Electromagnetically Induced Transparency versus Nonlinear Faraday Effect. Coherent Control of the Light Beam Polarization

We report on experimental and theoretical study of the nonlinear Faraday effect under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency at the 5$S_{1/2} \to 5P_{3/2} \to 5D_{5/2}$ two-photon transition in rubidium vapors. These transitions realize the inverted Y model which combines the $\Lambda$ and ladder systems. Strong nonlinearity allowing for large rotation angles of a probe beam tuned to the $S\to P$ transition was obtained by creation of quantum superpositions of magnetic sublevels (Zeeman coherences) in the rubidium ground state ($\Lambda$ scheme). Additionally, electromagnetically induced transparency was accomplished in a ladder scheme by acting with an additional strong coupling laser on the $P\to D$ transition. Under conditions of a two-photon resonance the rotation was significantly reduced, which is interpreted as a competition between the two processes. The effect was observed in sub-Gauss magnetic fields and could be used for efficient coherent control of generation of the ground-state coherences, e.g. for controlling the polarization state of the probe light.Comment: 7 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Analysis and calibration of absorptive images of Bose-Einstein condensate at non-zero temperatures

We describe the method allowing quantitative interpretation of absorptive images of mixtures of BEC and thermal atoms which reduces possible systematic errors associated with evaluation of the contribution of each fraction. By using known temperature dependence of the BEC fraction, the analysis allows precise calibration of the fitting results. The developed method is verified in two different measurements and compares well with theoretical calculations and with measurements performed by another group.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

Microwave saturation spectroscopy of nitrogen-vacancy ensembles in diamond

Negatively-charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV$^-$) centers in diamond have generated much recent interest for their use in sensing. The sensitivity improves when the NV ground-state microwave transitions are narrow, but these transitions suffer from inhomogeneous broadening, especially in high-density NV ensembles. To better understand and remove the sources of broadening, we demonstrate room-temperature spectral "hole burning" of the NV ground-state transitions. We find that hole burning removes the broadening caused by magnetic fields from $^{13}$C nuclei and demonstrate that it can be used for magnetic-field-insensitive thermometry.Comment: Main text: 5 pages, 4 figures. Supplement: 6 pages, 3 figure

An ultrastructural study of transmitting tissue development in the pistil of Lilium Leucanthum

A study of developing transmitting tissue of Lilium Leucanthum pistils was undertaken in order to correlate structure with function. Lining the stylar canal are stigmatoid cells which contain a secretory zone consisting of a labyrinth of wall ingrowths characteristic of transfer cells. The functional feature of the labyrinth is a high surface-to-volume ration that facilitates an intensive transmembrane flux of solutes. Stigmatoid cells in various stages of development and maturation have been investigated with the aid of electron and light optics in conjunction with cytochemical techniques. During the development of the secretory zone, vesicles, formed by hypersecretory dictyosomes, fuse with the plasma membrane and contribute their contents to the growing wall. The pattern of secretory zone development is basipetal and is associated with initiation of chemotropism. In a mature pistil large crystals, having a basipetal pattern of development, and sensitive to protease, can be observed in the cytoplasm of stigmatoid cells. At anathesis, degradation of the crystal can be observed in the cells of the stigma surface and progresses basipetally as the pistil ages. The role of the crystal is uncertain. Immature pistils cultured in the presence of labeled proline take up the label which at maturity of the pistil is transferred to the canal of the pistil. The label is found in the crystals and secretory zone of the stigmatoid cells. Pollen tubes growing in the canal of a labeled pistil take up the label

Certification of a Refillable PET Bottle Material with Respect to Chemical Inertness Behaviour According to a PR-CEN Standard Method, BCR-712.

