Making didactic experiments with the sound system of a PC

In this work we present a simple and useful experimental system for teaching and learning in graduate courses of experimental physics. We developed our experiment with the help of a personal computer that works at the same time as a function generator, an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyser and an analogical/digital converter (A/D). We have performed a frequency response test to demonstrate the performance of the referred system, where we used a PC to produce a square-wave form and its sound card to make data acquisition of an oscillator circuit. We have measured the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic samples by means of a RLC circuit that works as an AC susceptometer. We analyzed and adjusted the experimental data in agreement with theoretical results from a Fourier analysis. In adittion, we have also studied a nonlinear system composed of a RLD circuit.Apresentamos um sistema experimental simples e útil para ensino e aprendizagem em cursos de Física experimental. Desenvolvemos um sistema experimental com a ajuda de um computador pessoal que funciona ao mesmo tempo como um gerador de função e um conversor A/D, o qual pode ser usado como um osciloscópio digital de dois canais e um analisador de espectro, permitindo em tempo real a automação na aquisição de dados. Estudamos a resposta em frequência de um circuito oscilador RLC a uma excitação do tipo onda quadrada, onde a saída de áudio do PC foi usada para produzir uma forma de onda quadrada com frequência sintonizável, e sua placa de som para detectar os sinais AC de resposta do circuito. Usamos o circuito RLC como um susceptímetro AC para medir susceptibilidades magnéticas de amostras ferromagnéticas. Os dados experimentais estão em acordo com a previsão teórica da análise de Fourier. Estudamos ainda um sistema não linear constituído por um circuito caótico RLD.117123Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Two-Photon Doppler cooling of alkaline-earth-metal and ytterbium atoms

A new possibility of laser cooling of alkaline-earth-metal and Ytterbium atoms using a two-photon transition is analyzed. We consider a $^{1}S_{0}$ - $^{1}S_{0}$ transition, with excitation in near resonance with the $^{1}P_{1}$ level. This greatly increases the two-photon transition rate, allowing an effective transfer of momentum. The experimental implementation of this technique is discussed and we show that for Calcium, for example, two-photon cooling can be used to achieve a Doppler limit of 123 microKelvin. The efficiency of this cooling scheme and the main loss mechanisms are analyzed.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Temperature limits in laser cooling of free atoms with three-level cascade transitions

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFACEPE - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOWe employ semiclassical theoretical analysis to study laser cooling of free atoms using three-level cascade transitions, where the upper transition is much weaker than the lower one. This represents an alternate cooling scheme, particularly useful for group II atoms. We find that temperatures below the Doppler limits associated with each of these transitions are expected. The lowest temperatures arise from a remarkable increase in damping and reduced diffusion compared to two-level cooling. They are reached at the two-photon resonance, where there is a crossing between the narrow and the partially dark dressed states, and can be estimated simply by the usual Doppler limit considering the decay rate of the optical coherence between these states.We employ semiclassical theoretical analysis to study laser cooling of free atoms using three-level cascade transitions, where the upper transition is much weaker than the lower one. This represents an alternate cooling scheme, particularly useful for group II atoms. We find that temperatures below the Doppler limits associated with each of these transitions are expected. The lowest temperatures arise from a remarkable increase in damping and reduced diffusion compared to two-level cooling. They are reached at the two-photon resonance, where there is a crossing between the narrow and the partially dark dressed states, and can be estimated simply by the usual Doppler limit considering the decay rate of the optical coherence between these states.87615FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFACEPE - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFACEPE - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOSem informaçãoSem informaçãoSem informaçãoThis work has been supported by FAPESP, FACEPE, CNPq, and CEPOF