459 research outputs found
Precision measurement of spin-dependent interaction strengths for spin-1 and spin-2 87Rb atoms
We report on precision measurements of spin-dependent interaction-strengths
in the 87Rb spin-1 and spin-2 hyperfine ground states. Our method is based on
the recent observation of coherence in the collisionally driven spin-dynamics
of ultracold atom pairs trapped in optical lattices. Analysis of the Rabi-type
oscillations between two spin states of an atom pair allows a direct
determination of the coupling parameters in the interaction hamiltonian. We
deduce differences in scattering lengths from our data that can directly be
compared to theoretical predictions in order to test interatomic potentials.
Our measurements agree with the predictions within 20%. The knowledge of these
coupling parameters allows one to determine the nature of the magnetic ground
state. Our data imply a ferromagnetic ground state for 87Rb in the f=1
manifold, in agreement with earlier experiments performed without the optical
lattice. For 87Rb in the f=2 manifold the data points towards an
antiferromagnetic ground state, however our error bars do not exclude a
possible cyclic phase.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Single-Atom Resolved Fluorescence Imaging of an Atomic Mott Insulator
The reliable detection of single quantum particles has revolutionized the
field of quantum optics and quantum information processing. For several years,
researchers have aspired to extend such detection possibilities to larger scale
strongly correlated quantum systems, in order to record in-situ images of a
quantum fluid in which each underlying quantum particle is detected. Here we
report on fluorescence imaging of strongly interacting bosonic Mott insulators
in an optical lattice with single-atom and single-site resolution. From our
images, we fully reconstruct the atom distribution on the lattice and identify
individual excitations with high fidelity. A comparison of the radial density
and variance distributions with theory provides a precise in-situ temperature
and entropy measurement from single images. We observe Mott-insulating plateaus
with near zero entropy and clearly resolve the high entropy rings separating
them although their width is of the order of only a single lattice site.
Furthermore, we show how a Mott insulator melts for increasing temperatures due
to a proliferation of local defects. Our experiments open a new avenue for the
manipulation and analysis of strongly interacting quantum gases on a lattice,
as well as for quantum information processing with ultracold atoms. Using the
high spatial resolution, it is now possible to directly address individual
lattice sites. One could, e.g., introduce local perturbations or access regions
of high entropy, a crucial requirement for the implementation of novel cooling
schemes for atoms on a lattice
High-Efficiency Resonant RF Spin Rotator with Broad Phase Space Acceptance for Pulsed Polarized Cold Neutron Beams
We have developed a radio-frequency resonant spin rotator to reverse the
neutron polarization in a 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm pulsed cold neutron beam with high
efficiency over a broad cold neutron energy range. The effect of the spin
reversal by the rotator on the neutron beam phase space is compared
qualitatively to RF neutron spin flippers based on adiabatic fast passage. The
spin rotator does not change the kinetic energy of the neutrons and leaves the
neutron beam phase space unchanged to high precision. We discuss the design of
the spin rotator and describe two types of transmission-based neutron spin-flip
efficiency measurements where the neutron beam was both polarized and analyzed
by optically-polarized 3He neutron spin filters. The efficiency of the spin
rotator was measured to be 98.0+/-0.8% on resonance for neutron energies from
3.3 to 18.4 meV over the full phase space of the beam. As an example of the
application of this device to an experiment we describe the integration of the
RF spin rotator into an apparatus to search for the small parity-violating
asymmetry A_gamma in polarized cold neutron capture on para-hydrogen by the
NPDGamma collaboration at LANSCE
Neutron time-of-flight measurements of charged-particle energy loss in inertial confinement fusion plasmas
Neutron spectra from secondary ^{3}H(d,n)α reactions produced by an implosion of a deuterium-gas capsule at the National Ignition Facility have been measured with order-of-magnitude improvements in statistics and resolution over past experiments. These new data and their sensitivity to the energy loss of fast tritons emitted from thermal ^{2}H(d,p)^{3}H reactions enable the first statistically significant investigation of charged-particle stopping via the emitted neutron spectrum. Radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, constrained to match a number of observables from the implosion, were used to predict the neutron spectra while employing two different energy loss models. This analysis represents the first test of stopping models under inertial confinement fusion conditions, covering plasma temperatures of k_{B}Tâ1-4ââkeV and particle densities of nâ(12-2)Ă10^{24}ââcm^{-3}. Under these conditions, we find significant deviations of our data from a theory employing classical collisions whereas the theory including quantum diffraction agrees with our data
Neutron Beta Decay Studies with Nab
Precision measurements in neutron beta decay serve to determine the coupling
constants of beta decay and allow for several stringent tests of the standard
model. This paper discusses the design and the expected performance of the Nab
spectrometer.Comment: Submitted to Proceedings of the Conference CIPANP12, St.Petersburg,
Florida, May 201
Proof-of-concept that network pharmacology is effective to modify development of acquired temporal lobe epilepsy
Epilepsy is a complex network phenomenon that, as yet, cannot be prevented or cured. We recently proposed network-based approaches to prevent epileptogenesis. For proof of concept we combined two drugs (levetiracetam and topiramate) for which in silico analysis of drug-protein interaction networks indicated a synergistic effect on a large functional network of epilepsy-relevant proteins. Using the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, the drug combination was administered during the latent period before onset of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). When SRS were periodically recorded by video-EEG monitoring after termination of treatment, a significant decrease in incidence and frequency of SRS was determined, indicating antiepileptogenic efficacy. Such efficacy was not observed following single drug treatment. Furthermore, a combination of levetiracetam and phenobarbital, for which in silico analysis of drug-protein interaction networks did not indicate any significant drug-drug interaction, was not effective to modify development of epilepsy. Surprisingly, the promising antiepileptogenic effect of the levetiracetam/topiramate combination was obtained in the absence of any significant neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory effects as indicated by multimodal brain imaging and histopathology. High throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of the ipsilateral hippocampus of mice treated with the levetiracetam/topiramate combination showed that several genes that have been linked previously to epileptogenesis, were significantly differentially expressed, providing interesting entry points for future mechanistic studies. Overall, we have discovered a novel combination treatment with promise for prevention of epilepsy
Strange Quark Contributions to Parity-Violating Asymmetries in the Backward Angle G0 Electron Scattering Experiment
We have measured parity-violating asymmetries in elastic electron-proton and
quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering at Q^2 = 0.22 and 0.63 GeV^2. They
are sensitive to strange quark contributions to currents in the nucleon, and to
the nucleon axial current. The results indicate strange quark contributions of
< 10% of the charge and magnetic nucleon form factors at these four-momentum
transfers. We also present the first measurement of anapole moment effects in
the axial current at these four-momentum transfers.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, changed references, typo, and conten
Transverse Beam Spin Asymmetries at Backward Angles in Elastic Electron-Proton and Quasi-elastic Electron-Deuteron Scattering
We have measured the beam-normal single-spin asymmetries in elastic
scattering of transversely polarized electrons from the proton, and performed
the first measurement in quasi-elastic scattering on the deuteron, at backward
angles (lab scattering angle of 108 degrees) for Q2 = 0.22 GeV^2/c^2 and 0.63
GeV^2/c^2 at beam energies of 362 MeV and 687 MeV, respectively. The asymmetry
arises due to the imaginary part of the interference of the two-photon exchange
amplitude with that of single photon exchange. Results for the proton are
consistent with a model calculation which includes inelastic intermediate
hadronic (piN) states. An estimate of the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for
the scattering from the neutron is made using a quasi-static deuterium
approximation, and is also in agreement with theory
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