Conditions for spin squeezing in a cold 87Rb ensemble

We study the conditions for generating spin squeezing via a quantum non-demolition measurement in an ensemble of cold 87Rb atoms. By considering the interaction of atoms in the 5S_{1/2}(F=1) ground state with probe light tuned near the D2 transition, we show that, for large detunings, this system is equivalent to a spin-1/2 system when suitable Zeeman substates and quantum operators are used to define a pseudo-spin. The degree of squeezing is derived for the rubidium system in the presence of scattering causing decoherence and loss. We describe how the system can decohere and lose atoms, and predict as much as 75% spin squeezing for atomic densities typical of optical dipole traps.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt. Proceedings of ICSSUR'0

Polarization-based Light-Atom Quantum Interface with an All-optical Trap

We describe the implementation of a system for studying light-matter interactions using an ensemble of $10^6$ cold rubidium 87 atoms, trapped in a single-beam optical dipole trap. In this configuration the elongated shape of the atomic cloud increases the strength of the collective light-atom coupling. Trapping all-optically allows for long storage times in a low decoherence environment. We are able to perform several thousands of measurements on one atomic ensemble with little destruction. We report results on paramagnetic Faraday rotations from a macroscopically polarized atomic ensemble. Our results confirm that strong light-atom coupling is achievable in this system which makes it attractive for single-pass quantum information protocols.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Diffraction effects on light-atomic ensemble quantum interface

We present a simple method to include the effects of diffraction into the description of a light-atomic ensemble quantum interface in the context of collective variables. Carrying out a scattering calculation we single out the purely geometrical effect. We apply our method to the experimentally relevant case of Gaussian shaped atomic samples stored in single beam optical dipole traps and probed by a Gaussian beam. We derive analytical scaling relations for the effect of the interaction geometry and compare our findings to results from 1-dimensional models of light propagation.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, comments welcom

Cladoceros limnéticos de la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

In this contribution we report the presence of 10 species belonging to the families Sididae, Daphnidae, Moinídae, Bosminidae and Chydoridae found in temporary and permanent water bodies of La Pampa province (Argentina).En esta contribución se da a conocer la presencia de diez especies pertenecientes a las familias Sídidae, Daphynídae, Moinídae, Bosminidae y Chydoridae en distintos cuerpos de agua temporarios y permanentes de la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

Composición y variación anual de la taxocenosis de cladóceros (Crustacea: Anomopoda y Ctenopoda) planctónicos y química del agua de la laguna Don Tomás (La Pampa, Argentina)

Variations in the taxonomic composition and densities of the species of the community of planktonic cladocerans of a low salinity pond of La Pampa province were analyzed over a one year period on the basis of monthly samplings. Diversity and species richness were higher than in other provincial water bodies, probably ow into the low salinity of this water body. Nine species were recorded: Moina micrura Kurz, 1874, Bosmina huaronensis Delachaux, 1918, Afona sp. Baird, 1843, Macrothrix sp. Baird, 1843, Leydigia feydigi Schoedler, 1863, Ceriodaphnia cf. Dubia Richard, 1895, Daphnia cf.obtusa Kurz,1874, Daphnia spinufata Birabén, 1917 y Diaphanosoma birgei Korínek, 1981. Although the planktonic species B. huaronensis was dominant, the ticoplankter Afona sp. also attained high densities. D. birgei, registered in other ponds of the province with different physical and chemical characteristics was also recorded in the studied pondo Most of the detected species were small, probably owing to the effect of selective predation by fish.Se analizó la variación en la composición taxonómica y densidad de las especies de la comunidad de c1adóceros planctónicos de una laguna de baja salinidad de la provincia de La Pampa, mediante muestreos mensuales a lo largo de un ciclo anual. La diversidad y la riqueza específica fueron mayores que en otros ambientes provinciales, probablemente debido al bajo contenido de sales del agua. Se registraron nueve especies: Moina micrura Kurz, 1874, Bosmina huaronensis Delachaux, 1918, Afona sp. Baird, 1843, Macrothrix sp. Baird, 1843, Leydigia leydigi Schoedler, 1863, Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia Richard, 1895, Daphnia cf. obtusa Kurz, 1874, Daphnia spinulata Birabén, 1917 y Diaphanosoma birgei Korínek, 1981. Se verificó el predominio de B. huaronensis, especie típicamente planctónica, pero el ticoplanctonte Alona sp. también alcanzó densidades muy altas. Se menciona la presencia de D. birgei, especie que había sido registrada en cuerpos de agua de la provincia con características físico-químicas distintas a las de esta laguna. La mayor parte de las especies detectadas fue de pequeño tamaño, probablemente debido al efecto de la predación selectiva por parte de peces

Prospects for photon blockade in four level systems in the N configuration with more than one atom

We show that for appropriate choices of parameters it is possible to achieve photon blockade in idealised one, two and three atom systems. We also include realistic parameter ranges for rubidium as the atomic species. Our results circumvent the doubts cast by recent discussion in the literature (Grangier et al Phys. Rev Lett. 81, 2833 (1998), Imamoglu et al Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 2836 (1998)) on the possibility of photon blockade in multi-atom systems.Comment: 8 page, revtex, 7 figures, gif. Submitted to Journal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optic

Hamiltonian Design in Atom-Light Interactions with Rubidium Ensembles: A Quantum Information Toolbox

We study the coupling between collective variables of atomic spin and light polarization in an ensemble of cold 87Rb probed with polarized light. The effects of multiple hyperfine levels manifest themselves as a rank-2 tensor polarizability, whose irreducible components can be selected by means of probe detuning. The D1 and D2 lines of Rb are explored and we identify different detunings which lead to Hamiltonians with different symmetries for rotations. As possible applications of these Hamiltonians, we describe schemes for spin squeezing, quantum cloning, quantum memory, and measuring atom number.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; added reference

Heterodyne non-demolition measurements on cold atomic samples: towards the preparation of non-classical states for atom interferometry

We report on a novel experiment to generate non-classical atomic states via quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements on cold atomic samples prepared in a high finesse ring cavity. The heterodyne technique developed for the QND detection exhibits an optical shot-noise limited behavior for local oscillator optical power of a few hundred \muW, and a detection bandwidth of several GHz. This detection tool is used in single pass to follow non destructively the internal state evolution of an atomic sample when subjected to Rabi oscillations or a spin-echo interferometric sequence.Comment: 23 page

Quantum control and measurement of atomic spins in polarization spectroscopy

Quantum control and measurement are two sides of the same coin. To affect a dynamical map, well-designed time-dependent control fields must be applied to the system of interest. To read out the quantum state, information about the system must be transferred to a probe field. We study a particular example of this dual action in the context of quantum control and measurement of atomic spins through the light-shift interaction with an off-resonant optical probe. By introducing an irreducible tensor decomposition, we identify the coupling of the Stokes vector of the light field with moments of the atomic spin state. This shows how polarization spectroscopy can be used for continuous weak measurement of atomic observables that evolve as a function of time. Simultaneously, the state-dependent light shift induced by the probe field can drive nonlinear dynamics of the spin, and can be used to generate arbitrary unitary transformations on the atoms. We revisit the derivation of the master equation in order to give a unified description of spin dynamics in the presence of both nonlinear dynamics and photon scattering. Based on this formalism, we review applications to quantum control, including the design of state-to-state mappings, and quantum-state reconstruction via continuous weak measurement on a dynamically controlled ensemble