1,735 research outputs found
Photothermal effects in ultra-precisely stabilized tunable microcavities
We study the mechanical stability of a tunable high-finesse microcavity under
ambient conditions and investigate light-induced effects that can both suppress
and excite mechanical fluctuations. As an enabling step, we demonstrate the
ultra-precise electronic stabilization of a microcavity. We then show that
photothermal mirror expansion can provide high-bandwidth feedback and improve
cavity stability by almost two orders of magnitude. At high intracavity power,
we observe self-oscillations of mechanical resonances of the cavity. We explain
the observations by a dynamic photothermal instability, leading to parametric
driving of mechanical motion. For an optimized combination of electronic and
photothermal stabilization, we achieve a feedback bandwidth of kHz and a
noise level of m rms
Cavity-enhanced Raman Microscopy of Individual Carbon Nanotubes
Raman spectroscopy reveals chemically specific information and provides
label-free insight into the molecular world. However, the signals are
intrinsically weak and call for enhancement techniques. Here, we demonstrate
Purcell enhancement of Raman scattering in a tunable high-finesse microcavity,
and utilize it for molecular diagnostics by combined Raman and absorption
imaging. Studying individual single-wall carbon nanotubes, we identify crucial
structural parameters such as nanotube radius, electronic structure and
extinction cross-section. We observe a 320-times enhanced Raman scattering
spectral density and an effective Purcell factor of 6.2, together with a
collection efficiency of 60%. Potential for significantly higher enhancement,
quantitative signals, inherent spectral filtering and absence of intrinsic
background in cavity-vacuum stimulated Raman scattering render the technique a
promising tool for molecular imaging. Furthermore, cavity-enhanced Raman
transitions involving localized excitons could potentially be used for gaining
quantum control over nanomechanical motion and open a route for molecular
cavity optomechanics
Cavity-enhanced optical detection of carbon nanotube Brownian motion
Optical cavities with small mode volume are well-suited to detect the
vibration of sub-wavelength sized objects. Here we employ a fiber-based,
high-finesse optical microcavity to detect the Brownian motion of a freely
suspended carbon nanotube at room temperature under vacuum. The optical
detection resolves deflections of the oscillating tube down to 50pm/Hz^1/2. A
full vibrational spectrum of the carbon nanotube is obtained and confirmed by
characterization of the same device in a scanning electron microscope. Our work
successfully extends the principles of high-sensitivity optomechanical
detection to molecular scale nanomechanical systems.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
On the nature of the fast moving star S2 in the Galactic Center
We analyze the properties of the star S2 orbiting the supermassive black hole
at the center of the Galaxy. A high quality SINFONI H and K band spectrum
obtained from coadding 23.5 hours of observation between 2004 and 2007 reveals
that S2 is an early B dwarf (B0-2.5V). Using model atmospheres, we constrain
its stellar and wind properties. We show that S2 is a genuine massive star, and
not the core of a stripped giant star as sometimes speculated to resolve the
problem of star formation so close to the supermassive black hole. We give an
upper limit on its mass loss rate, and show that it is He enriched, possibly
because of the presence of a magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, ApJ letters accepte
On the origin of the extremely different solubilities of polyethers in water
The solubilities of polyethers are surprisingly counter-intuitive. The best-known example is the difference between polyethylene glycol ([–CH2–CH2–O–]n) which is infinitely soluble, and polyoxymethylene ([–CH2–O–]n) which is completely insoluble in water, exactly the opposite of what one expects from the C/O ratios of these molecules. Similar anomalies exist for oligomeric and cyclic polyethers. To solve this apparent mystery, we use femtosecond vibrational and GHz dielectric spectroscopy with complementary ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the dynamics of water molecules solvating polyethers is fundamentally different depending on their C/O composition. The ab initio calculations and simulations show that this is not because of steric effects (as is commonly believed), but because the partial charge on the O atoms depends on the number of C atoms by which they are separated. Our results thus show that inductive effects can have a major impact on aqueous solubilities
Self-localization of magnon Bose-Einstein condensates in the ground state and on excited levels: from harmonic to box-like trapping potential
Long-lived coherent spin precession of 3He-B at low temperatures around 0.2
Tc is a manifestation of Bose-Einstein condensation of spin-wave excitations or
magnons in a magnetic trap which is formed by the order-parameter texture and
can be manipulated experimentally. When the number of magnons increases, the
orbital texture reorients under the influence of the spin-orbit interaction and
the profile of the trap gradually changes from harmonic to a square well, with
walls almost impenetrable to magnons. This is the first experimental example of
Bose condensation in a box. By selective rf pumping the trap can be populated
with a ground-state condensate or one at any of the excited energy levels. In
the latter case the ground state is simultaneously populated by relaxation from
the exited level, forming a system of two coexisting condensates.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
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