Thin-disk laser pump schemes for large number of passes and moderate pump source quality

Novel thin-disk laser pump layouts are proposed yielding an increased number of passes for a given pump module size and pump source quality. These novel layouts result from a general scheme which bases on merging two simpler pump optics arrangements. Some peculiar examples can be realized by adapting standard commercially available pump optics simply by intro ducing an additional mirror-pair. More pump passes yield better efficiency, opening the way for usage of active materials with low absorption. In a standard multi-pass pump design, scaling of the number of beam passes brings ab out an increase of the overall size of the optical arrangement or an increase of the pump source quality requirements. Such increases are minimized in our scheme, making them eligible for industrial applicationsComment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Noise sensitivity of an atomic velocity sensor

We use Bloch oscillations to accelerate coherently Rubidium atoms. The variation of the velocity induced by this acceleration is an integer number times the recoil velocity due to the absorption of one photon. The measurement of the velocity variation is achieved using two velocity selective Raman pi-pulses: the first pulse transfers atoms from the hyperfine state 5S1/2 |F=2, mF=0> to 5S1/2, |F=1, mF = 0> into a narrow velocity class. After the acceleration of this selected atomic slice, we apply the second Raman pulse to bring the resonant atoms back to the initial state 5S1/2, |F=2, mF = 0>. The populations in (F=1 and F=2) are measured separately by using a one-dimensional time-of-flight technique. To plot the final velocity distribution we repeat this procedure by scanning the Raman beam frequency of the second pulse. This two pi-pulses system constitutes then a velocity sensor. Any noise in the relative phase shift of the Raman beams induces an error in the measured velocity. In this paper we present a theoretical and an experimental analysis of this velocity sensor, which take into account the phase fluctuations during the Raman pulses

Compact 20-pass thin-disk amplifier insensitive to thermal lensing

We present a multi-pass amplifier which passively compensates for distortions of the spherical phase front occurring in the active medium. The design is based on the Fourier transform propagation which makes the output beam parameters insensitive to variation of thermal lens effects in the active medium. The realized system allows for 20 reflections on the active medium and delivers a small signal gain of 30 with M$^2$ = 1.16. Its novel geometry combining Fourier transform propagations with 4f-imaging stages as well as a compact array of adjustable mirrors allows for a layout with a footprint of 400 mm x 1000 mm.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Theoretical Analysis of a Large Momentum Beamsplitter using Bloch Oscillations

In this paper, we present the implementation of Bloch oscillations in an atomic interferometer to increase the separation of the two interfering paths. A numerical model, in very good agreement with the experiment, is developed. The contrast of the interferometer and its sensitivity to phase fluctuations and to intensity fluctuations are also calculated. We demonstrate that the sensitivity to phase fluctuations can be significantly reduced by using a suitable arrangement of Bloch oscillations pulses

A magneto-gravitational trap for precision studies of gravitational quantum states

Observation time is the key parameter for improving the precision of measurements of gravitational quantum states of particles levitating above a reflecting surface. We propose a new method of long confinement in such states of atoms, anti-atoms, neutrons and other particles possessing a magnetic moment. The Earth gravitational field and a reflecting mirror confine particles in the vertical direction. The magnetic field originating from electric current passing through a vertical wire confines particles in the radial direction. Under appropriate conditions, motions along these two directions are decoupled to a high degree. We estimate characteristic parameters of the problem, and list possible systematic effects that limit storage times due to the coupling of the two motions. In the limit of low particle velocities and magnetic fields, precise control of the particle motion and long storage times in the trap can provide ideal conditions for both gravitational, optical and hyperfine spectroscopy: for the sensitive verification of the equivalence principle for antihydrogen atoms; for increasing the accuracy of optical and hyperfine spectroscopy of atoms and antiatoms; for improving constraints on extra fundamental interactions from experiments with neutrons, atoms and antiatoms

Deciphering the folding kinetics of transmembrane helical proteins

Nearly a quarter of genomic sequences and almost half of all receptors that are likely to be targets for drug design are integral membrane proteins. Understanding the detailed mechanisms of the folding of membrane proteins is a largely unsolved, key problem in structural biology. Here, we introduce a general model and use computer simulations to study the equilibrium properties and the folding kinetics of a $C_{\alpha}$-based two helix bundle fragment (comprised of 66 amino-acids) of Bacteriorhodopsin. Various intermediates are identified and their free energy are calculated toghether with the free energy barrier between them. In 40% of folding trajectories, the folding rate is considerably increased by the presence of non-obligatory intermediates acting as traps. In all cases, a substantial portion of the helices is rapidly formed. This initial stage is followed by a long period of consolidation of the helices accompanied by their correct packing within the membrane. Our results provide the framework for understanding the variety of folding pathways of helical transmembrane proteins

Probing Supergravity Models with Indirect Experimental Signatures

We explore the one-loop electroweak radiative corrections in the context of the traditional minimal $SU(5)$ and the string-inspired $SU(5)\times U(1)$ supergravity models by calculating explicitly vacuum-polarization and vertex-correction contributions to the $\epsilon_1$ and $\epsilon_b$ parameters. We also include in this analysis the constraint from $b\rightarrow s\gamma$ whose inclusive branching ratio $B(b\rightarrow s\gamma)$ has been actually measured very recently by CLEO. We find that by combining these three most important indirect experimental signatures and using the most recent experimental values for them, $m_t\gtrsim 170 {\rm GeV}$ is excluded for $\mu>0$ in both the minimal $SU(5)$ supergravity and the no-scale $SU(5)\times U(1)$ supergravity. We also find that $m_t\gtrsim 175(185) {\rm GeV}$ is excluded for any sign of $\mu$ in the minimal ($SU(5)\times U(1)$) supergravity model.Comment: RevTeX 3.0, 16 Pages+4 figures(not included but available as a uuencoded file from [email protected]), SNUTP-94-9

Zeroing In On the Top Quark, LSP and Scalar Higgs Masses

We estimate the top quark, lightest sparticle (LSP) and scalar higgs masses within a supersymmetric grand unified framework in which $\tan\beta \simeq m_t/m_b$ and the electroweak symmetry is radiatively broken. The requirement that the calculated $b$ quark mass lie close to its measured value, together with the cosmological constraint $\Omega_{LSP} \approx 1$, fixes the top quark mass to be $m_t(m_t) \approx 170 \pm 15\ GeV$. The LSP (of bino purity $\stackrel{_>}{_\sim} 98\%)$ has mass $\sim 200 - 350\ GeV$. In the scalar higgs sector the CP-odd scalar mass $m_A \stackrel{_<}{_\sim} 220\ GeV$. With $m_A \stackrel{_>}{_\sim} M_Z$, as suggested by the decay $b \rightarrow s\gamma$, we find $M_Z \stackrel{_<}{_\sim} m_{h^0} (m_{H^0}) \stackrel{_<}{_\sim} 140 (220)\ GeV$ and $120\ GeV \stackrel{_<}{_\sim} m_{H^\pm} \stackrel{_<}{_\sim} 240\ GeV$.Comment: 14 pages in plain LaTeX, BA-93-25, PRL-TH-93/