Magnetic field stabilization system for atomic physics experiments

Atomic physics experiments commonly use millitesla-scale magnetic fields to provide a quantization axis. As atomic transition frequencies depend on the amplitude of this field, many experiments require a stable absolute field. Most setups use electromagnets, which require a power supply stability not usually met by commercially available units. We demonstrate stabilization of a field of 14.6 mT to 4.3 nT rms noise (0.29 ppm), compared to noise of $\gtrsim$ 100 nT without any stabilization. The rms noise is measured using a field-dependent hyperfine transition in a single $^{43}$Ca$^+$ ion held in a Paul trap at the centre of the magnetic field coils. For the $^{43}$Ca$^+$ "atomic clock" qubit transition at 14.6 mT, which depends on the field only in second order, this would yield a projected coherence time of many hours. Our system consists of a feedback loop and a feedforward circuit that control the current through the field coils and could easily be adapted to other field amplitudes, making it suitable for other applications such as neutral atom traps.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Coupling JOREK and STARWALL for Non-linear Resistive-wall Simulations

The implementation of a resistive-wall extension to the non-linear MHD-code JOREK via a coupling to the vacuum-field code STARWALL is presented along with first applications and benchmark results. Also, non-linear saturation in the presence of a resistive wall is demonstrated. After completion of the ongoing verification process, this code extension will allow to perform non-linear simulations of MHD instabilities in the presence of three-dimensional resistive walls with holes for limited and X-point plasmas.Comment: Contribution for "Theory Of Fusion Plasmas, Joint Varenna - Lausanne International Workshop, Villa Monastero, Varenna, Italy (27.-31.8.2012)", accepted for publication in Journal of Physics Conference Serie

Coccolithophore fluxes in the open tropical North Atlantic: influence of thermocline depth, Amazon water, and Saharan dust

Coccolithophores are calcifying phytoplankton and major contributors to both the organic and inorganic oceanic carbon pumps. Their export fluxes, species composition, and seasonal patterns were determined in two sediment trap moorings (M4 at 12 degrees N, 49 degrees W and M2 at 14 degrees N, 37 degrees W) collecting settling particles synchronously from October 2012 to November 2013 at 1200 m of water depth in the open equatorial North Atlantic. The two trap locations showed a similar seasonal pattern in total coccolith export fluxes and a predominantly tropical coccolithophore settling assemblage. Species fluxes were dominated throughout the year by lower photic zone (LPZ) taxa (Florisphaera profunda, Gladiolithus flabellatus) but also included upper photic zone (UPZ) taxa (Umbellosphaera spp., Rhabdosphaera spp., Umbilicosphaera spp., Helicosphaera spp.). The LPZ flora was most abundant during fall 2012, whereas the UPZ flora was more important during summer. In spite of these similarities, the western part of the study area produced persistently higher fluxes, averaging 241 x 10(7) +/- 76 x 10(7) coccoliths m(-2) d(-1) at station M4 compared to only 66 x 10(7) +/- 31 x 10(7) coccoliths m(-2) d(-1) at station M2. Higher fluxes at M4 were mainly produced by the LPZ species, favoured by the westward deepening of the thermocline and nutricline. Still, most UPZ species also contributed to higher fluxes, reflecting enhanced productivity in the western equatorial North Atlantic. Such was the case of two marked flux peaks of the more opportunistic species Gephyrocapsa muellerae and Emiliania huxleyi in January and April 2013 at M4, indicating a fast response to the nutrient enrichment of the UPZ, probably by wind-forced mixing. Later, increased fluxes of G. oceanica and E. huxleyi in October-November 2013 coincided with the occurrence of Amazon-River-affected surface waters. Since the spring and fall events of 2013 were also accompanied by two dust flux peaks, we propose a scenario in which atmospheric dust also provided fertilizing nutrients to this area. Enhanced surface buoyancy associated with the river plume indicates that the Amazon acted not only as a nutrient source, but also as a surface density retainer for nutrients supplied from the atmosphere. Nevertheless, lower total coccolith fluxes during these events compared to the maxima recorded in November 2012 and July 2013 indicate that transient productivity by opportunistic species was less important than "background" tropical productivity in the equatorial North Atlantic. This study illustrates how two apparently similar sites in the tropical open ocean actually differ greatly in ecological and oceanographic terms. The results presented here provide valuable insights into the processes governing the ecological dynamics and the downward export of coccolithophores in the tropical North Atlantic.Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [822.01.008]; European Research Council (ERC) [311152]; University of Bremen; European Union [600411]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GINA - A Polarized Neutron Reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre

