Showing papers in "Journal of Physics B in 2017"
TL;DR: In this article, the connection between atomic and solid high harmonic generation is summarized with covering both theoretical and experimental work, and some implications for attosecond science in solids are presented.
Abstract: High harmonic generation (HHG) in atomic and molecular gases builds the foundation of attosecond science. In recent experiments HHG has been demonstrated in solids for the first time. A theoretical analysis has revealed that one of the mechanisms driving HHG in semiconductors is similar to the one in atomic and molecular gases. As a result, many of the processes developed for attosecond science in gases can be adapted and applied to the condensed matter phase. In this tutorial, the connection between atomic and solid HHG is summarized with covering both theoretical and experimental work, and some implications for attosecond science in solids are presented.
136 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the technological infrastructure that will be available at the Extreme Light Infrastructure Attosecond Light Pulse Source (ELI-ALPS) international facility for time-resolved investigations with unprecedented levels of high quality characteristics.
Abstract: This review presents the technological infrastructure that will be available at the Extreme Light Infrastructure Attosecond Light Pulse Source (ELI-ALPS) international facility. ELI-ALPS will offer to the international scientific community ultrashort pulses in the femtosecond and attosecond domain for time-resolved investigations with unprecedented levels of high quality characteristics. The laser sources and the attosecond beamlines available at the facility will make attosecond technology accessible for scientists lacking access to these novel tools. Time-resolved investigation of systems of increasing complexity is envisaged using the end stations that will be provided at the facility.
122 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview of state-of-the-art HHG-based XUV sources, followed by a brief introduction to basic principles underlying HHG and a detailed discussion of macroscopic effects and scaling principles.
Abstract: This tutorial presents an introduction to power scaling concepts for high-order harmonic generation (HHG) and attosecond pulse production. We present an overview of state-of-the-art HHG-based extreme ultraviolet (XUV) sources, followed by a brief introduction to basic principles underlying HHG and a detailed discussion of macroscopic effects and scaling principles. Particular emphasis is put on a general scaling model that allows the invariant scaling of the HHG process both, to μJ-level driving laser pulses and thus to multi-MHz repetition rates as well as to 100 mJ-or even Joule-level laser pulses, allowing new intensity regimes with attosecond XUV pulses.
120 citations
112 citations
TL;DR: The methods and techniques used in the investigation of low energy electron collisions with biologically relevant molecules and molecular clusters are described and the results obtained so far for DNA constituents and their model compounds, amino acids, peptides and other biomolecules are summarized.
Abstract: In this Topical Review we survey the current state of the art in the study of low energy electron collisions with biologically relevant molecules and molecular clusters. We briefly describe the methods and techniques used in the investigation of these processes and summarise the results obtained so far for DNA constituents and their model compounds, amino acids, peptides and other biomolecules. The applications of the data obtained is briefly described as well as future required developments.
79 citations
69 citations
66 citations
TL;DR: In this article, Radium monohydroxide molecule (RaOH) is proposed as an amenable object for laser cooling and provides extensive possibilities for searching for Podd and P,T-odd effects.
Abstract: Recently a number of diatomic and polyatomics molecules has been identified as a prospective systems for Doppler/Sisyphus cooling. Doppler/Sisyphus cooling allows to decrease the kinetic energy of molecules down to microkelvin temperatures with high efficiency and then capture them to molecular traps, including magneto-optical trap. Trapped molecules can be used for creation of molecular fountains and/or performing controlled chemical reactions, high-precision spectra measurements and a multitude of other applications. Polyatomic molecules with heavy nuclei present considerable interest for the search for "new physics" outside of Standard Model and other applications including cold chemistry, photochemistry, quantum informatics etc. Herein we would like to attract attention to radium monohydroxide molecule (RaOH) which is on the one hand an amenable object for laser cooling and on the other hand provides extensive possibilities for searching for P-odd and P,T-odd effects. At the moment RaOH is the heaviest polyatomic molecule proposed for direct cooling with lasers.
61 citations
51 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the existence domains (in the plane of radius and dielectric constant of the cylinders) of both BICs are determined and the boundaries of these domains correspond to either standing waves which are not protected by symmetry or the opening of the second diffraction channel.
