256 research outputs found
Laser induced fluorescence for axion dark matter detection: a feasibility study in YLiF:Er
We present a detection scheme to search for QCD axion dark matter, that is
based on a direct interaction between axions and electrons explicitly predicted
by DFSZ axion models. The local axion dark matter field shall drive transitions
between Zeeman-split atomic levels separated by the axion rest mass energy . Axion-related excitations are then detected with an upconversion scheme
involving a pump laser that converts the absorbed axion energy (
hundreds of eV) to visible or infrared photons, where single photon
detection is an established technique. The proposed scheme involves rare-earth
ions doped into solid-state crystalline materials, and the optical transitions
take place between energy levels of electron configuration. Beyond
discussing theoretical aspects and requirements to achieve a cosmologically
relevant sensitivity, especially in terms of spectroscopic material properties,
we experimentally investigate backgrounds due to the pump laser at temperatures
in the range K. Our results rule out excitation of the upper Zeeman
component of the ground state by laser-related heating effects, and are of some
help in optimizing activated material parameters to suppress the
multiphonon-assisted Stokes fluorescence.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Dynamics of two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates in an elongated magneto-static trap
We study the dynamics of two interacting Bose-Einstein condensates, by
numerically solving two coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations at zero temperature.
We consider the case of a sudden transfer of atoms between two trapped states
with different magnetic moments: the two condensates are initially created with
the same density profile, but are trapped into different magnetic potentials,
whose minima are vertically displaced by a distance much larger than the
initial size of both condensates. Then the two condensates begin to perform
collective oscillations, undergoing a complex evolution, characterized by
collisions between the two condensates. We investigate the effects of their
mutual interaction on the center-of-mass oscillations and on the time evolution
of the aspect ratios. Our theoretical analysis provides a useful insight into
the recent experimental observations by Maddaloni et al., cond-mat/0003402.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, RevTe
Phase-stabilized, 1.5-W frequency comb at 2.8 to 4.8 micron
We present a high-power optical parametric oscillator-based frequency comb in
the mid-infrared wavelength region using periodically poled lithium niobate.
The system is synchronously pumped by a 10-W femtosecond Yb:fiber laser
centered at 1.07 um and is singly resonant for the signal. The idler (signal)
wavelength can be continuously tuned from 2.8 to 4.8 um (1.76 to 1.37 um) with
a simultaneous bandwidth as high as 0.3 um and a maximum average idler output
power of 1.50 W. We also demonstrate the performance of the stabilized comb by
recording the heterodyne beat with a narrow-linewidth diode laser. This OPO is
an ideal source for frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-IR.Comment: 4 figure
Topology of the ground state of two interacting Bose-Einstein condensates
We investigate the spatial patterns of the ground state of two interacting
Bose-Einstein condensates. We consider the general case of two different atomic
species (with different mass and in different hyperfine states) trapped in a
magnetic potential whose eigenaxes can be tilted with respect to the vertical
direction, giving rise to a non trivial gravitational sag. Despite the
complicated geometry, we show that within the Thomas-Fermi approximations and
upon appropriate coordinate transformations, the equations for the density
distributions can be put in a very simple form. Starting from this expressions
we give explicit rules to classify the different spatial topologies which can
be produced, and we discuss how the behavior of the system is influenced by the
inter-atomic scattering length. We also compare explicit examples with the full
numeric Gross-Pitaevskii calculation.Comment: RevTex4, 8 pages, 7 figure
Expansion of a coherent array of Bose-Einstein condensates
We investigate the properties of a coherent array containing about 200
Bose-Einstein condensates produced in a far detuned 1D optical lattice. The
density profile of the gas, imaged after releasing the trap, provides
information about the coherence of the ground-state wavefunction. The measured
atomic distribution is characterized by interference peaks. The time evolution
of the peaks, their relative population as well as the radial size of the
expanding cloud are in good agreement with the predictions of theory. The 2D
nature of the trapped condensates and the conditions required to observe the
effects of coherence are also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Collective oscillations of two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates
Two 87Rb condensates (F=2, m_f=2 and m_f=1) are produced in highly displaced
harmonic traps and the collective dynamical behaviour is investigated. The
mutual interaction between the two condensates is evidenced in the
center-of-mass oscillations as a frequency shift of 6.4(3)%. Calculations based
on a mean-field theory well describe the observed effects of periodical
collisions both on the center-of-mass motion and on the shape oscillations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, revtex - revised versio
Superfluidity of Bose-Einstein Condensate in An Optical Lattice: Landau-Zener Tunneling and Dynamical Instability
Superflow of Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice is represented by
a Bloch wave, a plane wave with periodic modulation of the amplitude. We review
the theoretical results on the interaction effects in the energy dispersion of
the Bloch waves and in the linear stability of such waves. For sufficiently
strong repulsion between the atoms, the lowest Bloch band develops a loop at
the edge of the Brillouin zone, with the dramatic consequence of a finite
probability of Landau-Zener tunneling even in the limit of a vanishing external
force. Superfluidity can exist in the central region of the Brillouin zone in
the presence of a repulsive interaction, beyond which Landau instability takes
place where the system can lower its energy by making transition into states
with smaller Bloch wavenumbers. In the outer part of the region of Landau
instability, the Bloch waves are also dynamically unstable in the sense that a
small initial deviation grows exponentially in time. In the inner region of
Landau instability, a Bloch wave is dynamically stable in the absence of
persistent external perturbations. Experimental implications of our findings
will be discussed.Comment: A new section on tight-binding approximation is added with a new
figur
Phase-locking of a 2.7-THz quantum cascade laser to a mode-locked erbium-doped fibre laser
We demonstrate phase-locking of a 2.7-THz metalmetal waveguide quantum cascade laser (QCL) to an external microwave signal. The reference is the 15th harmonic, generated by a semiconductor superlattice nonlinear device, of a signal at 182 GHz, which itself is generated by a multiplier-chain (x2x3x2) from a microwave synthesizer at 15 GHz. Both laser and reference radiations are coupled into a hot electron bolometer mixer, resulting in a beat signal, which is fed into a phase-lock loop. Spectral analysis of the beat signal (see fig. 1) confirms that the QCL is phase locked. This result opens the possibility to extend heterodyne interferometers into the far-infrared range
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