The setup, capabilities and operation parameters of the neutron reflectometer GINA, the recently installed "Grazing Incidence Neutron Apparatus" at the Budapest Neutron Centre, are introduced. GINA, a dance-floor-type, constant-energy, angle-dispersive reflectometer is equipped with a 2D position-sensitive detector to study specular and off-specular scattering. Wavelength options between 3.2 and 5.7 {\AA} are available for unpolarized and polarized neutrons. Spin polarization and analysis are achieved by magnetized transmission supermirrors and radio-frequency adiabatic spin flippers. As a result of vertical focusing by the five-element (pyrolytic graphite) monochromator the reflected intensity from a 20x20 mm sample has doubled. GINA is dedicated to studies of magnetic films and heterostructures, but unpolarized options for non-magnetic films, membranes and other surfaces are also provided. Shortly after its startup, reflectivity values as low as 3x10-5 have been measured on the instrument. The facility is now open for the international user community, but its development is continuing mainly to establish new sample environment options, the spin analysis of off-specularly scattered radiation and further decrease of the background

Perfect and broadband acoustic absorption by critically coupled sub-wavelength resonators

International audiencePerfect absorption is an interdisciplinary topic with a large number of applications, the challenge of which consists of broadening its inherently narrow frequency-band performance. We experimentally and analytically report perfect and broadband absorption for audible sound, by the mechanism of critical coupling, with a sub-wavelength multi-resonant scatterer (SMRS) made of a plate-resonator/ closed waveguide structure. In order to introduce the role of the key parameters, we first present the case of a single resonant scatterer (SRS) made of a Helmholtz resonator/closed waveguide structure. In both cases the controlled balance between the energy leakage of the several resonances and the inherent losses of the system leads to perfect absorption peaks. In the case of the SMRS we show that systems with large inherent losses can be critically coupled using resonances with large leakage. In particular, we show that in the SMRS system, with a thickness of λ/12 and diameter of λ/7, several perfect absorption peaks overlap to produce absorption bigger than 93% for frequencies that extend over a factor of 2 in audible frequencies. The reported concepts and methodology provide guidelines for the design of broadband perfect absorbers which could contribute to solve the major issue of noise reduction

New factorization algorithm based on a continuous representation of truncated Gauss sums

In this paper, we will describe a new factorization algorithm based on the continuous representation of Gauss sums, generalizable to orders j>2. Such an algorithm allows one, for the first time, to find all the factors of a number N in a single run without precalculating the ratio N/l, where l are all the possible trial factors. Continuous truncated exponential sums turn out to be a powerful tool for distinguishing factors from non-factors (we also suggest, with regard to this topic, to read an interesting paper by S. Woelk et al. also published in this issue [Woelk, Feiler, Schleich, J. Mod. Opt. in press]) and factorizing different numbers at the same time. We will also describe two possible M-path optical interferometers, which can be used to experimentally realize this algorithm: a liquid crystal grating and a generalized symmetric Michelson interferometer.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Breaking the Cycle: Impact of Sterically-Tailored Tetra(pyrazolyl)lutidines on the Self-Assembly of Silver(I) Complexes

A improved preparation of the pentadentate ligand α,α,α′,α′-tetra(pyrazolyl)lutidine, pz4lut, and the syntheses of three new alkyl-substituted pyrazolyl derivatives pz4′4lut (pz4′ = 4-methylpyrazolyl), pz*4lut (pz* = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl), and pzDIP4lut (pzDIP = 3,5-diisopropylpyrazolyl) are described. The silver(I) complexes of these ligands were studied to ascertain the impact of pyrazolyl substitution, if any, on their binding modes and on solubility issues. In the solid state, [Ag(pz4lut)](BF4) (1), [Ag(pz4′4lut)](BF4) (2), and [Ag(pz*4lut)](BF4) (3) give cyclic dications as a result of two ligands sandwiching two silver centers where each ligand binds the metals through only pyrazolyl nitrogen donors. This cyclic motif is similar to those observed in the silver complexes of tetra(pyridyl)lutidine PY5-R derivatives (where the central pyridyl does not bind) and in related tetra(pyrazolyl)-m-xylene complexes. While suitable single crystals of [Ag(pzDIP4lut)](BF4) (4) could not be obtained, those of [Ag(pzDIP4lut)](OTf) (5) showed infinite polymeric chains secured via silver-bound μ-κ2Npz,κ2Npz- ligands. The different binding mode of the latter ligand versus the former three is likely due to unfavorable steric interactions between the bulky iso-propyl (pyrazolyl) substituents and the central pyridyl rings of hypothetical cyclic architectures. The combined electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI(+)-MS), variable-temperature NMR (VT NMR), and diffusion pulsed field-gradient spin−echo (PFGSE) NMR data indicate that the solid state structures of each 1−5 are neither retained nor static in CD3CN, rather the cations are monomeric in solution

Attractive instability of oppositely charged membranes induced by charge density fluctuations

We predict the conditions under which two oppositely charged membranes show a dynamic, attractive instability. Two layers with unequal charges of opposite sign can repel or be stable when in close proximity. However, dynamic charge density fluctuations can induce an attractive instability and thus facilitate fusion. We predict the dominant instability modes and timescales and show how these are controlled by the relative charge and membrane viscosities. These dynamic instabilities may be the precursors of membrane fusion in systems where artificial vesicles are engulfed by biological cells of opposite charge