Abstract: Optical bound states in the radiation continuum (BICs) have interesting properties and potentially important applications. On periodic structures, the BICs are guided modes above the lightline, and they can be either standing waves or propagating Bloch modes. A one-dimensional (1D) array of circular dielectric cylinders is probably the simplest structure on which different types of BICs exist. Using a highly efficient numerical method, we perform an extensive numerical study for propagating BICs on 1D arrays of circular dielectric cylinders. In addition to the known Bloch BIC which is symmetric with respect to the axis of the array, we obtain a new BIC which is antisymmetric. The existence domains (in the plane of radius and dielectric constant of the cylinders) of both BICs are determined. The boundaries of these domains correspond to either standing waves which are not protected by symmetry or the opening of the second diffraction channel. Numerical results are also presented to illustrate the discontinuities of transmission and reflection coefficients at the BICs, and the resonant behavior near the BICs.
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, temperature quenches have been performed across the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) phase transition in an annular geometry and in homogeneous 3D and quasi-2D gases.
Abstract: Out-of-equilibrium phenomena is a subject of considerable interest in many fields of physics. Ultracold quantum gases, which are extremely clean, well-isolated and highly controllable systems, offer ideal platforms to investigate this topic. The recent progress in tailoring trapping potentials now allows the experimental production of homogeneous samples in custom geometries, which is a key advance for studies of the emergence of coherence in interacting quantum systems. Here we review recent experiments in which temperature quenches have been performed across the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) phase transition in an annular geometry and in homogeneous 3D and quasi-2D gases. Combined, these experiments give a comprehensive picture of the Kibble-Zurek (KZ) scenario through complementary measurements of correlation functions and topological defects density. They also allow the measurement of KZ scaling laws, the direct confirmation of the "freeze-out" hypothesis that underlies the KZ theory, and the extraction of critical exponents of the Bose-Einstein condensation transition.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the current state of the art and discuss current challenges and the prospects of the emerging field of ion trapning and its application in high-dimensional experimental quantum simulations.
Abstract: Isolating neutral and charged particles from the environment is essential in precision experiments. For decades, this has been achieved by trapping ions with radio-frequency (rf) fields and neutral particles with optical fields. Recently, trapping of ions by interaction with light has been demonstrated. This might permit combining the advantages of optical trapping and ions. For example, by superimposing optical traps to investigate ensembles of ions and atoms in absence of any radiofrequency fields, as well as to benefit from the versatile and scalable trapping geometries featured by optical lattices. In particular, ions provide individual addressability, electronic and motional degrees of freedom that can be coherently controlled and detected via high fidelity, state-dependent operations. Their long-range Coulomb interaction is significantly larger compared to those of neutral atoms and molecules. This qualifies to study ultra-cold interaction and chemistry of trapped ions and atoms, as well as to provide a novel platform for higher-dimensional experimental quantum simulations. The aim of this topical review is to present the current state of the art and to discuss current challenges and the prospects of the emerging field.
TL;DR: In this paper, the structure of the x-ray emission lines of the Cu complex has been remeasured on a newly commissioned instrument, in a manner directly traceable to the Systeme Internationale definition of the meter.
Abstract: The structure of the x-ray emission lines of the Cu complex has been remeasured on a newly commissioned instrument, in a manner directly traceable to the Systeme Internationale definition of the meter. In this measurement, the region from 8000 to 8100 eV has been covered with a highly precise angular scale, and well-defined system efficiency, providing accurate wavelengths and relative intensities. This measurement updates the standard multi-Lorentzian-fit parameters from Hartwig, Holzer, et al, and is in modest disagreement with their results for the wavelength of the line when compared via quadratic fitting of the peak top; the intensity ratio of to agrees within the combined error bounds. However, the position of the fitted top of is very sensitive to the fit parameters, so it is not believed to be a robust value to quote without further qualification. We also provide accurate intensity and wavelength information for the so-called 'satellite' complex. Supplementary data, available online at stacks.iop.org/JPB/50/115004/mmedia, is provided which gives the entire shape of the spectrum in this region, allowing it to be used directly in cases where simplified, multi-Lorentzian fits to it are not sufficiently accurate.
