41 research outputs found
A high-brightness source of polarization-entangled photons optimized for applications in free space
We present a simple but highly efficient source of polarization-entangled
photons based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in bulk
periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystals (PPKTP) pumped by a 405
nm laser diode. Utilizing one of the highest available nonlinear coefficients
in a non-degenerate, collinear type-0 phase-matching configuration, we generate
polarization entanglement via the crossed-crystal scheme and detect 0.64
million photon pair events/s/mW, while maintaining an overlap fidelity with the
ideal Bell state of 0.98 at a pump power of 0.025 mW
First atom lifetime and scattering length measurements
The results of a search for hydrogen-like atoms consisting of
mesons are presented. Evidence for atom production
by 24 GeV/c protons from CERN PS interacting with a nickel target has been seen
in terms of characteristic pairs from their breakup in the same target
() and from Coulomb final state interaction (). Using
these results the analysis yields a first value for the atom lifetime
of fs and a first model-independent measurement of
the S-wave isospin-odd scattering length
( for isospin ).Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
Shape-induced force fields in optical trapping
Advances in optical tweezers, coupled with the proliferation of two-photon polymerization systems, mean that it is now becoming routine to fabricate and trap non-spherical particles. The shaping of both light beams and particles allows fine control over the flow of momentum from the optical to mechanical regimes. However, understanding and predicting the behaviour of such systems is highly complex in comparison with the traditional optically trapped microsphere. In this Article, we present a conceptually new and simple approach based on the nature of the optical force density. We illustrate the method through the design and fabrication of a shaped particle capable of acting as a passive force clamp, and we demonstrate its use as an optically trapped probe for imaging surface topography. Further applications of the design rules highlighted here may lead to new sensors for probing biomolecule mechanics, as well as to the development of optically actuated micromachines
Determination of scattering lengths from measurement of atom lifetime
The DIRAC experiment at CERN has achieved a sizeable production of
atoms and has significantly improved the precision on its lifetime
determination. From a sample of 21227 atomic pairs, a 4% measurement of the
S-wave scattering length difference
has been attained, providing an important test of Chiral Perturbation Theory.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Investigation of pairs in the effective mass region near
The DIRAC experiment at CERN investigated in the reaction
the particle pairs and with relative momentum in the pair system less than 100 MeV/c.
Because of background influence studies, DIRAC explored three subsamples of
pairs, obtained by subtracting -- using time-of-flight (TOF) technique
-- background from initial distributions with sample fractions
more than 70\%, 50\% and 30\%. The corresponding pair distributions in and
in its longitudinal projection were analyzed first in a Coulomb model,
which takes into account only Coulomb final state interaction (FSI) and
assuming point-like pair production. This Coulomb model analysis leads to a
yield increase of about four at MeV/c compared to 100 MeV/c.
In order to study contributions from strong interaction, a second more
sophisticated model was applied, considering besides Coulomb FSI also strong
FSI via the resonances and and a variable distance
between the produced mesons. This analysis was based on three different
parameter sets for the pair production. For the 70\% subsample and with best
parameters, pairs was found to be compared to extracted by means of the Coulomb model. Knowing the efficiency
of the TOF cut for background suppression, the total number of detected
pairs was evaluated to be around , which agrees with
the result from the 30\% subsample. The pair number in the 50\%
subsample differs from the two other values by about three standard deviations,
confirming -- as discussed in the paper -- that experimental data in this
subsample is less reliable
Free-Space distribution of entanglement and single photons over 144 km
Quantum Entanglement is the essence of quantum physics and inspires
fundamental questions about the principles of nature. Moreover it is also the
basis for emerging technologies of quantum information processing such as
quantum cryptography, quantum teleportation and quantum computation. Bell's
discovery, that correlations measured on entangled quantum systems are at
variance with a local realistic picture led to a flurry of experiments
confirming the quantum predictions. However, it is still experimentally
undecided whether quantum entanglement can survive global distances, as
predicted by quantum theory. Here we report the violation of the
Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) inequality measured by two observers
separated by 144 km between the Canary Islands of La Palma and Tenerife via an
optical free-space link using the Optical Ground Station (OGS) of the European
Space Agency (ESA). Furthermore we used the entangled pairs to generate a
quantum cryptographic key under experimental conditions and constraints
characteristic for a Space-to-ground experiment. The distance in our experiment
exceeds all previous free-space experiments by more than one order of magnitude
and exploits the limit for ground-based free-space communication; significantly
longer distances can only be reached using air- or space-based platforms. The
range achieved thereby demonstrates the feasibility of quantum communication in
space, involving satellites or the International Space Station (ISS).Comment: 10 pages including 2 figures and 1 table, Corrected typo
Evidence for -atoms with DIRAC
We present evidence for the first observation of electromagnetically bound
-pairs (-atoms) with the DIRAC experiment at the CERN-PS.
The -atoms are produced by the 24 GeV/c proton beam in a thin Pt-target
and the and -mesons from the atom dissociation are analyzed in
a two-arm magnetic spectrometer. The observed enhancement at low relative
momentum corresponds to the production of 173 54 -atoms. The mean
life of -atoms is related to the s-wave -scattering lengths, the
measurement of which is the goal of the experiment. From these first data we
derive a lower limit for the mean life of 0.8 fs at 90% confidence level.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure
Compact source of polarization-entangled photon pairs
10.1364/OPEX.12.000276Optics Express122276-28