640 research outputs found
External-field shifts of the 199Hg+ optical frequency standard
Frequency shifts of the ^199Hg^+ 5d^10 6s ^2S_1/2 (F=0, M_F=0) to 5d^9 6s^2
^2D_5/2 (F=2, M_F=0) electric-quadrupole transition at 282 nm due to external
fields are calculated, based on a combination of measured atomic parameters and
ab initio calculations. This transition is under investigation as an optical
frequency standard. The perturbations calculated are the quadratic Zeeman
shift, the scalar and tensor quadratic Stark shifts, and the interaction
between an external electric field gradient and the atomic quadrupole moment.
The quadrupole shift is likely to be the most difficult to evaluate in a
frequency standard and may have a magnitude of about 1 Hz for a single ion in a
Paul trap.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX 4, submitted to J. Research of the National Institute
of Standards and Technolog
Quantum harmonic oscillator state synthesis and analysis
Experiments are described in which a single, harmonically bound, beryllium
ion in a Paul trap is put into Fock, thermal, coherent, squeezed, and
Schroedinger cat states. Experimental determinations of the density matrix and
the Wigner function are described. A simple calculation of the decoherence of a
superposition of coherent states due to an external electric field is given.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX2e, special style file spie.sty included, 11 eps
figures included using epsfig, graphicx, subfigure, floatflt macros. To
appear in Proc. Conf. on Atom Optics, San Jose, CA, Feb. 1997, edited by M.
G. Prentiss and W. D. Phillips, SPIE Proc. # 299
Complementarity and Young's interference fringes from two atoms
The interference pattern of the resonance fluorescence from a J=1/2 to J=1/2
transition of two identical atoms confined in a three-dimensional harmonic
potential is calculated. Thermal motion of the atoms is included. Agreement is
obtained with experiments [Eichmann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 2359 (1993)].
Contrary to some theoretical predictions, but in agreement with the present
calculations, a fringe visibility greater than 50% can be observed with
polarization-selective detection. The dependence of the fringe visibility on
polarization has a simple interpretation, based on whether or not it is
possible in principle to determine which atom emitted the photon.Comment: 12 pages, including 7 EPS figures, RevTex. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Simplified quantum logic with trapped ions
We describe a simplified scheme for quantum logic with a collection of
laser-cooled trapped atomic ions. Building on the scheme of Cirac and Zoller,
we show how the fundamental controlled-NOT gate between a collective mode of
ion motion and the internal states of a single ion can be reduced to a single
laser pulse, and the need for a third auxiliary internal electronic state can
be eliminated.Comment: 8 pages, PostScript, submitted to Physical Review A, Rapid
Communication
Reexamining Black-Body Shifts for Hydrogenlike Ions
We investigate black-body induced energy shifts for low-lying levels of
atomic systems, with a special emphasis on transitions used in current and
planned high-precision experiments on atomic hydrogen and ionized helium.
Fine-structure and Lamb-shift induced black-body shifts are found to increase
with the square of the nuclear charge number, whereas black-body shifts due to
virtual transitions decrease with increasing nuclear charge as the fourth power
of the nuclear charge. We also investigate the decay width acquired by the
ground state of atomic hydrogen, due to interaction with black-body photons.
The corresponding width is due to an instability against excitation to higher
excited atomic levels, and due to black-body induced ionization. These effects
limit the lifetime of even the most fundamental, a priori absolutely stable,
"asymptotic" state of atomic theory, namely the ground state of atomic
hydrogen.Comment: 11 pages; LaTe
Structural and dynamical properties of a quasi-one-dimensional classical binary system
The ground state configurations and the \lq{}\lq{}normal\rq{}\rq{} mode
spectra of a -one-dimensional (Q1D) binary system of charged particles
interacting through a screened Coulomb potential are presented. The minimum
energy configurations were obtained analytically and independently through
molecular dynamic simulations. A rich variety of ordered structures were found
as a function of the screening parameter, the particle density, and the ratio
between the charges of the distinct types of particles. Continuous and
discontinuous structural transitions, as well as an unexpected symmetry
breaking in the charge distribution are observed when the density of the system
is changed. For near equal charges we found a disordered phase where a mixing
of the two types of particles occurs. The phonon dispersion curves were
calculated within the harmonic approximation for the one- and two-chain
structures.Comment: 11 pages, 11 fig
Frequency and time standards based on stored ions
The method of ion storage provides a basis for excellent time and frequency standards. This is due to the ability to confine ions for long periods of time without the usual perturbations associated with confinement (e.g., wall shifts). In addition, Doppler effects can be greatly suppressed. The use of stored ions for microwave frequency standards and the future possibilities for an optical frequency standard based on stored ions are addressed
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