TL;DR: In this article, a two-level solid-state single-photon source based on the Rydberg blockade effect for excitons in cuprous oxide was proposed, and it was shown that GHz rates and values of the second-order correlation function $g_2(0)$ below the percent level should be simultaneously achievable.
Abstract: We propose to implement a new kind of solid-state single-photon source based on the recently observed Rydberg blockade effect for excitons in cuprous oxide. The strong interaction between excitons in levels with high principal quantum numbers prevents the creation of more than one exciton in a small crystal. The resulting effective two-level system is a good single-photon source. Our quantitative estimates suggest that GHz rates and values of the second-order correlation function $g_2(0)$ below the percent level should be simultaneously achievable.
TL;DR: In this paper, an ion trap based interferometer encloses a large area in a compact apparatus through repeated round-trips in a Sagnac geometry, achieving a sensitivity of S = 1.4 ��10-6 rad/s/Hz.
Abstract: We present a protocol for rotation measurement via matter-wave Sagnac interferometry using trapped ions. The ion trap based interferometer encloses a large area in a compact apparatus through repeated round-trips in a Sagnac geometry. We show how a uniform magnetic field can be used to close the interferometer over a large dynamic range in rotation speed and measurement bandwidth without contrast loss. Since this technique does not require the ions to be confined in the Lamb-Dicke regime, Doppler laser cooling should be sufficient to reach a sensitivity of S = 1.4 ��10-6 rad/s/���Hz.
TL;DR: In this article, the convergent close-coupling computational approach to light and heavy projectiles, such as protons and antiprotons, scattering on atomic and molecular hydrogen is presented.
Abstract: The atomic hydrogen target has played a pivotal role in the development of quantum collision theory. The key complexities of computationally managing the countably infinite discrete states and the uncountably infinite continuum were solved by using atomic hydrogen as the prototype atomic target. In the case of positron or proton scattering the extra complexity of charge exchange was also solved using the atomic hydrogen target. Most recently, molecular hydrogen has been used successfully as a prototype molecule for developing the corresponding scattering theory. We concentrate on the convergent close-coupling computational approach to light projectiles, such as electrons and positrons, and heavy projectiles, such as protons and antiprotons, scattering on atomic and molecular hydrogen.
TL;DR: In this paper, the nature of excited states of open quantum systems produced by incoherent natural thermal light is analyzed based on a description of the quantum dynamical map. And the authors show that the long-lasting coherences induced by suddenly turned-on incoherent light dissipate and stationary co-herences are established.
Abstract: The nature of excited states of open quantum systems produced by incoherent natural thermal light is analyzed based on a description of the quantum dynamical map. Natural thermal light is shown to generate long-lasting coherent dynamics because of (i) the super-Ohmic character of the radiation, and (ii) the absence of pure dephasing dynamics. In the presence of an environment, the long-lasting coherences induced by suddenly turned-on incoherent light dissipate and stationary coherences are established. As a particular application, dynamics in a subunit of the PC645 light-harvesting complex is considered where it is further shown that aspects of the energy pathways landscape depend on the nature of the exciting light and number of chromophores excited. Specifically, pulsed laser and natural broadband incoherent excitation induce significantly different energy transfer pathways. In addition, we discuss differences in perspective associated with the eigenstate versus site basis, and note an important difference in the phase of system coherences when coupled to blackbody radiation or when coupled to a phonon background. Finally, an appendix contains an open systems example of the loss of coherence as the turn-on time of the light assumes natural time scales.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply the exact diagonalization (ED) technique to systems of few bosons in an optical lattice, and use it to demonstrate the emergence of interesting quantum phenomena such as fragmentation and coherence.
