147 research outputs found
Precision measurement of light shifts in a single trapped Ba ion
Using a single trapped barium ion we have developed an rf spectroscopy
technique to measure the ratio of the off-resonant vector ac Stark effect (or
light shift) in the 6S_{1/2} and 5D_{3/2} states to 0.1% precision. We find R =
Delta_S / Delta_D = -11.494(13) at 514.531 nm where Delta_{S,D} are the light
shifts of the m = +/- 1/2 splittings due to circularly polarized light.
Comparison of this result with an ab initio calculation of R would yield a new
test of atomic theory. By appropriately choosing an off-resonant light shift
wavelength one can emphasize the contribution of one or a few dipole matrix
elements and precisely determine their values.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, in submission to PR
Optical clocks based on ultra-narrow three-photon resonances in alkaline earth atoms
A sharp resonance line that appears in three-photon transitions between the
and states of alkaline earth and Yb atoms is proposed
as an optical frequency standard. This proposal permits the use of the even
isotopes, in which the clock transition is narrower than in proposed clocks
using the odd isotopes and the energy interval is not affected by external
magnetic fields or the polarization of trapping light. The method has the
unique feature that the width and rate of the clock transition can be
continuously adjusted from the level to sub- without loss of signal
amplitude by varying the intensities of the three optical beams. Doppler and
recoil effects can be eliminated by proper alignment of the three optical beams
or by point confinement in a lattice trap. The three beams can be mixed to
produce the optical frequency corresponding to the -
clock interval.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR
Precision measurement of light shifts at two off-resonant wavelengths in a single trapped Ba+ ion and determination of atomic dipole matrix elements
We define and measure the ratio (R) of the vector ac-Stark effect (or light
shift) in the 6S_1/2 and 5D_3/2 states of a single trapped barium ion to 0.2%
accuracy at two different off-resonant wavelengths. We earlier found R =
-11.494(13) at 514.531nm and now report the value at 1111.68nm, R = +0.4176(8).
These observations together yield a value of the matrix element,
previously unknown in the literature. Also, comparison of our results with an
ab initio calculation of dynamic polarizability would yield a new test of
atomic theory and improve the understanding of atomic structure needed to
interpret a proposed atomic parity violation experiment.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, in submission to PR
Studies of the S--P transition in atomic ytterbium for optical clocks and qubit arrays
We report an observation of the weak S-P transition in
Yb as an important step to establish Yb as a primary candidate for
future optical frequency standards, and to open up a new approach for qubits
using the S and P states of Yb atoms in an optical lattice.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Fluxonium: single Cooper pair circuit free of charge offsets
The promise of single Cooper pair quantum circuits based on tunnel junctions
for metrology and quantum information applications is severely limited by the
influence of "offset" charges - random, slowly drifting microscopic charges
inherent to many solid-state systems. By shunting a small junction with the
Josephson kinetic inductance of a series array of large capacitance tunnel
junctions, thereby ensuring that all superconducting islands are connected to
the circuit by at least one large junction, we have realized a new
superconducting artificial atom which is totally insensitive to offset charges.
Yet, its energy levels manifest the anharmonic structure associated with single
Cooper pair effects, a useful component for solid state quantum computation.Comment: Introduction and title update
Trapped ions in the strong excitation regime: ion interferometry and non--classical states
The interaction of a trapped ion with a laser beam in the strong excitation
regime is analyzed. In this regime, a variety of non--classical states of
motion can be prepared either by using laser pulses of well defined area, or by
an adiabatic passage scheme based on the variation of the laser frequency. We
show how these states can be used to investigate fundamental properties of
quantum mechanics. We also study possible applications of this system to build
an ion interferometer.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex format, 5 compressed postscript figure
Quantum state engineering on an optical transition and decoherence in a Paul trap
A single Ca+ ion in a Paul trap has been cooled to the ground state of
vibration with up to 99.9% probability. Starting from this Fock state |n=0> we
have demonstrated coherent quantum state manipulation on an optical transition.
Up to 30 Rabi oscillations within 1.4 ms have been observed. We find a similar
number of Rabi oscillations after preparation of the ion in the |n=1> Fock
state. The coherence of optical state manipulation is only limited by laser and
ambient magnetic field fluctuations. Motional heating has been measured to be
as low as one vibrational quantum in 190 ms.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Codes for the Quantum Erasure Channel
The quantum erasure channel (QEC) is considered. Codes for the QEC have to
correct for erasures, i. e., arbitrary errors at known positions. We show that
four qubits are necessary and sufficient to encode one qubit and correct one
erasure, in contrast to five qubits for unknown positions. Moreover, a family
of quantum codes for the QEC, the quantum BCH codes, that can be efficiently
decoded is introduced.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX, no figures, submitted to Physical Review A, code
extended to encode 2 qubits, references adde
A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
A method offering an order of magnitude sensitivity gain is described for
using quasar spectra to investigate possible time or space variation in the
fine structure constant, alpha. Applying the technique to a sample of 30
absorption systems, spanning redshifts 0.5 < z< 1.6, obtained with the Keck I
telescope, we derive limits on variations in alpha over a wide range of epochs.
For the whole sample Delta(alpha)/alpha = -1.1 +/- 0.4 x 10^{-5}. This
deviation is dominated by measurements at z > 1, where Delta(alpha)/alpha =
-1.9 +/- 0.5 x 10^{-5}. For z < 1, Delta(alpha)/alpha = -0.2 +/- 0.4 x 10^{-5},
consistent with other known constraints. Whilst these results are consistent
with a time-varying alpha, further work is required to explore possible
systematic errors in the data, although careful searches have so far not
revealed any.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Letter
Mesoscopic superpositions of vibronic collective states of N trapped ions
We propose a scalable procedure to generate entangled superpositions of
motional coherent states and electronic states in N trapped ions. Beyond their
fundamental importance, these states may be of interest for quantum information
processing and may be used in experimental studies of decoherence.Comment: Final version, as published in Physical Review Letters. See also
further developments and applications in quant-ph/020207
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