Quantum back-action of optical observations on Bose condensates

Impressive pictures of moving Bose-Einstein condensates have been taken using phase-contrast imaging M. R. Andrews et al., Science 273, 84 (1996). We calculate the quantum backaction of this measurement technique. We find that phase-contrast imaging is not a quantum nondemolition measurement of the atomic density. Instead, the condensate gets gradually depleted at a rate that is proportional to the light intensity and to the inverse cube of the optical wave length. The fewer atoms are condensed the higher is the required intensity to see a picture, and, consequently, the higher is the induced backaction. To describe the quantum physics of phase-contrast imaging we put forward a new approach to quantum-optical propagation. We develop an effective field theory of paraxial optics in a fully quantized atomic medium.Comment: 11 pages RevTex, 2 ps figures, revised. European Physical Journal D (in press

Geometrical approach to light in inhomogeneous media

Electromagnetism in an inhomogeneous dielectric medium at rest is described using the methods of differential geometry. In contrast to a general relativistic approach the electromagnetic fields are discussed in three-dimensional space only. The introduction of an appropriately chosen three-dimensional metric leads to a significant simplification of the description of light propagation in an inhomogeneous medium: light rays become geodesics of the metric and the field vectors are parallel transported along the rays. The new metric is connected to the usual flat space metric diag[1,1,1] via a conformal transformation leading to new, effective values of the medium parameters leading to an effective constant value of the index of refraction n=1. The corresponding index of refraction is thus constant and so is the effective velocity of light. Space becomes effectively empty but curved. All deviations from straight line propagation are now due to curvature. The approach is finally used for a discussion of the Riemann-Silberstein vector, an alternative, complex formulation of the electromagnetic fields.Comment: 11 pages. Accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics

Reply to the ``Comment on `quantum backaction of optical observations on Bose-Einstein condensates' ''

In our paper we estimated the quantum backaction of dispersive imaging with off-resonant light on Bose-Einstein condensates. We have calculated the rates of the two processes involved, phase diffusion and depletion of the condensate. We compare here the depletion rate obtained within our model limitations to the Rayleigh scattering rate, both having the same physical origin: dispersive interaction of light with matter. We show that residual absorption sets indeed the limit of dispersive imaging.Comment: 1 page (Reply to comment

The dilemmas related to launching the euro in Poland in terms of politics and economy

Problem przystąpienia Polski do strefy euro jest ponadczasowy, ważny nie tylko w kwestiach gospodarczych i politycznych, ale przede wszystkim cywilizacyjnych. Nasz kraj po upadku komunizmu opowiedział się za włączeniem do struktur europejskich (NATO i Unia Europejska). Była w tym wyborze zgoda elit politycznych, podporządkowano temu całą polską politykę wewnętrzną i zagraniczną. Cel został osiągnięty w latach 1999–2004. Wydawać by się mogło, że po osiągnięciu tego sukcesu państwo polskie dalej będzie się integrować z Zachodem, wpisywać się w krąg cywilizacji zachodnioeuropejskiej. To jedyna droga wyjścia z peryferii i zajęcia miejsca w centrum Europy i zachodniej cywilizacji, do czego Polska dążyła bezskutecznie przez kilkaset lat. Tymczasem okazało się, że większość elit politycznych z koniunkturalnych i doraźnych pobudek zmieniła w tej fundamentalnej sprawie zdanie. Jest to bardzo niebezpieczny trend polityczny, ponieważ możemy być w najbliższej przyszłości jako państwo, ale również społeczeństwo zmarginalizowani jako peryferie w przestrzeni europejskiej. Euro to nie tylko wspólna waluta, ale gwarant stałego miejsca w centrum Europy co mogłoby zapewnić Polsce bezpieczny byt, stabilność gospodarczą obecnie i w przyszłości, wyzwolenie się od przeszłości wschodnioeuropejskiej.The issue of Poland’s accession to the eurozone is universal and crucial both in economic and political terms, as well as with reference to civilizational processes. After the collapse of communism, Poland opted to join European structures (NATO and the European Union). This choice was concordantly made by the political elite, and the entire internal and foreign policy of Poland was aimed at these goals, which were eventually achieved in 1999–2004. It might seem that having succeeded there, Poland would continue to integrate with the West and become a part of Western European civilization. This is the only way to escape the peripheries and take a central position in Europe and western civilization, something Poland has unavailingly endeavored to achieve for centuries. It has turned out, however, that on account of opportunistic and short-term gains the majority of the political elite have changed their standpoint on this fundamental issue. This political trend is quite dangerous as it may result in the Polish state and society being marginalized on the peripheries of European circles. The euro is more than a single currency, it is also a guarantee of Poland’s permanent position in the center of Europe, that could ensure secure its existence, its present and future economic stability, and liberation from its Eastern European past

Theory of radiation trapping by the accelerating solitons in optical fibers

We present a theory describing trapping of the normally dispersive radiation by the Raman solitons in optical fibers. Frequency of the radiation component is continuously blue shifting, while the soliton is red shifting. Underlying physics of the trapping effect is in the existence of the inertial gravity-like force acting on light in the accelerating frame of reference. We present analytical calculations of the rate of the opposing frequency shifts of the soliton and trapped radiation and find it to be greater than the rate of the red shift of the bare Raman soliton. Our findings are essential for understanding of the continuous shift of the high frequency edge of the supercontinuum spectra generated in photonic crystal fibers towards higher frequencies.Comment: Several misprints in text and formulas corrected. 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Ultrahigh sensitivity of slow-light gyroscope

Slow light generated by Electromagnetically Induced Transparency is extremely susceptible with respect to Doppler detuning. Consequently, slow-light gyroscopes should have ultrahigh sensitivity

Slow light in moving media

We review the theory of light propagation in moving media with extremely low group velocity. We intend to clarify the most elementary features of monochromatic slow light in a moving medium and, whenever possible, to give an instructive simplified picture

Socjalizacja i edukacja polityczna, jako ważne determinanty kultury politycznej

It is recognized that politics is a part of social life, that is why it is also a part of culture. In this the political culture became in the second half of the twentieth century the subject of analyzes of the political scientists in the world and in Poland. In connection with this, political culture was perceived as a component of culture in the literal sense through the prism of all material and non-material creations of the social life. It has become an incentive to expand the definition of the political culture with such components as the political institutions and the system of socialization and political education. The aim of this was to strengthen the democratic political system by shifting from individual to general social elements.Uznaje się, że polityka jest częścią życia społecznego, dlatego jest również częścią kultury. W tym kultura polityczna stała się w drugiej połowie XX wieku obiektem analiz politologów w świecie oraz w Polsce. W związku z tym zaczęto postrzegać kulturę polityczną, jako komponent kultury w dosłownym znaczeniu przez pryzmat ogółu materialnych i niematerialnych wytworów życia społecznego. Stało się to asumptem do rozszerzenia się definicji kultury politycznej o takie składniki jak instytucje polityczne oraz system socjalizacji oraz edukacji politycznej. Celem tego było wzmocnienie demokratycznego systemu politycznego poprzez przesunięcie z elementów indywidualnych na ogólnospołeczne

Quantized Roentgen Effect in Bose-Einstein Condensates

A classical dielectric moving in a charged capacitor can create a magnetic field (Roentgen effect). A quantum dielectric, however, will not produce a magnetization, except at vortices. The magnetic field outside the quantum dielectric appears as the field of quantized monopoles