A quantum evaporation effect

A small momentum transfer to a particle interacting with a steep potential barrier gives rise to a quantum evaporation effect which increases the transmission appreciably. This effect results from the unexpectedly large population of quantum states with energies above the height of the barrier. Its characteristic properties are studied and an example of physical system in which it may be observed is given.Comment: 7 pages + 3 figure

Stochastic Ergodicity Breaking: a Random Walk Approach

The continuous time random walk (CTRW) model exhibits a non-ergodic phase when the average waiting time diverges. Using an analytical approach for the non-biased and the uniformly biased CTRWs, and numerical simulations for the CTRW in a potential field, we obtain the non-ergodic properties of the random walk which show strong deviations from Boltzmann--Gibbs theory. We derive the distribution function of occupation times in a bounded region of space which, in the ergodic phase recovers the Boltzmann--Gibbs theory, while in the non-ergodic phase yields a generalized non-ergodic statistical law.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Deeply subrecoil two-dimensional Raman cooling

We report the implementation of a two-dimensional Raman cooling scheme using sequential excitations along the orthogonal axes. Using square pulses, we have cooled a cloud of ultracold Cesium atoms down to an RMS velocity spread of 0.39(5) recoil velocity, corresponding to an effective temperature of 30 nK (0.15 T_rec). This technique can be useful to improve cold atom atomic clocks, and is particularly relevant for clocks in microgravity.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

On non-linear hydrodynamic instability and enhanced transport in differentially rotating flows

In this paper we argue that differential rotation can possibly sustain hydrodynamic turbulence in the absence of magnetic field. We explain why the non-linearities of the hydrodynamic equations (i.e. turbulent diffusion) should not be neglected, either as a simplifying approximation or based on boundary counditions. The consequences of lifting this hypothesis are studied for the flow stability and the enhanced turbulent transport. We develop a simple general model for the energetics of turbulent fluctuations in differentially rotating flows. By taking into account the non-linearities of the equations of motions, we give constraints on the mean flow properties for the possible development of shear instability. The results from recent laboratory experiments on rotating flows show -- in agreement with the model -- that the pertinent parameter for stability appears to be the Rossby number Ro. The laboratory experiments seem to be compatible with Ro 1 in the inviscid or high rotation rates limit. Our results, taken in the inviscid limit, are coherent with the classical linear stability analysis, in the sense that the critical perturbation equals zero on the marginal linear stability curve. We also propose a prescription for turbulent viscosity which generalize the beta-prescription derived in Richard & Zahn 1999.Comment: Accepted for publication in "Astronomy and Astrophysics

A Random Walk to a Non-Ergodic Equilibrium Concept

Random walk models, such as the trap model, continuous time random walks, and comb models exhibit weak ergodicity breaking, when the average waiting time is infinite. The open question is: what statistical mechanical theory replaces the canonical Boltzmann-Gibbs theory for such systems? In this manuscript a non-ergodic equilibrium concept is investigated, for a continuous time random walk model in a potential field. In particular we show that in the non-ergodic phase the distribution of the occupation time of the particle on a given lattice point, approaches U or W shaped distributions related to the arcsin law. We show that when conditions of detailed balance are applied, these distributions depend on the partition function of the problem, thus establishing a relation between the non-ergodic dynamics and canonical statistical mechanics. In the ergodic phase the distribution function of the occupation times approaches a delta function centered on the value predicted based on standard Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics. Relation of our work with single molecule experiments is briefly discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Quantum coherence generated by interference-induced state selectiveness

The relations between quantum coherence and quantum interference are discussed. A general method for generation of quantum coherence through interference-induced state selection is introduced and then applied to `simple' atomic systems under two-photon transitions, with applications in quantum optics and laser cooling.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Journal of Modern Optics' special issue on quantum interferenc

Fractal time random walk and subrecoil laser cooling considered as renewal processes with infinite mean waiting times

There exist important stochastic physical processes involving infinite mean waiting times. The mean divergence has dramatic consequences on the process dynamics. Fractal time random walks, a diffusion process, and subrecoil laser cooling, a concentration process, are two such processes that look qualitatively dissimilar. Yet, a unifying treatment of these two processes, which is the topic of this pedagogic paper, can be developed by combining renewal theory with the generalized central limit theorem. This approach enables to derive without technical difficulties the key physical properties and it emphasizes the role of the behaviour of sums with infinite means.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of Cargese Summer School on "Chaotic dynamics and transport in classical and quantum systems

Dephasing by a nonstationary classical intermittent noise

We consider a new phenomenological model for a $1/f^{\mu}$ classical intermittent noise and study its effects on the dephasing of a two-level system. Within this model, the evolution of the relative phase between the $|\pm>$ states is described as a continuous time random walk (CTRW). Using renewal theory, we find exact expressions for the dephasing factor and identify the physically relevant various regimes in terms of the coupling to the noise. In particular, we point out the consequences of the non-stationarity and pronounced non-Gaussian features of this noise, including some new anomalous and aging dephasing scenarii.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Aging and Rejuvenation with Fractional Derivatives

We discuss a dynamic procedure that makes the fractional derivatives emerge in the time asymptotic limit of non-Poisson processes. We find that two-state fluctuations, with an inverse power-law distribution of waiting times, finite first moment and divergent second moment, namely with the power index mu in the interval 2<mu <3, yields a generalized master equation equivalent to the sum of an ordinary Markov contribution and of a fractional derivative term. We show that the order of the fractional derivative depends on the age of the process under study. If the system is infinitely old, the order of the fractional derivative, ord, is given by ord=3-mu . A brand new system is characterized by the degree ord=mu -2. If the system is prepared at time -ta<0$ and the observation begins at time t=0, we derive the following scenario. For times 0<t<<ta the system is satisfactorily described by the fractional derivative with ord=3-mu . Upon time increase the system undergoes a rejuvenation process that in the time limit t>>ta yields ord=mu -2. The intermediate time regime is probably incompatible with a picture based on fractional derivatives, or, at least, with a mono-order fractional derivative.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Phase transitions driven by L\'evy stable noise: exact solutions and stability analysis of nonlinear fractional Fokker-Planck equations

Phase transitions and effects of external noise on many body systems are one of the main topics in physics. In mean field coupled nonlinear dynamical stochastic systems driven by Brownian noise, various types of phase transitions including nonequilibrium ones may appear. A Brownian motion is a special case of L\'evy motion and the stochastic process based on the latter is an alternative choice for studying cooperative phenomena in various fields. Recently, fractional Fokker-Planck equations associated with L\'evy noise have attracted much attention and behaviors of systems with double-well potential subjected to L\'evy noise have been studied intensively. However, most of such studies have resorted to numerical computation. We construct an {\it analytically solvable model} to study the occurrence of phase transitions driven by L\'evy stable noise.Comment: submitted to EP