High Density Mesoscopic Atom Clouds in a Holographic Atom Trap

We demonstrate the production of micron-sized high density atom clouds of interest for meso- scopic quantum information processing. We evaporate atoms from 60 microK, 3x10^14 atoms/cm^3 samples contained in a highly anisotropic optical lattice formed by interfering di racted beams from a holographic phase plate. After evaporating to 1 microK by lowering the con ning potential, in less than a second the atom density reduces to 8x10^13 cm^- 3 at a phase space density approaching unity. Adiabatic recompression of the atoms then increases the density to levels in excess of 1x10^15 cm^-3. The resulting clouds are typically 8 microns in the longest dimension. Such samples are small enough to enable mesoscopic quantum manipulation using Rydberg blockade and have the high densities required to investigate new collision phenomena.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

Chemical Control of Mesquite.

7 p

Quantifying Seasonal Particulate Organic Carbon Concentrations and Export Potential in the Southwestern Ross Sea Using Autonomous Gliders

To assess the temporal biological and hydrographic features of the southwestern Ross Sea, we deployed a glider in a spatially restricted, ice-free area during the austral summer (1 December–6 February), and quantified from sensor measurements the particulate organic carbon (POC; via particulate backscatter) concentrations, their changes through time, and net community production (NCP; via dissolved O2 concentrations). The POC levels could be divided into three distinct phases (I, II, and III, respectively) characterized by changes in NCP, surface-layer POC concentrations, remineralization, and export. Surface POC concentrations increased from 215 mg C m−3 in early December to a peak of \u3e400 mg C m−3 by mid-December, before decreasing to 227 mg C m−3 in late January–early February. NCP was highly variable throughout the summer, becoming maximal in mid-December. By constructing a carbon budget, we estimated rates of change of POC and export potential to the mesopelagic in each phase. Changes in euphotic zone POC concentrations and NCP suggested that the system is slightly net autotrophic during the observational period (average NCP is 0.05 g C m−2 d−1), and POC removal from the top 240 m of the water column averaged 0.22 g C m−2 d−1. Our data confirm that the southern Ross Sea during the ice-free season is a high productivity, low export system while providing high-resolution POC dynamics that had not been previously observed. Although the Ross Sea is a site of substantial carbon fixation, there remains an incomplete understanding both of the processes involved in export and the rates and controls of remineralization

Mixed Meson Masses with Domain-Wall Valence and Staggered Sea Fermions

Mixed action lattice calculations allow for an additive lattice spacing dependent mass renormalization of mesons composed of one sea and one valence quark, regardless of the type of fermion discretization methods used in the valence and sea sectors. The value of the mass renormalization depends upon the lattice actions used. This mixed meson mass shift is an important lattice artifact to determine for mixed action calculations; because it modifies the pion mass, it plays a central role in the low energy dynamics of all hadronic correlation functions. We determine the leading order, $\mathcal{O}(a^2)$, and next to leading order, $\mathcal{O}(a^2 m_\pi^2)$, additive mass shift of \textit{valence-sea} mesons for a mixed lattice action with domain-wall valence fermions and rooted staggered sea fermions, relevant to the majority of current large scale mixed action lattice efforts. We find that on the asqtad improved coarse MILC lattices, this additive mass shift is well parameterized in lattice units by $\Delta(am)^2 = 0.034(2) -0.06(2) (a m_\pi)^2$, which in physical units, using $a=0.125$ fm, corresponds to $\Delta(m)^2 = (291\pm 8 \textrm{MeV})^2 -0.06(2) m_\pi^2$. In terms of the mixed action effective field theory parameters, the corresponding mass shift is given by $a^2 \Delta_\mathrm{Mix} = (316 \pm 4 \textrm{MeV})^2$ at leading order plus next-to-leading order corrections including the necessary chiral logarithms for this mixed action calculation, determined in this work. Within the precision of our calculation, one can not distinguish between the full next-to-leading order effective field theory analysis of this additive mixed meson mass shift and the parameterization given above.Comment: 28 pages, 3 figures, 5 table

Zeros of Rydberg-Rydberg Foster Interactions

Rydberg states of atoms are of great current interest for quantum manipulation of mesoscopic samples of atoms. Long-range Rydberg-Rydberg interactions can inhibit multiple excitations of atoms under the appropriate conditions. These interactions are strongest when resonant collisional processes give rise to long-range C_3/R^3 interactions. We show in this paper that even under resonant conditions C_3 often vanishes so that care is required to realize full dipole blockade in micron-sized atom samples.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, submitted to J. Phys.

A Regional, Early Spring Bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii on the New England Continental Shelf

The genus Phaeocystis is distributed globally and has considerable ecological, biogeochemical, and societal impacts. Understanding its distribution, growth and ecological impacts has been limited by lack of extensive observations on appropriate scales. In 2018, we investigated the biological dynamics of the New England continental shelf and encountered a substantial bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii. Based on satellite imagery during January through April, the bloom extended over broad expanses of the shelf; furthermore, our observations demonstrated that it reached high biomass levels, with maximum chlorophyll concentrations exceeding 16 μg L−1 and particulate organic carbon levels \u3e 95 μmol L−1. Initially, the bloom was largely confined to waters with temperatures \u3c6°C, which in turn were mostly restricted to shallow areas near the coast. As the bloom progressed, it appeared to sink into the bottom boundary layer; however, enough light and nutrients were available for growth. The bloom was highly productive (net community production integrated through the mixed layer from stations within the bloom averaged 1.16 g C m−2 d−1) and reduced nutrient concentrations considerably. Long-term coastal observations suggest that Phaeocystis blooms occur sporadically in spring on Nantucket Shoals and presumably expand onto the continental shelf. Based on the distribution of Phaeocystis during our study, we suggest that it can have a significant impact on the overall productivity and ecology of the New England shelf during the winter/spring transition