Single ions trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice

We report on three-dimensional optical trapping of single ions in an optical lattice formed by two counter-propagating laser beams. We characterize the trapping parameters of the standing wave using the ion as a sensor stored in a hybrid trap consisting of a radio-frequency (rf), a dc, and the optical potential. When loading ions directly from the rf into the standing-wave trap, we observe a dominant heating rate. Monte Carlo simulations confirm rf-induced parametric excitations within the deep optical lattice as the main source. We demonstrate a way around this effect by an alternative transfer protocol which involves an intermediate step of optical confinement in a single-beam trap avoiding the temporal overlap of the standing wave and the rf field. Implications arise for hybrid (rf/optical) and pure optical traps as platforms for ultra-cold chemistry experiments exploring atom--ion collisions or quantum simulation experiments with ions, or combinations of ions and atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Two-loop current-current operator contribution to the non-leptonic QCD penguin amplitude

The computation of direct CP asymmetries in charmless B decays at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD is of interest to ascertain the short-distance contribution. Here we compute the two-loop penguin contractions of the current-current operators Q_{1,2} and provide a first estimate of NNLO CP asymmetries in penguin-dominated b -> s transitions.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

A puzzle in Bˉ(s)0→D(s)(∗)+{π−,K−}\bar{B}_{(s)}^0 \to D_{(s)}^{(*)+} \lbrace \pi^-, K^-\rbrace decays and extraction of the fs/fdf_s/f_d fragmentation fraction

We provide updated predictions for the hadronic decays $\bar{B}_s^0\to D_s^{(*)+} \pi^-$ and $\bar{B}^0\to D^{(*)+} K^-$. They are based on $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^2)$ results for the QCD factorization amplitudes at leading power and on recent results for the $\bar{B}_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}^{(*)}$ form factors up to order ${\cal O}(\Lambda_{\rm QCD}^2/m_c^2)$ in the heavy-quark expansion. We give quantitative estimates of the matrix elements entering the hadronic decay amplitudes at order ${\cal O}(\Lambda_{\rm QCD}/m_b)$ for the first time. Our results are very precise, and uncover a substantial discrepancy between the theory predictions and the experimental measurements. We explore two possibilities for this discrepancy: non-factorizable contributions larger than predicted by the QCD factorization power counting, and contributions beyond the Standard Model. We determine the $f_s/f_d$ fragmentation fraction for the CDF, D0 and LHCb experiments for both scenarios.Comment: 13 pages, 4 tables: v2: minor modifications, accepted for publication in EPJ

Influence of static electric fields on an optical ion trap

We recently reported on a proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating optical trapping of an ion in a single-beam dipole trap superimposed by a static electric potential [Nat. Photonics 4, 772--775 (2010)]. Here, we first discuss the experimental procedures focussing on the influence and consequences of the static electric potential. These potentials can easily prevent successful optical trapping, if their configuration is not chosen carefully. Afterwards, we analyse the dipole trap experiments with different analytic models, in which different approximations are applied. According to these models the experimental results agree with recoil heating as the relevant heating effect. In addition, a Monte-Carlo simulation has been developed to refine the analysis. It reveals a large impact of the static electric potential on the dipole trap experiments in general. While it supports the results of the analytic models for the parameters used in the experiments, the analytic models cease their validity for significantly different parameters. Finally, we propose technical improvements for future realizations of experiments with optically trapped ions.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figure

Technological implementation of a photonic Bier-Glass cavity

In this paper, we introduce a novel quantum photonic device, which we term photonic Bier-Glass cavity. We discuss its fabrication and functionality, which is based on the coupling of integrated In(Ga)As quantum dots to a broadband photonic cavity resonance. By design, the device architecture uniquely combines the Purcell enhancement of a photonic micropillar structure with broadband photonic mode shaping of a vertical, tapered waveguide, making it an interesting candidate to enable the efficient extraction of entangled photon pairs. We detail the epitaxial growth of the heterostructure and the necessary lithography steps to approach a GaAs-based photonic device with a height exceeding 15 $\mu$m, supported on a pedestal that can be as thin as 20 nm. We present an optical characterization, which confirms the presence of broadband optical resonances, in conjunction with amplified spontaneous emission of single photons.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure

Nonlinear terahertz control of the lead halide perovskite lattice

Lead halide perovskites (LHPs) have emerged as an excellent class of semiconductors for next-generation solar cells and optoelectronic devices. Tailoring physical properties by fine-tuning the lattice structures has been explored in these materials by chemical composition or morphology. Nevertheless, its dynamic counterpart, phonon-driven ultrafast material control, as contemporarily harnessed for oxide perovskites, has not yet been established. Here, we use intense THz electric fields to obtain direct lattice control via nonlinear excitation of coherent octahedral twist modes in hybrid CH3NH3PbBr3 and all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskites. These Raman-active phonons at 0.9 to 1.3 THz are found to govern the ultrafast THz-induced Kerr effect in the low-temperature orthorhombic phase and thus dominate the phonon-modulated polarizability with potential implications for dynamic charge carrier screening beyond the Fröhlich polaron. Our work opens the door to selective control of LHP’s vibrational degrees of freedom governing phase transitions and dynamic disorder

Stimulus - response curves of a neuronal model for noisy subthreshold oscillations and related spike generation

We investigate the stimulus-dependent tuning properties of a noisy ionic conductance model for intrinsic subthreshold oscillations in membrane potential and associated spike generation. On depolarization by an applied current, the model exhibits subthreshold oscillatory activity with occasional spike generation when oscillations reach the spike threshold. We consider how the amount of applied current, the noise intensity, variation of maximum conductance values and scaling to different temperature ranges alter the responses of the model with respect to voltage traces, interspike intervals and their statistics and the mean spike frequency curves. We demonstrate that subthreshold oscillatory neurons in the presence of noise can sensitively and also selectively be tuned by stimulus-dependent variation of model parameters.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

The use of urinary proteomics in the assessment of suitability of mouse models for ageing

Ageing is a complex process characterised by a systemic and progressive deterioration of biological functions. As ageing is associated with an increased prevalence of age-related chronic disorders, understanding its underlying molecular mechanisms can pave the way for therapeutic interventions and managing complications. Animal models such as mice are commonly used in ageing research as they have a shorter lifespan in comparison to humans and are also genetically close to humans. To assess the translatability of mouse ageing to human ageing, the urinary proteome in 89 wild-type (C57BL/6) mice aged between 8–96 weeks was investigated using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS). Using age as a continuous variable, 295 peptides significantly correlated with age in mice were identified. To investigate the relevance of using mouse models in human ageing studies, a comparison was performed with a previous correlation analysis using 1227 healthy subjects. In mice and humans, a decrease in urinary excretion of fibrillar collagens and an increase of uromodulin fragments was observed with advanced age. Of the 295 peptides correlating with age, 49 had a strong homology to the respective human age-related peptides. These ortholog peptides including several collagen (N = 44) and uromodulin (N = 5) fragments were used to generate an ageing classifier that was able to discriminate the age among both wild-type mice and healthy subjects. Additionally, the ageing classifier depicted that telomerase knock-out mice were older than their chronological age. Hence, with a focus on ortholog urinary peptides mouse ageing can be translated to human ageing