96 research outputs found
Contrast Interferometry Using Bose-Einstein Condensates to Measure h/m and the Fine Structure Constant
The kinetic energy of an atom recoiling due to absorption of a photon was
measured as a frequency using an interferometric technique called ``contrast
interferometry''. Optical standing wave pulses were used as atom-optical
elements to create a symmetric three-path interferometer with a Bose-Einstein
condensate. The recoil phase accumulated in different paths was measured using
a single-shot detection technique. The scheme allows for additional photon
recoils within the interferometer and its symmetry suppresses several random
and systematic errors including those from vibrations and ac Stark shifts. We
have measured the photon recoil frequency of sodium to ppm precision, using
a simple realization of this scheme. Plausible extensions should yield a
sufficient precision to bring within reach a ppb-level determination of
and the fine structure constant
Ground state hyperfine structures of 43K and 44K measured by atomic beam magnetic resonance coupled with laser optical pumping
The ground state hyperfine structures of 43 K and 44K have been measured by an atomic beam magnetic resonance method in which the atoms are spin-polarized by laser optical pumping. The spectroscopic results are : Îv43( 2S1/2) = 192.648 4 (30) MHz and ÎÎœ44( 2S1/2) = - 946.718 (3) MHz. The sensitivity of our method is compared to the one achieved in classical ABMR apparatus
Proposal for new experimental schemes to realize the Avogadro constant
We propose two experimental schemes to determine and so to realize the
Avogadro constant at the level of 10 or better with a watt
balance experiment and a cold atom experiment measuring (where is
the Planck constant and the mass of the atom ). We give some
prospects about achievable uncertainties and we discuss the opportunity to test
the existence of possible unknown correction factors for the Josephson effect
and quantum Hall effect
Stabilization and pumping of giant vortices in dilute Bose-Einstein condensates
Recently, it was shown that giant vortices with arbitrarily large quantum
numbers can possibly be created in dilute Bose-Einstein condensates by
cyclically pumping vorticity into the condensate. However, multiply quantized
vortices are typically dynamically unstable in harmonically trapped nonrotated
condensates, which poses a serious challenge to the vortex pump procedure. In
this theoretical study, we investigate how the giant vortices can be stabilized
by the application of a Gaussian potential peak along the vortex core. We find
that achieving dynamical stability is feasible up to high quantum numbers. To
demonstrate the efficiency of the stabilization method, we simulate the
adiabatic creation of an unsplit 20-quantum vortex with the vortex pump.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; to be published in J. Low Temp. Phys., online
publication available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10909-010-0216-
Atomic transition frequencies, isotope shifts, and sensitivity to variation of the fine structure constant for studies of quasar absorption spectra
Theories unifying gravity with other interactions suggest spatial and
temporal variation of fundamental "constants" in the Universe. A change in the
fine structure constant, alpha, could be detected via shifts in the frequencies
of atomic transitions in quasar absorption systems. Recent studies using 140
absorption systems from the Keck telescope and 153 from the Very Large
Telescope, suggest that alpha varies spatially. That is, in one direction on
the sky alpha seems to have been smaller at the time of absorption, while in
the opposite direction it seems to have been larger.
To continue this study we need accurate laboratory measurements of atomic
transition frequencies. The aim of this paper is to provide a compilation of
transitions of importance to the search for alpha variation. They are E1
transitions to the ground state in several different atoms and ions, with
wavelengths ranging from around 900 - 6000 A, and require an accuracy of better
than 10^{-4} A. We discuss isotope shift measurements that are needed in order
to resolve systematic effects in the study. The coefficients of sensitivity to
alpha-variation (q) are also presented.Comment: Includes updated version of the "alpha line" lis
Polarimetric interferometer for nanoscale positioning applications
International audienceWe propose and demonstrate a displacement control method at the subnanometric scale based on a Michelson interferometer combined with a polarimeter and a phase-locked loop electronic board. Step by step displacements with a step value of 5 nm are presented. A repeatability of 0.47 nm is obtained from back and forth displacements over 1 m range. We show that a residual ellipticity of less than 10° on the polarization state leads to a positioning error of less than 1 nm. Such system could be used over millimeter range displacements in a controlled surrounding environment leading to numerous applications in nanometrology
Heterodyne refractometer and air wavelength reference at 633Â nm
This paper presents new developments of the BNM-INM heterodyne compact refractometer.
Air refractive index measurements have been made at 633Â nm with a relative uncertainty of 10â8 and
the realization of a new type of wavelength stabilized
laser source has been demonstrated at 633Â nm. We now have adapted this source to a commercial
interferometric system working at 633Â nm. Length variation measurements in air have been made.
Results show that the wavelength of our source is insensitive to slow variations of the refractive
index of air at a level of 10â8, demonstrating the possibility to make distance measurements in air without the need to make any index correction
- âŠ