Circular Dichroism of RbHe and RbN2_2 Molecules

We present measurements of the circular dichroism of optically pumped Rb vapor near the D1 resonance line. Collisions with the buffer gases $^3$He and N$_2$ reduce the transparency of the vapor, even when fully polarized. We use two methods to measure this effect, show that the He results can be understood from RbHe potential curves, and show how this effect conspires with the spectral profile of the optical pumping light to increase the laser power demands for optical pumping of very optically thick samples

Flow in an experimental micro–magma chamber

The chemical evolution and eruptive behavior of magmas may be controlled largely by convective processes within magma chambers. According to a recent National Research Council Report [Committee on Physics and Chemistry of Earth Materials, 1987], “the style of convection itself, whether it is turbulent, laminar, large-scale, of multiple scales, tiered, or localized and intermittent, is very much at question.” In the U.S. National Report to the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, Marsh [1987] reviewed recent theoretical and experimental developments related to the style of convection in magma chambers, noting both significant quantitative advances and also the many remaining uncertainties. With regard to double-diffusive convection, he stated “as ever, the critical question concerns whether or not actual magma chambers convect in this style.” Similarly, Spera et al. [1986] , in discussion of double-diffusive convection, cautioned against “applying results from saltwater tanks to magma chambers.

Further Evidence for Seed Size Variation in the Genus Zostera: Exploratory Studies with Z. japonica and Z. asiatica

Recent studies found seed size variation within the seagrass Zostera marina, one of nine species in the genus Zostera. The objectives of this study were to determine if variation also exists in the seeds of two other species Zostera japonica and Zostera asiatica within this genus. Results indicate that: (1) length and weight varied between two populations (one indigenous population from Akkeshi-Ko, Japan, and one exotic population from Willapa Bay, Washington, USA) of the small-bodied intertidal seagrass species Z. japonica, and (2) seed-size classes were discernable. Preliminary investigations were also initiated with a Japanese population of Z. asiatica, a large-bodied subtidal seagrass species. Z. japonica seeds from the exotic population were significantly (P \u3c 0.00 1) longer and heavier when compared to those from the indigenous population, a finding which may help explain both the process of the earlier introduction and the recent expansion of this exotic in the northeastern Pacific. Also, preliminary results indicate that Z. asiatica seeds are heavier than both those of Z. marina and Z. japonica, which suggests that larger seeds may be associated with large-bodied plants in this genus, an observation that should direct future seed ecology studies within the genus. These findings demonstrate that, similar to the study of terrestrial angiosperms, investigations designed to describe the comparative ecology of marine seed-bearing plants should include an evaluation of seed size

James B. Macelwane Award: Citation and Acceptance of Robert Keith O'Nions

I have the pleasure to introduce Robert Keith O'Nions, a young man of 34, for the Macelwane Award, not because I have had anything to do with his education and research, but because I was a member of the committee this year, and we both originate from the same country. Keith O'Nions earned his B.Sc. from the University of Nottingham in 1966, traveled to Alberta for a Ph.D. in 1969, became a Postdoctoral Fellow in Oslo during 1970, joined the faculty at Oxford from 1971–1975, and moved to his present home at Columbia University in 1975. When the time came to find a citationist [sic] for him it turned out that his colleagues at Lamont-Doherty, who were the obvious choices, were all at sea—and I admit that this is how I feel when I read some of Keith's papers. In a sense, this makes me well-suited for this introduction, because I cannot spend time explaining his research to you. Instead, I will read to you a couple of paragraphs from his nomination for the award, written by an anonymous friend

Breakdown of Angular Momentum Selection Rules in High Pressure Optical Pumping Experiments

We present measurements, using two complementary methods, of the breakdown of atomic angular momentum selection rules in He-broadened Rb vapor. Atomic dark states are rendered weakly absorbing due to fine-structure mixing during Rb-He collisions. The effect substantially increases the photon demand for optical pumping of dense vapors

Magnetocardiography with a modular spin-exchange relaxation free atomic magnetometer array

We present a portable four-channel atomic magnetometer array operating in the spin exchange relaxation-free regime. The magnetometer array has several design features intended to maximize its suitability for biomagnetic measurement, specifically foetal magnetocardiography, such as a compact modular design, and fibre coupled lasers. The modular design allows the independent positioning and orientation of each magnetometer, in principle allowing for non-planar array geometries. Using this array in a magnetically shielded room, we acquire adult magnetocadiograms. These measurements were taken with a 6-11 fT Hz^(-1/2) single-channel baseline sensitivity that is consistent with the independently measured noise level of the magnetically shielded room.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Magic wavelengths for the 5s−18s5s-18s transition in rubidium

Magic wavelengths, for which there is no differential ac Stark shift for the ground and excited state of the atom, allow trapping of excited Rydberg atoms without broadening the optical transition. This is an important tool for implementing quantum gates and other quantum information protocols with Rydberg atoms, and reliable theoretical methods to find such magic wavelengths are thus extremely useful. We use a high-precision all-order method to calculate magic wavelengths for the $5s-18s$ transition of rubidium, and compare the calculation to experiment by measuring the light shift for atoms held in an optical dipole trap at a range of wavelengths near a calculated magic value