A fundamental limit to the efficiency of spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He nuclei

We establish the existence of a fundamental limit to the efficiency of spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He nuclei by collisions with spin-polarized alkali-metal atoms. Using accurate ab initio calculations of molecular interactions and scattering properties, we show that the maximum 3He spin polarization that can be achieved in spin-exchange collisions with potassium (39K) and silver (107Ag) atoms is limited by the anisotropic hyperfine interaction. We find that spin exchange in Ag-He collisions occurs much faster than in K-He collisions, suggesting the possibility of using Ag in spin-exchange optical pumping experiments to increase the production rate of hyperpolarized 3He. Our analysis indicates that measurements of trap loss rates of 2S atoms in the presence of cold 3He gas may be used to probe anisotropic spin-exchange interactions in atom-He collisions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Van der Waals Interactions in DFT using Wannier Functions: improved C6C_6 and C3C_3 coefficients by a new approach

A new implementation is proposed for including van der Waals interactions in Density Functional Theory using the Maximally-Localized Wannier functions. With respect to the previous DFT/vdW-WF method, the present DFT/vdW-WF2 approach, which is based on the simpler London expression and takes into account the intrafragment overlap of the localized Wannier functions, leads to a considerable improvement in the evaluation of the $C_6$ van der Waals coefficients, as shown by the application to a set of selected dimers. Preliminary results on Ar on graphite and Ne on the Cu(111) metal surface suggest that also the $C_3$ coefficients, characterizing molecule-surfaces van der Waals interactions are better estimated with the new scheme.Comment: 5 pages, 2 table

Study of the correlation effects in Yb^+ and implications for parity violation

Calculation of the energies, magnetic dipole hyperfine structure constants, E1 transition amplitudes between the low-lying states, and nuclear spin-dependent parity-nonconserving amplitudes for the ^2S_{1/2} - ^2D_{3/2,5/2} transitions in ^{171}Yb^+ ion is performed using two different approaches. First, we carried out many-body perturbation theory calculation considering Yb^+ as a monovalent system. Additional all-order calculations are carried out for selected properties. Second, we carried out configuration interaction calculation considering Yb as a 15-electron system and compared the results obtained by two methods. The accuracy of different methods is evaluated. We find that the monovalent description is inadequate for evaluation of some atomic properties due to significant mixing of the one-particle and the hole-two-particle configurations. Performing the calculation by such different approaches allowed us to establish the importance of various correlation effects for Yb^+ atomic properties for future improvement of theoretical precision in this complicated system.Comment: 11 pages;v2: minor changes and one reference adde

Coulomb interactions in single, charged self-assembled quantum dots: radiative lifetime and recombination energy

We present results on the charge dependence of the radiative recombination lifetime, Tau, and the emission energy of excitons confined to single self-assembled InGaAs quantum dots. There are significant dot-to-dot fluctuations in the lifetimes for a particular emission energy. To reach general conclusions, we present the statistical behavior by analyzing data recorded on a large number of individual quantum dots. Exciton charge is controlled with extremely high fidelity through an n-type field effect structure, providing access to the neutral exciton (X0), the biexciton (2X0) and the positively (X1+) and negatively (X1-) charged excitons. We find significant differences in the recombination lifetime of each exciton such that, on average, Tau(X1-) / Tau(X0) = 1.25, Tau(X1+) / Tau(X0) = 1.58 and Tau(2X0) / Tau(X0) = 0.65. We attribute the change in lifetime to significant changes in the single particle hole wave function on charging the dot, an effect more pronounced on charging X0 with a single hole than with a single electron. We verify this interpretation by recasting the experimental data on exciton energies in terms of Coulomb energies. We show directly that the electron-hole Coulomb energy is charge dependent, reducing in value by 5-10% in the presence of an additional electron, and that the electron-electron and hole-hole Coulomb energies are almost equal.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Relaxation of energetic S(1D) atoms in Xe gas: Comparison of ab initio calculations with experimental data

In this paper, we report our investigation of the translational energy relaxation of fast S((1)D) atoms in a Xe thermal bath. The interaction potential of Xe-S was constructed using ab initio methods. Total and differential cross sections were then calculated. The latter have been incorporated into the construction of the kernel of the Boltzmann equation describing the energy relaxation process. The solution of the Boltzmann equation was obtained and results were compared with those reported in experiments [G. Nan, and P. L. Houston, J. Chem. Phys. 97, 7865 (1992)]. Good agreement with the measured time-dependent relative velocity of fast S((1)D) atoms was obtained except at long relaxation times. The discrepancy may be due to the error accumulation caused by the use of hard sphere approximation and the Monte Carlo analysis of the experimental data. Our accurate description of the energy relaxation process led to an increase in the number of collisions required to achieve equilibrium by an order of magnitude compared to the number given by the hard-sphere approximation.Astronom

