillations
can be well explained by using a model of energetically forbidden spatial
regions. The similarities and differences with Bloch oscillations are
discussed. We demonstrate that the effect exists not only for repulsive but
also for attractive potentials, i.e. quantum multiple reflections are also
possible.Comment: LaTeX, 7 pages, 7 figure
Atomic matter wave scanner
We report on the experimental realization of an atom optical device, that
allows scanning of an atomic beam. We used a time-modulated evanescent wave
field above a glass surface to diffract a continuous beam of metastable Neon
atoms at grazing incidence. The diffraction angles and efficiencies were
controlled by the frequency and form of modulation, respectively. With an
optimized shape, obtained from a numerical simulation, we were able to transfer
more than 50% of the atoms into the first order beam, which we were able to
move over a range of 8 mrad.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Bichromatic beam splitter for three-level atoms
We investigate schemes for the clean splitting of beams of three-level atoms using two standing-wave laser fields within an optical cavity. The proposed beam splitter is shown to work for atoms in the Λ ladder, and ssV configurations. For appropriate values of Rabi frequencies and detunings, we obtain a triangular type of potential for the atomic states of interest. As well as modeling the coherent evolution of the systems, we have used quantum Monte Carlo wave-function methods to model the effects of spontaneous emission on the resulting diffraction pattern, finding significant differences between the three configurations. We also investigate the limits of the Raman-Nath approximation for our systems, using the symmetric split-operator technique to include the effects of the kinetic term in the Hamiltonian. We also present the results of calculations in which the split output beams are recombined, demonstrating the expected interference for differently prepared input beams. In comparison with two-level beam splitters using a single standing wave, we obtain a superior splitting, while, in comparison with magneto-optical beam splitters, our system possesses the worthwhile practical advantages of experimental simplicity
High resolution amplitude and phase gratings in atom optics
An atom-field geometry is chosen in which an atomic beam traverses a field
interaction zone consisting of three fields, one having frequency propagating in the direction and the other two having
frequencies and propagating in the
- direction. For and , where and are positive integers and
is the pulse duration in the atomic rest frame, the atom-field interaction
results in the creation of atom amplitude and phase gratings having period . In this manner, one can use optical fields having
wavelength to produce atom gratings having periodicity much less
than .Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure
Corpuscular model of two-beam interference and double-slit experiments with single photons
We introduce an event-based corpuscular simulation model that reproduces the
wave mechanical results of single-photon double slit and two-beam interference
experiments and (of a one-to-one copy of an experimental realization) of a
single-photon interference experiment with a Fresnel biprism. The simulation
comprises models that capture the essential features of the apparatuses used in
the experiment, including the single-photon detectors recording individual
detector clicks. We demonstrate that incorporating in the detector model,
simple and minimalistic processes mimicking the memory and threshold behavior
of single-photon detectors is sufficient to produce multipath interference
patterns. These multipath interference patterns are built up by individual
particles taking one single path to the detector where they arrive one-by-one.
The particles in our model are not corpuscular in the standard, classical
physics sense in that they are information carriers that exchange information
with the apparatuses of the experimental set-up. The interference pattern is
the final, collective outcome of the information exchanges of many particles
with these apparatuses. The interference patterns are produced without making
reference to the solution of a wave equation and without introducing signalling
or non-local interactions between the particles or between different detection
points on the detector screen.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn
d- and f-orbital correlations in the REFeAsO compounds
We estimate theoretically the strength of the local Coulomb interaction for
the Fe 3d and Ce 4f shells in the REFeAsO compunds. In LaFeAsO and CeFeAsO we
obtain values of the local Coulomb interaction parameter U for both Fe and Ce
which are larger than those of elemental Fe and Ce metals. The Fe 3d bandwidth
of REFeAsO is found to increase slightly as one moves along the RE-series.
Using a combined local density approximation and dynamical mean-field theory
(LDA+DMFT) approach, we study the behaviour of the localized 4f states along
the rare-earth oxyarsenides REFeAsO series (RE=Ce,Pr,Nd). In CeFeAsO the
occupied Ce 4f band is located just below the Fe 3d band leading possibly to a
Kondo screening of the 4f local moment under applied pressure, while the
unscreened local moment behaviour is expected for the Pr and Nd compounds.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl
Testing foundations of quantum mechanics with photons
The foundational ideas of quantum mechanics continue to give rise to
counterintuitive theories and physical effects that are in conflict with a
classical description of Nature. Experiments with light at the single photon
level have historically been at the forefront of tests of fundamental quantum
theory and new developments in photonics engineering continue to enable new
experiments. Here we review recent photonic experiments to test two
foundational themes in quantum mechanics: wave-particle duality, central to
recent complementarity and delayed-choice experiments; and Bell nonlocality
where recent theoretical and technological advances have allowed all
controversial loopholes to be separately addressed in different photonics
experiments.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, published as a Nature Physics Insight review
articl
Random Convex Hulls and Extreme Value Statistics
In this paper we study the statistical properties of convex hulls of
random points in a plane chosen according to a given distribution. The points
may be chosen independently or they may be correlated. After a non-exhaustive
survey of the somewhat sporadic literature and diverse methods used in the
random convex hull problem, we present a unifying approach, based on the notion
of support function of a closed curve and the associated Cauchy's formulae,
that allows us to compute exactly the mean perimeter and the mean area enclosed
by the convex polygon both in case of independent as well as correlated points.
Our method demonstrates a beautiful link between the random convex hull problem
and the subject of extreme value statistics. As an example of correlated
points, we study here in detail the case when the points represent the vertices
of independent random walks. In the continuum time limit this reduces to
independent planar Brownian trajectories for which we compute exactly, for
all , the mean perimeter and the mean area of their global convex hull. Our
results have relevant applications in ecology in estimating the home range of a
herd of animals. Some of these results were announced recently in a short
communication [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 103}, 140602 (2009)].Comment: 61 pages (pedagogical review); invited contribution to the special
issue of J. Stat. Phys. celebrating the 50 years of Yeshiba/Rutgers meeting
Downregulation of pyrophosphate: d-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase activity in sugarcane culms enhances sucrose accumulation due to elevated hexose-phosphate levels
Analyses of transgenic sugarcane clones with 45–95% reduced cytosolic pyrophosphate: d-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP, EC 2.7.1.90) activity displayed no visual phenotypical change, but significant changes were evident in in vivo metabolite levels and fluxes during internode development. In three independent transgenic lines, sucrose concentrations increased between three- and sixfold in immature internodes, compared to the levels in the wildtype control. There was an eightfold increase in the hexose-phosphate:triose-phosphate ratio in immature internodes, a significant restriction in the triose phosphate to hexose phosphate cycle and significant increase in sucrose cycling as monitored by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. This suggests that an increase in the hexose-phosphate concentrations resulting from a restriction in the conversion of hexose phosphates to triose phosphates drive sucrose synthesis in the young internodes. These effects became less pronounced as the tissue matured. Decreased expression of PFP also resulted in an increase of the ATP/ADP and UTP/UDP ratios, and an increase of the total uridine nucleotide and, at a later stage, the total adenine nucleotide pool, revealing strong interactions between PPi metabolism and general energy metabolism. Finally, decreased PFP leads to a reduction of PPi levels in older internodes indicating that in these developmental stages PFP acts in the gluconeogenic direction. The lowered PPi levels might also contribute to the absence of increases in sucrose contents in the more mature tissues of transgenic sugarcane with reduced PFP activity
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