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Probe spectroscopy in an operating magneto-optical trap: the role of Raman transitions between discrete and continuum atomic states

We report on cw measurements of probe beam absorption and four-wave-mixing spectra in a $^{85}$Rb magneto-optical trap taken while the trap is in operation. The trapping beams are used as pump light. We concentrate on the central feature of the spectra at small pump-probe detuning and attribute its narrow resonant structures to the superposition of Raman transitions between light-shifted sublevels of the ground atomic state and to atomic recoil processes. These two contributions have different dependencies on trap parameters and we show that the former is inhomogeneously broadened. The strong dependence of the spectra on the probe-beam polarization indicates the existence of large optical anisotropy of the cold-atom sample, which is attributed to the recoil effects. We point out that the recoil-induced resonances can be isolated from other contributions, making pump-probe spectroscopy a highly sensitive diagnostic tool for atoms in a working MOT.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Scalable, high power line focus diode laser for crystallizing of silicon thin films

We present the design and performance of a diode laser module producing a high intensity line focus at 808 nm for material processing. The design is based on a linear array of 7 laser bars and beam forming optics featuring a micro-optic homogenizer. The module delivers a total output power of 900 W at 140 A and peak intensity created in the focus area of 10.3 kW/cm2. Two systems with line length of 5 cm and 10 cm at a large working distance of 110 mm have been realized. The chosen concept allows scaling in length by joining multiple modules which is of interest for material processing in industrial applications. Application results from laser crystallization of amorphous silicon seed layers used in the fabrication of photovoltaic cells for solar panels are given

On the Origin of the -4.4 eV Band in CdTe(100)"

We calculate the bulk- (infinite system), (100)-bulk-projected- and (100)-Surface-projected Green's functions using the Surface Green's Function Matching method (SGFM) and an empirical tight-binding hamiltonian with tight-binding parameters (TBP) that describe well the bulk band structure of CdTe. In particular, we analyze the band (B--4) arising at --4.4 eV from the top of the valence band at $\Gamma$ according to the results of Niles and H\"ochst and at -4.6 eV according to Gawlik {\it et al.} both obtained by Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). We give the first theoretical description of this band.Comment: 17 pages, Rev-TEX, CIEA-Phys. 02/9

Strontium optical lattice clocks for practical realization of the metre and secondary representation of the second

We present a system of two independent strontium optical lattice standards probed with a single shared ultra-narrow laser. The absolute frequency of the clocks can be verified by the use of Er:fiber optical frequency comb with the GPS-disciplined Rb frequency standard. We report hertz-level spectroscopy of the clock line and measurements of frequency stability of the two strontium optical lattice clocks.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Meas. Sci. Technol. The publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at doi:10.1088/0957-0233/26/7/07520

31/Palliative effectiveness and tolerance of endobronchial HDR brachytherapy in patients with lung cancer -the preliminary experience of Oncology Centre in Gliwice, Department of Brachytherapy

AlmEndobronchial HDR brachytherapy (E-HDR-BT) is a well-established method of palliative treatment in patients with lung cancer. There is, however, no consensus on optimal radiation and the rate of complications. The aim of the work is to evaluate early effectiveness and tolerance of E-HDR-BT in palliative treatment of patients with lung cancer treated in Oncology Centre in Gliwice.Material and methodsSince 2000 in Oncology Centre in Gliwice HDR (Ir192) E-HDR-BT is used in palliative treatment of patients with bronchial obturation due to lung cancer. Regression of bronchial obturation and improvement in dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis after therapy was analyzed for the first thirty patients. The total dose was 18 Gy, calculated at 1cm from the source, in 3 fraction (of 6 Gy) given everyweek.ResultsTwenty-five patients finished therapy as planned. Five patients didn’t complete treatment: two of them (6.6%) died because of massive haemoptysis; one patients suffered from exaggeration of angina pectoris, one patients developed high hectic fever not responding for antibacterial treatment, one suffered from exaggeration of their symptoms prohibiting continuation of the treatment. Changes in obturation of the bronchi and in patient's symptoms are shown in Table 1.Table 1Changes in obturation of the bronchi and in patient's symptom.SymptomsImprovementNochangesExaggerationObturation #/%22/88%3/12%0Dyspnoea #/%15/54%11/40%2/7%Cough #/%4/27%10/67%2/7%Haemoptysis #/%2/14%10/72%2/14%More detailed analysis of improvements in symptoms has been carried out according to own scoring system for dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis. Mean duration of palliative response was 55 days (1–405). Mean survival time was 114 days (2–406).ConclusionE-HOR-BT is an effective method of palliation of symptoms related to bronchial obturation in course of lung cancer. The most frequent serious treatment complication of E-HOR-BTwas massive haemoptysis