83 research outputs found
Improvement by laser quenching of an "atom diode": a one-way barrier for ultra-cold atoms
Different laser devices working as ``atom diodes'' or ``one-way barriers''
for ultra-cold atoms have been proposed recently. They transmit ground state
level atoms coming from one side, say from the left, but reflect them when they
come from the other side. We combine a previous model, consisting of the
stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) from the ground to an excited state
and a state-selective mirror potential, with a localized quenching laser which
produces spontaneous decay back to the ground state. This avoids backwards
motion, provides more control of the decay process and therefore a more compact
and useful device.Comment: 6 page
Perspectives: Quantum Mechanics on Phase Space
The basic ideas in the theory of quantum mechanics on phase space are
illustrated through an introduction of generalities, which seem to underlie
most if not all such formulations and follow with examples taken primarily from
kinematical particle model descriptions exhibiting either Galileian or
Lorentzian symmetry. The structures of fundamental importance are the relevant
(Lie) groups of symmetries and their homogeneous (and associated) spaces that,
in the situations of interest, also possess Hamiltonian structures. Comments
are made on the relation between the theory outlined and a recent paper by
Carmeli, Cassinelli, Toigo, and Vacchini.Comment: "Quantum Structures 2004" - Meeting of the International Quantum
Structures Association; Denver, Colorado; 17-22 July, 200
Optimal atomic detection by control of detuning and spatial dependence of laser intensity
Atomic detection by fluorescence may fail because of reflection from the
laser or transmission without excitation. The detection probability for a given
velocity range may be improved by controlling the detuning and the spatial
dependence of the laser intensity. A simple optimization method is discussed
and exemplified
Coherent States Measurement Entropy
Coherent states (CS) quantum entropy can be split into two components. The
dynamical entropy is linked with the dynamical properties of a quantum system.
The measurement entropy, which tends to zero in the semiclassical limit,
describes the unpredictability induced by the process of a quantum approximate
measurement. We study the CS--measurement entropy for spin coherent states
defined on the sphere discussing different methods dealing with the time limit
. In particular we propose an effective technique of computing
the entropy by iterated function systems. The dependence of CS--measurement
entropy on the character of the partition of the phase space is analysed.Comment: revtex, 22 pages, 14 figures available upon request (e-mail:
[email protected]). Submitted to J.Phys.
Scattering of two-level atoms by delta lasers: Exactly solvable models in atom optics
We study the scattering of two-level atoms at narrow laser fields, modeled by
a -shape intensity profile. The unique properties of these potentials
allow us to give simple analytic solutions for one or two field zones. Several
applications are studied: a single -laser may serve as a detector model
for atom detection and arrival-time measurements, either by means of
fluorescence or variations in occupation probabilities. We show that, in
principle, this ideal detector can measure the particle density, the quantum
mechanical flux, arrival time distributions or local kinetic energy densities.
Moreover, two spatially separated -lasers are used to investigate
quantized-motion effects on Ramsey interferometry.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Quantum optical time-of-arrival model in three dimensions
We investigate the three-dimensional formulation of a recently proposed
operational arrival-time model. It is shown that within typical conditions for
optical transitions the results of the simple one-dimensional version are
generally valid. Differences that may occur are consequences of Doppler and
momentum-transfer effects. Ways to minimize these are discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
On Locality in Quantum General Relativity and Quantum Gravity
The physical concept of locality is first analyzed in the special
relativistic quantum regime, and compared with that of microcausality and the
local commutativity of quantum fields. Its extrapolation to quantum general
relativity on quantum bundles over curved spacetime is then described. It is
shown that the resulting formulation of quantum-geometric locality based on the
concept of local quantum frame incorporating a fundamental length embodies the
key geometric and topological aspects of this concept. Taken in conjunction
with the strong equivalence principle and the path-integral formulation of
quantum propagation, quantum-geometric locality leads in a natural manner to
the formulation of quantum-geometric propagation in curved spacetime. Its
extrapolation to geometric quantum gravity formulated over quantum spacetime is
described and analyzed.Comment: Mac-Word file translated to postscript for submission. The author may
be reached at: [email protected] To appear in Found. Phys. vol. 27,
199
Impact of actin filament stabilization on adult hippocampal and olfactory bulb neurogenesis
Rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for dynamic cellular processes. Decreased actin turnover and rigidity of cytoskeletal structures have been associated with aging and cell death. Gelsolin is a Ca(2+)-activated actin-severing protein that is widely expressed throughout the adult mammalian brain. Here, we used gelsolin-deficient (Gsn(-/-)) mice as a model system for actin filament stabilization. In Gsn(-/-) mice, emigration of newly generated cells from the subventricular zone into the olfactory bulb was slowed. In vitro, gelsolin deficiency did not affect proliferation or neuronal differentiation of adult neural progenitors cells (NPCs) but resulted in retarded migration. Surprisingly, hippocampal neurogenesis was robustly induced by gelsolin deficiency. The ability of NPCs to intrinsically sense excitatory activity and thereby implement coupling between network activity and neurogenesis has recently been established. Depolarization-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases and exocytotic neurotransmitter release were enhanced in Gsn(-/-) synaptosomes. Importantly, treatment of Gsn(-/-) synaptosomes with mycotoxin cytochalasin D, which, like gelsolin, produces actin disassembly, decreased enhanced Ca(2+) influx and subsequent exocytotic norepinephrine release to wild-type levels. Similarly, depolarization-induced glutamate release from Gsn(-/-) brain slices was increased. Furthermore, increased hippocampal neurogenesis in Gsn(-/-) mice was associated with a special microenvironment characterized by enhanced density of perfused vessels, increased regional cerebral blood flow, and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-III) expression in hippocampus. Together, reduced filamentous actin turnover in presynaptic terminals causes increased Ca(2+) influx and, subsequently, elevated exocytotic neurotransmitter release acting on neural progenitors. Increased neurogenesis in Gsn(-/-) hippocampus is associated with a special vascular niche for neurogenesis
Informationally complete measurements and groups representation
Informationally complete measurements on a quantum system allow to estimate
the expectation value of any arbitrary operator by just averaging functions of
the experimental outcomes. We show that such kind of measurements can be
achieved through positive-operator valued measures (POVM's) related to unitary
irreducible representations of a group on the Hilbert space of the system. With
the help of frame theory we provide a constructive way to evaluate the
data-processing function for arbitrary operators.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, IOP style. Some new references adde
Wigner function for twisted photons
A comprehensive theory of the Weyl-Wigner formalism for the canonical pair
angle-angular momentum is presented, with special emphasis in the implications
of rotational periodicity and angular-momentum discreteness.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
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