Digital Cavities and Their Potential Applications

The concept of a digital cavity is presented. The functionality of a tunable radio-frequency/microwave cavity with unrestricted Q-factor is implemented. The theoretical aspects of the cavity and its potential applications in high resolution spectroscopy and synchronization of clocks together with examples in signal processing and data acquisition are discussed

Compressed Sensing for Multidimensional Spectroscopy Experiments

Compressed sensing is a processing method that significantly reduces the number of measurements needed to accurately resolve signals in many fields of science and engineering. We develop a two-dimensional variant of compressed sensing for multidimensional spectroscopy and apply it to experimental data. For the model system of atomic rubidium vapor, we find that compressed sensing provides an order-of-magnitude (about 10-fold) improvement in spectral resolution along each dimension, as compared to a conventional discrete Fourier transform, using the same data set. More attractive is that compressed sensing allows for random undersampling of the experimental data, down to less than 5% of the experimental data set, with essentially no loss in spectral resolution. We believe that by combining powerful resolution with ease of use, compressed sensing can be a powerful tool for the analysis and interpretation of ultrafast spectroscopy data.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Invited Review Meeting Report: SMART Timing-Principles of Single Molecule Techniques Course at the University of Michigan 2014

ABSTRACT: Four days after the announcement of the 2014 Nobe

Conformation and Electronic Population Transfer in Membrane-Supported Self-Assembled Porphyrin Dimers by 2D Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2D FS) is applied to determine the conformation and femtosecond electronic population transfer in a dimer of magnesium meso tetraphenylporphyrin. The dimers are prepared by self-assembly of the monomer within the amphiphilic regions of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes. A theoretical framework to describe 2D FS experiments is presented, and a direct comparison is made between the observables of this measurement and those of 2D electronic spectroscopy (2D ES). The sensitivity of the method to varying dimer conformation is explored. A global multivariable fitting analysis of linear and 2D FS data indicates that the dimer adopts a “bent T-shaped” conformation. Moreover, the manifold of singly excited excitons undergoes rapid electronic dephasing and downhill population transfer on the time scale of ∼95 fs. The open conformation of the dimer suggests that its self-assembly is favored by an increase in entropy of the local membrane environment.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Coherent two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy in a PbS quantum dot photocell.

Recently there has been growing interest in the role of coherence in electronic dynamics. Coherent multidimensional spectroscopy has been used to reveal coherent phenomena in numerous material systems. Here we utilize a recent implementation of coherent multidimensional spectroscopy-two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy-in which we detect the photocurrent from a PbS quantum dot photocell resulting from its interactions with a sequence of four ultrafast laser pulses. We observe sub-picosecond evolution of two-dimensional spectra consistent with multiple exciton generation. Moreover, a comparison with two-dimensional fluorescence spectra of the quantum dots demonstrates the potential of two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy to elucidate detailed origins of photocurrent generating electronic state coherence pathways. Since the measurement is based on detecting the photocell current in situ, the method is well suited to study the fundamental ultrafast processes that affect the function of the device. This opens new avenues to investigate and implement coherent optimization strategies directly within devices