1,632 research outputs found
Magnetic field-induced spectroscopy of forbidden optical transitions with application to lattice-based optical atomic clocks
We develop a method of spectroscopy that uses a weak static magnetic field to
enable direct optical excitation of forbidden electric-dipole transitions that
are otherwise prohibitively weak. The power of this scheme is demonstrated
using the important application of optical atomic clocks based on neutral atoms
confined to an optical lattice. The simple experimental implementation of this
method -- a single clock laser combined with a DC magnetic field-- relaxes
stringent requirements in current lattice-based clocks (e.g., magnetic field
shielding and light polarization), and could therefore expedite the realization
of the extraordinary performance level predicted for these clocks. We estimate
that a clock using alkaline earth-like atoms such as Yb could achieve a
fractional frequency uncertainty of well below 10^-17 for the metrologically
preferred even isotopes
Optical Lattice Induced Light Shifts in an Yb Atomic Clock
We present an experimental study of the lattice induced light shifts on the
1S_0-3P_0 optical clock transition (v_clock~518 THz) in neutral ytterbium. The
``magic'' frequency, v_magic, for the 174Yb isotope was determined to be 394
799 475(35)MHz, which leads to a first order light shift uncertainty of 0.38 Hz
on the 518 THz clock transition. Also investigated were the hyperpolarizability
shifts due to the nearby 6s6p 3P_0 - 6s8p 3P_0, 6s8p 3P_2, and 6s5f 3F_2
two-photon resonances at 759.708 nm, 754.23 nm, and 764.95 nm respectively. By
tuning the lattice frequency over the two-photon resonances and measuring the
corresponding clock transition shifts, the hyperpolarizability shift was
estimated to be 170(33) mHz for a linear polarized, 50 uK deep, lattice at the
magic wavelength. In addition, we have confirmed that a circularly polarized
lattice eliminates the J=0 - J=0 two-photon resonance. These results indicate
that the differential polarizability and hyperpolarizability frequency shift
uncertainties in a Yb lattice clock could be held to well below 10^-17.Comment: Accepted to PR
Observation and absolute frequency measurements of the 1S0 - 3P0 optical clock transition in ytterbium
We report the direct excitation of the highly forbidden (6s^2) 1S0 - (6s6p)
3P0 optical transition in two odd isotopes of ytterbium. As the excitation
laser frequency is scanned, absorption is detected by monitoring the depletion
from an atomic cloud at ~70 uK in a magneto-optical trap. The measured
frequency in 171Yb (F=1/2) is 518,295,836,593.2 +/- 4.4 kHz. The measured
frequency in 173Yb (F=5/2) is 518,294,576,850.0 +/- 4.4 kHz. Measurements are
made with a femtosecond-laser frequency comb calibrated by the NIST cesium
fountain clock and represent nearly a million-fold reduction in uncertainty.
The natural linewidth of these J=0 to J=0 transitions is calculated to be ~10
mHz, making them well-suited to support a new generation of optical atomic
clocks based on confinement in an optical lattice.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
On the Relation between Solar Activity and Clear-Sky Terrestrial Irradiance
The Mauna Loa Observatory record of direct-beam solar irradiance measurements
for the years 1958-2010 is analysed to investigate the variation of clear-sky
terrestrial insolation with solar activity over more than four solar cycles.
The raw irradiance data exhibit a marked seasonal cycle, extended periods of
lower irradiance due to emissions of volcanic aerosols, and a long-term
decrease in atmospheric transmission independent of solar activity. After
correcting for these effects, it is found that clear-sky terrestrial irradiance
typically varies by about 0.2 +/- 0.1% over the course of the solar cycle, a
change of the same order of magnitude as the variations of the total solar
irradiance above the atmosphere. An investigation of changes in the clear-sky
atmospheric transmission fails to find a significant trend with sunspot number.
Hence there is no evidence for a yet unknown effect amplifying variations of
clear-sky irradiance with solar activity.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, in press at Solar Physics; minor changes to the
text to match final published versio
Paramagnetic reentrant effect in high purity mesoscopic AgNb proximity structures
We discuss the magnetic response of clean Ag coated Nb proximity cylinders in
the temperature range 150 \mu K < T < 9 K. In the mesoscopic temperature
regime, the normal metal-superconductor system shows the yet unexplained
paramagnetic reentrant effect, discovered some years ago [P. Visani, A. C.
Mota, and A. Pollini, Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 1514 (1990)], superimposing on full
Meissner screening. The logarithmic slope of the reentrant paramagnetic
susceptibility chi_para(T) \propto \exp(-L/\xi_N) is limited by the condition
\xi_N=n L, with \xi_N=\hbar v_F/2 \pi k_B T, the thermal coherence length and
n=1,2,4. In wires with perimeters L=72 \mu m and L=130 \mu m, we observe
integer multiples n=1,2,4. At the lowest temperatures, \chi_para compensates
the diamagnetic susceptibility of the \textit{whole} AgNb structure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (color
Measuring kinetic coefficients by molecular dynamics simulation of zone melting
Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to measure the kinetic
coefficient at the solid-liquid interface in pure gold. Results are obtained
for the (111), (100) and (110) orientations. Both Au(100) and Au(110) are in
reasonable agreement with the law proposed for collision-limited growth. For
Au(111), stacking fault domains form, as first reported by Burke, Broughton and
Gilmer [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 89}, 1030 (1988)]. The consequence on the kinetics
of this interface is dramatic: the measured kinetic coefficient is three times
smaller than that predicted by collision-limited growth. Finally,
crystallization and melting are found to be always asymmetrical but here again
the effect is much more pronounced for the (111) orientation.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures (for fig. 8 : [email protected]). Accepted for
publication in Phys. Rev.
Phase-field crystal modelling of crystal nucleation, heteroepitaxy and patterning
We apply a simple dynamical density functional theory, the
phase-field-crystal (PFC) model, to describe homogeneous and heterogeneous
crystal nucleation in 2d monodisperse colloidal systems and crystal nucleation
in highly compressed Fe liquid. External periodic potentials are used to
approximate inert crystalline substrates in addressing heterogeneous
nucleation. In agreement with experiments in 2d colloids, the PFC model
predicts that in 2d supersaturated liquids, crystalline freezing starts with
homogeneous crystal nucleation without the occurrence of the hexatic phase. At
extreme supersaturations crystal nucleation happens after the appearance of an
amorphous precursor phase both in 2d and 3d. We demonstrate that contrary to
expectations based on the classical nucleation theory, corners are not
necessarily favourable places for crystal nucleation. Finally, we show that
adding external potential terms to the free energy, the PFC theory can be used
to model colloid patterning experiments.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figure
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SLC polarized beam source ultra-high-vacuum design
This paper describes the design of the ultra-high vacuum system for the beam-line from the 160-kV polarized electron gun to the linac injector in the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC). The polarized electron source is a GaAs photocathode, requiring 10{sup {minus}11}-Torr-range pressure for adequate quantum efficiency and longevity. The photo-cathode is illuminated by 3-nsec-long laser pulses. Photo-cathode maintenance and improvements require occasional substitution of guns with rapid restoration of UHV conditions. Differential pumping is crucial since the pressure in the injector is more than 10 times greater than the photocathode can tolerate, and since electron-stimulated gas desorption from beam loss in excess of 0.1% of the 20-nC pulses may poison the photocathode. Our design for the transport line contains a differential pumping region isolated by a pair of valves. Exchange of guns requires venting only this isolated region which can be restored to UHV rapidly by baking. The differential pumping is performed by non-evaporable getters (NEGs) and an ion pump. 3 refs., 3 figs
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