154 research outputs found
Macroscopic Superpositions of Phase States with Bose-Einstein Condensates
Quantum superpositions of macroscopically distinguishable states having
distinct phases can be created with a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in a
periodic potential. The experimental signature is contained in the phase
distribution of the interference patterns obtained after releasing the traps.
Moreover, in the double well case, this distribution exhibits a dramatic
dependence on the parity of the total number of atoms. We finally show that,
for single well occupations up to a few hundred atoms, the macroscopic quantum
superposition can be robust enough against decoherence to be experimentally
revealable within current technology
Bose-Einstein Condensate in Weak 3d Isotropic Speckle Disorder
The effect of a weak three-dimensional (3d) isotropic laser speckle disorder
on various thermodynamic properties of a dilute Bose gas is considered at zero
temperature. First, we summarize the derivation of the autocorrelation function
of laser speckles in 1d and 2d following the seminal work of Goodman. The goal
of this discussion is to show that a Gaussian approximation of this function,
proposed in some recent papers, is inconsistent with the general background of
laser speckle theory. Then we propose a possible experimental realization for
an isotropic 3d laser speckle potential and derive its corresponding
autocorrelation function. Using a Fourier transform of that function, we
calculate both condensate depletion and sound velocity of a Bose-Einstein
condensate as disorder ensemble averages of such a weak laser speckle potential
within a perturbative solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. By doing so,
we reproduce the expression of the normalfluid density obtained earlier within
the treatment of Landau. This physically transparent derivation shows that
condensate particles, which are scattered by disorder, form a gas of
quasiparticles which is responsible for the normalfluid component
Dopamine D1-like receptor signalling in the hippocampus and amygdala modulates the acquisition of contextual fear conditioning
RATIONALE: Dopamine D1-like receptor signalling is involved in contextual fear conditioning, but the brain regions involved and its role in other contextual fear memory processes remain unclear.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate (1) the effects of SCH 23390, a dopamine D1/D5 receptor antagonist, on contextual fear memory encoding, retrieval and reconsolidation, and (2) if the effects of SCH 23390 on conditioning involve the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and/or basolateral amygdala (BLA).
METHODS: Rats were used to examine the effects of systemically administering SCH 23390 on the acquisition, consolidation, retrieval and reconsolidation of contextual fear memory, and on locomotor activity and shock sensitivity. We also determined the effects of MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on contextual fear memory reconsolidation. The effects of infusing SCH 23390 locally into DH or BLA on contextual fear conditioning and locomotor activity were also examined.
RESULTS: Systemic administration of SCH 23390 impaired contextual fear conditioning but had no effects on fear memory consolidation, retrieval or reconsolidation. MK-801 was found to impair reconsolidation, suggesting that the behavioural parameters used allowed for the pharmacological disruption of memory reconsolidation. The effects of SCH 23390 on conditioning were unlikely the result of any lasting drug effects on locomotor activity at memory test or any acute drug effects on shock sensitivity during conditioning. SCH 23390 infused into either DH or BLA impaired contextual fear conditioning and decreased locomotor activity.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dopamine D1-like receptor signalling in DH and BLA contributes to the acquisition of contextual fear memory
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