787 research outputs found
Observation of polarization quantum noise of laser radiation in Rb vapor cell
We present experimental study of polarization quantum noise of laser
radiation passed through optically think vapor of Rb87. We observe a step-like
noise spectrum. We discuss various factor which may result in such noise
spectrum and prevent observation of squeezing of quantum fluctuations predicted
in Matsko et al. PRA 63, 043814 (2001).Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Translated from Russian by I. Novikov
Comparison of 87Rb N-resonances for D1 and D2 transitions
We report an experimental comparison of three-photon-absorption resonances
(known as "N-resonances") for the D_1 and D_2 optical transitions of thermal
87Rb vapor. We find that the D_2 N-resonance has better contrast, a broader
linewidth, and a more symmetric lineshape than the D_1 N-resonance. Taken
together, these factors imply superior performance for frequency standards
operating on alkali D_2 N-resonances, in contrast to coherent population
trapping (CPT) resonances for which the D_2 transition provides poorer
frequency standard performance than the D_1 transition.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure
Slow light in paraffin-coated Rb vapor cells
We present preliminary results from an experimental study of slow light in
anti-relaxation-coated Rb vapor cells, and describe the construction and
testing of such cells. The slow ground state decoherence rate allowed by coated
cell walls leads to a dual-structured electromagnetically induced transparency
(EIT) spectrum with a very narrow (<100 Hz) transparency peak on top of a broad
pedestal. Such dual-structure EIT permits optical probe pulses to propagate
with greatly reduced group velocity on two time scales. We discuss ongoing
efforts to optimize the pulse delay in such coated cell systems.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Journal of Modern Optic
Large negative and positive delay of optical pulses in coherently prepared dense Rb vapor with buffer gas
We experimentally study the group time delay for a light pulse propagating
through hot Rb vapor in the presence of a strong coupling field in a
configuration. We demonstrate that the ultra-slow pulse propagation is
transformed into superluminal propagation as the one-photon detuning of the
light increases due to the change in the transmission resonance lineshape.
Negative group velocity as low as -c/10^6=-80 m/s is recorded. We also find
that the advance time in the regime of the superluminal propagation grows
linearly with increasing laser field power.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
EIT and diffusion of atomic coherence
We study experimentally the effect of diffusion of Rb atoms on
Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) in a buffer gas vapor cell. In
particular, we find that diffusion of atomic coherence in-and-out of the laser
beam plays a crucial role in determining the EIT resonance lineshape and the
stored light lifetime.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figure
A novel absorption resonance for all-optical atomic clocks
We report an experimental study of an all-optical three-photon-absorption
resonance (known as a "N-resonance") and discuss its potential application as
an alternative to atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping (CPT). We
present measurements of the N-resonance contrast, width and light-shift for the
D1 line of 87Rb with varying buffer gases, and find good agreement with an
analytical model of this novel resonance. The results suggest that N-resonances
are promising for atomic clock applications.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Coherent population trapping resonances with linearly polarized light for all-optical miniature atomic clocks
We present a joint theoretical and experimental characterization of the
coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance excited on the D1 line of 87Rb
atoms by bichromatic linearly polarized laser light. We observe high-contrast
transmission resonances (up to 25%), which makes this excitation scheme
promising for miniature all-optical atomic clock applications. We also
demonstrate cancellation of the first-order light shift by proper choice of the
frequencies and relative intensities of the two laser field components. Our
theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Dynamic optical bistability in resonantly enhanced Raman generation
We report observations of novel dynamic behavior in resonantly-enhanced
stimulated Raman scattering in Rb vapor. In particular, we demonstrate a
dynamic hysteresis of the Raman scattered optical field in response to changes
of the drive laser field intensity and/or frequency. This effect may be
described as a dynamic form of optical bistability resulting from the formation
and decay of atomic coherence. We have applied this phenomenon to the
realization of an all-optical switch.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Hox gene expression during postlarval development of the polychaete Alitta virens
BACKGROUND: Hox genes are the family of transcription factors that play a key role in the patterning of the anterior-posterior axis of all bilaterian animals. These genes display clustered organization and colinear expression. Expression boundaries of individual Hox genes usually correspond with morphological boundaries of the body. Previously, we studied Hox gene expression during larval development of the polychaete Alitta virens (formerly Nereis virens) and discovered that Hox genes are expressed in nereid larva according to the spatial colinearity principle. Adult Alitta virens consist of multiple morphologically similar segments, which are formed sequentially in the growth zone. Since the worm grows for most of its life, postlarval segments constantly change their position along the anterior-posterior axis. RESULTS: We studied the expression dynamics of the Hox cluster during postlarval development of the nereid Alitta virens and found that 8 out of 11 Hox genes are transcribed as wide gene-specific gradients in the ventral nerve cord, ectoderm, and mesoderm. The expression domains constantly shift in accordance with the changing proportions of the growing worm, so expression domains of most Hox genes do not have stable anterior or/and posterior boundaries. In the course of our study, we revealed long antisense RNA (asRNA) for some Hox genes. Expression patterns of two of these genes were analyzed using whole-mount in-situ hybridization. This is the first discovery of antisense RNA for Hox genes in Lophotrochozoa. CONCLUSION: Hox gene expression in juvenile A. virens differs significantly from Hox gene expression patterns both in A. virens larva and in other Bilateria. We suppose that the postlarval function of the Hox genes in this polychaete is to establish and maintain positional coordinates in a constantly growing body, as opposed to creating morphological difference between segments
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