638 research outputs found
Analysis of particle production in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions within a two-source statistical model
The experimental data on hadron yields and ratios in central lead-lead and
gold-gold collisions at 158 AGeV/ (SPS) and AGeV (RHIC),
respectively, are analysed within a two-source statistical model of an ideal
hadron gas. A comparison with the standard thermal model is given. The two
sources, which can reach the chemical and thermal equilibrium separately and
may have different temperatures, particle and strangeness densities, and other
thermodynamic characteristics, represent the expanding system of colliding
heavy ions, where the hot central fireball is embedded in a larger but cooler
fireball. The volume of the central source increases with rising bombarding
energy. Results of the two-source model fit to RHIC experimental data at
midrapidity coincide with the results of the one-source thermal model fit,
indicating the formation of an extended fireball, which is three times larger
than the corresponding core at SPS.Comment: 6 pages, REVTEX
Efficient Raman Sideband Generation in a Coherent Atomic Medium
We demonstrate the efficient generation of Raman sidebands in a medium
coherently prepared in a dark state by continuous-wave low-intensity laser
radiation. Our experiment is performed in sodium vapor excited in
configuration on the D line by two laser fields of resonant frequencies
and , and probed by a third field .
First-order sidebands for frequencies , and up to the
third-order sidebands for frequency are observed. The generation
starts at a power as low as 10 microwatt for each input field. Dependencies of
the intensities of both input and generated waves on the frequency difference
(), on the frequency and on the optical
density are investigated.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Low-light-level nonlinear optics with slow light
Electromagnetically induced transparency in an optically thick, cold medium
creates a unique system where pulse-propagation velocities may be orders of
magnitude less than and optical nonlinearities become exceedingly large. As
a result, nonlinear processes may be efficient at low-light levels. Using an
atomic system with three, independent channels, we demonstrate a quantum
interference switch where a laser pulse with an energy density of
photons per causes a 1/e absorption of a second pulse.Comment: to be published in PR
A Knob for Changing Light Propagation from Subluminal to Superluminal
We show how the application of a coupling field connecting the two lower
metastable states of a lambda-system can produce a variety of new results on
the propagation of a weak electromagnetic pulse. In principle the light
propagation can be changed from subluminal to superluminal. The negative group
index results from the regions of anomalous dispersion and gain in
susceptibility.Comment: 6 pages,5 figures, typed in RevTeX, accepted in Phys. Rev.
Enhancement of Magneto-Optic Effects via Large Atomic Coherence
We utilize the generation of large atomic coherence to enhance the resonant
nonlinear magneto-optic effect by several orders of magnitude, thereby
eliminating power broadening and improving the fundamental signal-to-noise
ratio. A proof-of-principle experiment is carried out in a dense vapor of Rb
atoms. Detailed numerical calculations are in good agreement with the
experimental results. Applications such as optical magnetometry or the search
for violations of parity and time reversal symmetry are feasible
From Storage and Retrieval of Pulses to Adiabatons
We investigate whether it is possible to store and retrieve the intense probe
pulse from a -type homogeneous medium of cold atoms. Through numerical
simulations we show that it is possible to store and retrieve the probe pulse
which are not necessarily weak. As the intensity of the probe pulse increases,
the retrieved pulse remains a replica of the original pulse, however there is
overall broadening and loss of the intensity. These effects can be understood
in terms of the dependence of absorption on the intensity of the probe. We
include the dynamics of the control field, which becomes especially important
as the intensity of the probe pulse increases. We use the theory of adiabatons
[Grobe {\it et al.} Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 73}, 3183 (1994)] to understand the
storage and retrieval of light pulses at moderate powers.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, typed in RevTe
Temporal build-up of electromagnetically induced transparency and absorption resonances in degenerate two-level transitions
The temporal evolution of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and
absorption (EIA) coherence resonances in pump-probe spectroscopy of degenerate
two-level atomic transition is studied for light intensities below saturation.
Analytical expression for the transient absorption spectra are given for simple
model systems and a model for the calculation of the time dependent response of
realistic atomic transitions, where the Zeeman degeneracy is fully accounted
for, is presented. EIT and EIA resonances have a similar (opposite sign) time
dependent lineshape, however, the EIA evolution is slower and thus narrower
lines are observed for long interaction time. Qualitative agreement with the
theoretical predictions is obtained for the transient probe absorption on the
line in an atomic beam experiment.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Forming Disoriented Chiral Condensates through Fluctuations
Using the influence functional formalism, classical equations of motion for
the O(N) model are derived in the presence of a heat bath, in both the
symmetric phase as well as the phase of spontaneously broken symmetry. The heat
bath leads to dissipation and fluctuation terms in the classical equations of
motion, which are explicitly computed to lowest order in perturbation theory.
In the broken phase these terms are found to be large for the sigma field, even
at zero temperature, due to the decay process sigma -> pi pi, while they are
small for the pi fields at temperatures below T_c = 160 MeV. It is shown that
in large volumes the presence of dissipation and fluctuations suppresses the
formation of disoriented chiral condensates (DCC's). In small volumes, however,
fluctuations become sufficiently large to induce the formation of DCC's even if
chiral symmetry has not been restored in the initial stage of the system's
evolution.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, ReVTeX, eps-, aps-, psfig-style files require
Electromagnetically induced transparency and controlled group velocity in a multilevel system
Published versio
Transverse Fresnel-Fizeau drag effects in strongly dispersive media
A light beam normally incident upon an uniformly moving dielectric medium is
in general subject to bendings due to a transverse Fresnel-Fizeau light drag
effect. In conventional dielectrics, the magnitude of this bending effect is
very small and hard to detect. Yet, it can be dramatically enhanced in strongly
dispersive media where slow group velocities in the m/s range have been
recently observed taking advantage of the electromagnetically induced
transparency (EIT) effect. In addition to the usual downstream drag that takes
place for positive group velocities, we predict a significant anomalous
upstream drag to occur for small and negative group velocities. Furthermore,
for sufficiently fast speeds of the medium, higher order dispersion terms are
found to play an important role and to be responsible for peculiar effects such
as light propagation along curved paths and the restoration of the spatial
coherence of an incident noisy beam. The physics underlying this new class of
slow-light effects is thoroughly discussed
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