Effective-range approach and scaling laws for electromagnetic strength in neutron-halo nuclei

We study low-lying multipole strength in neutron-halo nuclei. The strength depends only on a few low-energy constants: the neutron separation energy, the asymptotic normalization coefficient of the bound state wave function, and the scattering length that contains the information on the interaction in the continuum. The shape of the transition probability shows a characteristic dependence on few scaling parameters and the angular momenta. The total E1 strength is related to the root-mean-square radius of the neutron wave function in the ground state and shows corresponding scaling properties. We apply our approach to the E1 strength distribution of 11Be.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure (modified), additional table, extended discussion of example, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Spin-based quantum gating with semiconductor quantum dots by bichromatic radiation method

A potential scheme is proposed for realizing a two-qubit quantum gate in semiconductor quantum dots. Information is encoded in the spin degrees of freedom of one excess conduction electron of each quantum dot. We propose to use two lasers, radiation two neighboring QDs, and tuned to blue detuning with respect to the resonant frequencies of individual excitons. The two-qubit phase gate can be achieved by means of both Pauli-blocking effect and dipole-dipole coupling between intermediate excitonic states.Comment: Europhysics Letters 66 (2004) 1

Interferometric thermometry of a single sub-Doppler cooled atom

Efficient self-interference of single-photons emitted by a sideband-cooled Barium ion is demonstrated. First, the technical tools for performing efficient coupling to the quadrupolar transition of a single $^{138}$Ba$^{+}$ ion are presented. We show efficient Rabi oscillations of the internal state of the ion using a highly stabilized 1.76 $\mu m$ fiber laser resonant with the S$_{1/2}$-D$_{5/2}$ transition. We then show sideband cooling of the ion's motional modes and use it as a means to enhance the interference contrast of the ion with its mirror-image to up to 90%. Last, we measure the dependence of the self-interference contrast on the mean phonon number, thereby demonstrating the potential of the set-up for single-atom thermometry close to the motional ground state.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Conductance peaks in open quantum dots

We present a simple measure of the conductance fluctuations in open ballistic chaotic quantum dots, extending the number of maxima method originally proposed for the statistical analysis of compound nuclear reactions. The average number of extreme points (maxima and minima) in the dimensionless conductance, $T$, as a function of an arbitrary external parameter $Z$, is directly related to the autocorrelation function of $T(Z)$. The parameter $Z$ can be associated to an applied gate voltage causing shape deformation in quantum dot, an external magnetic field, the Fermi energy, etc.. The average density of maxima is found to be $= \alpha_{Z}/Z_c$, where $\alpha_{Z}$ is a universal constant and $Z_c$ is the conductance autocorrelation length, which is system specific. The analysis of $$ does not require large statistic samples, providing a quite amenable way to access information about parametric correlations, such as $Z_c$.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted to be published - Physical Review Letter

Systematic study of Optical Feshbach Resonances in an ideal gas

Using a narrow intercombination line in alkaline earth atoms to mitigate large inelastic losses, we explore the Optical Feshbach Resonance (OFR) effect in an ultracold gas of bosonic $^{88}$Sr. A systematic measurement of three resonances allows precise determinations of the OFR strength and scaling law, in agreement with coupled-channels theory. Resonant enhancement of the complex scattering length leads to thermalization mediated by elastic and inelastic collisions in an otherwise ideal gas. OFR could be used to control atomic interactions with high spatial and temporal resolution.Comment: Significant changes to text and figure presentation to improve clarity. Extended supplementary material. 4 pages, 4 figures; includes supplementary material 8 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Spatial separation in a thermal mixture of ultracold 174^{174}Yb and 87^{87}Rb atoms

We report on the observation of unusually strong interactions in a thermal mixture of ultracold atoms which cause a significant modification of the spatial distribution. A mixture of $^{87}$Rb and $^{174}$Yb with a temperature of a few $\mu$K is prepared in a hybrid trap consisting of a bichromatic optical potential superimposed on a magnetic trap. For suitable trap parameters and temperatures, a spatial separation of the two species is observed. We infer that the separation is driven by a large interaction strength between $^{174}$Yb and $^{87}$Rb accompanied by a large three-body recombination rate. Based on this assumption we have developed a diffusion model which reproduces our observations

Minimal H\"older regularity implying finiteness of integral Menger curvature

We study two families of integral functionals indexed by a real number $p > 0$. One family is defined for 1-dimensional curves in $\R^3$ and the other one is defined for $m$-dimensional manifolds in $\R^n$. These functionals are described as integrals of appropriate integrands (strongly related to the Menger curvature) raised to power $p$. Given $p > m(m+1)$ we prove that $C^{1,\alpha}$ regularity of the set (a curve or a manifold), with $\alpha > \alpha_0 = 1 - \frac{m(m+1)}p$ implies finiteness of both curvature functionals ($m=1$ in the case of curves). We also show that $\alpha_0$ is optimal by constructing examples of $C^{1,\alpha_0}$ functions with graphs of infinite integral curvature

Thermal and electrical transport in the spin density wave antiferromagnet CaFe4_{4}As3_{3}

We present here measurements of the thermopower, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity of the newly reported compound CaFe4As3. Evidence is presented from specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements that a substantial fraction of the Fermi surface survives the onset of spin density wave (SDW) order at the Neel temperature TN=88 K, and its subsequent commensurate lockin transition at T2=26.4 K. The specific heat below T2 consists of a normal metallic component from the ungapped parts of the Fermi surface, and a Bardeen-Cooper- Schrieffer (BCS) component that represents the SDW gapping of the Fermi surface. A large Kadowaki-Woods ratio is found at low temperatures, showing that the ground state of CaFe4As3 is a strongly interacting Fermi liquid. The thermal conductivity of CaFe4As3 is an order of magnitude smaller than those of conventional metals at all temperatures, due to a strong phonon scattering. The thermoelectric power displays a sign change from positive to negative indicating that a partial gap forms at the Fermi level with the onset of commensurate spin density wave order at T2=26.4 K. The small value of the thermopower and the enhancements of the resistivity due to gap formation and strong quasiparticle interactions offset the low value of the thermal conductivity, yielding only a modest value for the thermoelectric figure of merit Z < 5x10^-6 1/K in CaFe4As3. The results of ab initio electronic structure calculations are reported, confirming that the sign change in the thermopower at T2 is reflected by a sign change in the slope of the density of states at the Fermi level. Values for the quasiparticle renormalization are derived from measurements of the specific heat and thermopower, indicating that as T->0, CaFe4As3 is among the most strongly correlated of the known Fe-based pnictide and chalcogenide systems.Comment: 8 pages with 5 figure