On a general analytical formula for U_q(su(3))-Clebsch-Gordan coefficients

We present the projection operator method in combination with the Wigner-Racah calculus of the subalgebra U_q(su(2)) for calculation of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients (CGCs) of the quantum algebra U_q(su(3)). The key formulas of the method are couplings of the tensor and projection operators and also a tensor form for the projection operator of U_q(su(3)). We obtain a very compact general analytical formula for the U_q(su(3)) CGCs in terms of the U_q(su(2)) Wigner 3nj-symbols.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX; to be published in Yad. Fiz. (Phys. Atomic Nuclei), (2001

Mid-infrared laser filaments in the atmosphere

Filamentation of ultrashort laser pulses in the atmosphere offers unique opportunities for long-range transmission of high-power laser radiation and standoff detection. With the critical power of self-focusing scaling as the laser wavelength squared, the quest for longer-wavelength drivers, which would radically increase the peak power and, hence, the laser energy in a single filament, has been ongoing over two decades, during which time the available laser sources limited filamentation experiments in the atmosphere to the near-infrared and visible ranges. Here, we demonstrate filamentation of ultrashort mid-infrared pulses in the atmosphere for the first time. We show that, with the spectrum of a femtosecond laser driver centered at 3.9 um, right at the edge of the atmospheric transmission window, radiation energies above 20 mJ and peak powers in excess of 200 GW can be transmitted through the atmosphere in a single filament. Our studies reveal unique properties of mid-infrared filaments, where the generation of powerful mid-infrared supercontinuum is accompanied by unusual scenarios of optical harmonic generation, giving rise to remarkably broad radiation spectra, stretching from the visible to the mid-infrared

Symmetry as a source of hidden coherent structures in quantum physics: general outlook and examples

A general algebraic approach, incorporating both invariance groups and dynamic symmetry algebras, is developed to reveal hidden coherent structures (closed complexes and configurations) in quantum many-body physics models due to symmetries of their Hamiltonians $H$. Its general ideas are manifested on some recent new examples: 1) G-invariant bi-photons and a related SU(2)-invariant treatment of unpolarized light; 2) quasi-spin clusters in nonlinear models of quantum optics; 3) construction of composite particles and (para)fields from G-invariant clusters due to internal symmetries.Comment: 10 pages, LATEX; Proceedings of VIII Int. Conf. on Symmetry Methods in Physics (Dubna, July 28-August 2, 1997

Observations of the pulsating subdwarf B star Feige 48: Constraints on evolution and companions

Since pulsating subdwarf B (sdBV or EC14026) stars were first discovered (Kilkenny et al, 1997), observational efforts have tried to realize their potential for constraining the interior physics of extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars. Difficulties encountered along the way include uncertain mode identifications and a lack of stable pulsation mode properties. Here we report on Feige 48, an sdBV star for which follow-up observations have been obtained spanning more than four years, which shows some stable pulsation modes. We resolve the temporal spectrum into five stable pulsation periods in the range 340 to 380 seconds with amplitudes less than 1%, and two additional periods that appear in one dataset each. The three largest amplitude periodicities are nearly equally spaced, and we explore the consequences of identifying them as a rotationally split l=1 triplet by consulting with a representative stellar model. The general stability of the pulsation amplitudes and phases allows us to use the pulsation phases to constrain the timescale of evolution for this sdBV star. Additionally, we are able to place interesting limits on any stellar or planetary companion to Feige 48.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRA

Multi-millijoule few-cycle mid-infrared pulses through nonlinear self-compression in bulk

The physics of strong-field applications requires driver laser pulses that are both energetic and extremely short. Whereas optical amplifiers, laser and parametric, boost the energy, their gain bandwidth restricts the attainable pulse duration, requiring additional nonlinear spectral broadening to enable few or even single cycle compression and a corresponding peak power increase. Here we demonstrate, in the mid-infrared wavelength range that is important for scaling the ponderomotive energy in strong-field interactions, a simple energy-efficient and scalable soliton-like pulse compression in a mm-long yttrium aluminium garnet crystal with no additional dispersion management. Sub-three-cycle pulses with >0.44 TW peak power are compressed and extracted before the onset of modulation instability and multiple filamentation as a result of a favourable interplay between strong anomalous dispersion and optical nonlinearity around the wavelength of 3.9 μm. As a manifestation of the increased peak power, we show the evidence of mid-infrared pulse filamentation in atmospheric air

Transformation formulas for double hypergeometric series related to 9-j coefficients and their basic analogs

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