Power-law carrier dynamics in semiconductor nanocrystals at nanosecond time scales

We report the observation of power law dynamics on nanosecond to microsecond time scales in the fluorescence decay from semiconductor nanocrystals, and draw a comparison between this behavior and power-law fluorescence blinking from single nanocrystals. The link is supported by comparison of blinking and lifetime data measured simultaneously from the same nanocrystal. Our results reveal that the power law coefficient changes little over the nine decades in time from 10 ns to 10 s, in contrast with the predictions of some diffusion based models of power law behavior.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, compressed for submission to Applied Physics Letter

Formation of van der Waals molecules in buffer gas cooled magnetic traps

We show that a large class of helium-containing cold polar molecules form readily in a cryogenic buffer gas, achieving densities as high as 10^12 cm^-3. We explore the spin relaxation of these molecules in buffer gas loaded magnetic traps, and identify a loss mechanism based on Landau-Zener transitions arising from the anisotropic hyperfine interaction. Our results show that the recently observed strong T^6 thermal dependence of spin change in buffer gas trapped silver (Ag) is accounted for by the formation and spin change of AgHe, thus providing evidence for molecular formation in a buffer gas trap.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Ultracold collision properties of metastable alkaline-earth atoms

Ultra-cold collisions of spin-polarized 24Mg,40Ca, and 88Sr in the metastable 3P2 excited state are investigated. We calculate the long-range interaction potentials and estimate the scattering length and the collisional loss rate as a function of magnetic field. The estimates are based on molecular potentials between 3P2 alkaline-earth atoms obtained from ab initio atomic and molecular structure calculations. The scattering lengths show resonance behavior due to the appearance of a molecular bound state in a purely long-range interaction potential and are positive for magnetic fields below 50 mT. A loss-rate model shows that losses should be smallest near zero magnetic field and for fields slightly larger than the resonance field, where the scattering length is also positive.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

‘Swim, swim and die at the beach’: family court and perpetrator induced trauma (CPIT) experiences of mothers in Brazil

Gender-based violence (GBV) and Domestic Violence (DV) are prevalent in Brazil. There are growing concerns globally regarding the weaponisation of the pseudo-concept ‘Parental Alienation’ (PA) in the family courts against women. Additionally, a lack of understanding of mothers’ family court and health-related experiences indicated a need to explore this topic further. A qualitative study was conducted with thirteen mothers who are victims of Domestic Violence and have been accused of PA. Mothers reported a range of harmful health experiences, delineated here under the conceptual framework of Court and Perpetrator Induced Trauma (CPIT). Six themes are presented, which encapsulate a range of harmful actions, behaviours and circumstances (ABCs) that surround these mothers and their responses to these ABCs. Multiple physical health conditions were reported as associated with family court proceedings. This included maternity problems, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, and respiratory conditions and a broad range of mental health implications including suicide and other trauma responses. Human rights violations, the weaponisation of ‘Parental Alienation’ and inherently misogynistic and oppressive justice systems in Brazil were also reported. Urgent measures and further research are now needed to investigate causal links between harm to health and the family courts and to strengthen human rights protection for women and child victims in Brazil and beyond

A Search for EUV Emission from Comets with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS)

We have obtained EUV spectra between 90 and 255 \AA of the cometsC/2002 T7 (LINEAR), C/2001 Q4 (NEAT), and C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) near their perihelion passages in 2004 with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS). We obtained contemporaneous data on Comet NEAT Q4 with the $Chandra$ X-ray Observatory ACIS instrument, marking the first simultaneous EUV and X-ray spectral observations of a comet. The total CHIPS/EUV observing times were 337 ks for Q4, 234 ks for T7, and 483 ks for Machholz and for both CHIPS and $Chandra$ we calculate we have captured all the comet flux in the instrument field of view. We set upper limits on solar wind charge exchange emission lines of O, C, N, Ne and Fe occurring in the spectral bandpass of CHIPS. The spectrum of Q4 obtained with $Chandra$ can be reproduced by modeling emission lines of C, N O, Mg, Fe, Si, S, and Ne solar wind ions. The measured X-ray emission line intensities are consistent with our predictions from a solar wind charge exchange model. The model predictions for the EUV emission line intensities are determined from the intensity ratios of the cascading X-ray and EUV photons arising in the charge exchange processes. They are compatible with the measured limits on the intensities of the EUV lines. For comet Q4, we measured a total X-ray flux of 3.7$\times 10^{-12}$ ergs cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, and derive from model predictions a total EUV flux of 1.5$\times 10^{-12}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. The CHIPS observations occurred predominantly while the satellite was on the dayside of Earth. For much of the observing time, CHIPS performed observations at smaller solar angles than it was designed for and EUV emission from the Sun scattered into the instrument limited the sensitivity of the EUV measurements.Comment: 28 pages total, 4 tables, 7 figures. Accepted by The Astrophysical Journa