Abstract: Exact diagonalization (ED) techniques are a powerful method for studying many-body problems. Here, we apply this method to systems of few bosons in an optical lattice, and use it to demonstrate the emergence of interesting quantum phenomena such as fragmentation and coherence. Starting with a standard Bose–Hubbard Hamiltonian, we first revise the characterisation of the superfluid to Mott insulator (MI) transitions. We then consider an inhomogeneous lattice, where one potential minimum is made much deeper than the others. The MI phase due to repulsive on-site interactions then competes with the trapping of all atoms in the deep potential. Finally, we turn our attention to attractively interacting systems, and discuss the appearance of strongly correlated phases and the onset of localisation for a slightly biased lattice. The article is intended to serve as a tutorial for ED of Bose–Hubbard models.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a scheme to simulate lattice spin models based on strong, long-range interacting Rydberg atoms stored in a large-spacing array of magnetic microtraps.
Abstract: We propose a scheme to simulate lattice spin models based on strong, long-range interacting Rydberg atoms stored in a large-spacing array of magnetic microtraps. Each spin is encoded in a collective spin state involving a single nS or Rydberg atom excited from an ensemble of ground-state alkali atoms prepared via Rydberg blockade. After the excitation laser is switched off, the Rydberg spin states on neighbouring lattice sites interact via general XXZ spin–spin interactions. To read out the collective spin states we propose a single Rydberg atom triggered avalanche scheme in which the presence of a single Rydberg atom conditionally transfers a large number of ground-state atoms in the trap to an untrapped state which can be readily detected by site-resolved absorption imaging. Such a quantum simulator should allow the study of quantum spin systems in almost arbitrary one-dimensional and two-dimensional configurations. This paves the way towards engineering exotic spin models, such as spin models based on triangular-symmetry lattices which can give rise to frustrated-spin magnetism.
TL;DR: Fialko et al. as mentioned in this paper proposed an experimental test of false vacuum decay using an ultra-cold spinor Bose gas, where a false vacuum for the relative phase of two spin components, serving as the unstable scalar field, is generated by means of a modulated linear coupling of the spin components.
Abstract: The quantum decay of a relativistic scalar field from a metastable state ('false vacuum decay') is a fundamental idea in quantum field theory and cosmology. This occurs via local formation of bubbles of true vacuum with their subsequent rapid expansion. It can be considered as a relativistic analog of a first-order phase transition in condensed matter. Here we expand upon our recent proposal (Fialko O et al 2015 Europhys. Lett. 110 56001) for an experimental test of false vacuum decay using an ultra-cold spinor Bose gas. A false vacuum for the relative phase of two spin components, serving as the unstable scalar field, is generated by means of a modulated linear coupling of the spin components. We analyze the system theoretically using the functional integral approach and show that various microscopic degrees of freedom in the system, albeit leading to dissipation in the relative phase sector, will not hamper the observation of the false vacuum decay in the laboratory. This is well supported by numerical simulations demonstrating the spontaneous formation of true vacuum bubbles on millisecond time-scales in two-component 7Li or 41K bosonic condensates in one-dimensional traps of size.
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of recent developments in using synthetic gauge fields to manipulate novel quantum phenomena that are not easy to access in other systems is presented, including degenerate single-particle ground states, quartic dispersions, topological band structures in lattices and synthetic dimensions.
Abstract: The past few years have seen fascinating progress in the creation and utilization of synthetic gauge fields for charge-neutral ultracold atoms. Whereas the synthesis of gauge fields in itself is readily interesting, it is more exciting to explore the new era that will be brought by the interplay between synthetic gauge fields and many other degrees of freedom of highly tunable ultracold atoms. This topical review surveys recent developments in using synthetic gauge fields to manipulate novel quantum phenomena that are not easy to access in other systems. We first summarize current experimental methods of creating synthetic gauge fields, including the use of Raman schemes, shaken lattices, and Raman-dressed lattices. We then discuss how synthetic gauge fields bring new physics to non-interacting systems, including degenerate single-particle ground states, quartic dispersions, topological band structures in lattices, and synthetic dimensions. As for interacting systems, we focus on novel quantum many-body states and quantum macroscopic phenomena induced by interactions in the presence of unconventional single-particle dispersions. For bosons, we discuss how a quartic dispersion leads to non-condensed bosonic states at low temperatures and at the ground state. For fermions, we discuss chiral superfluids in the presence of attractive s-wave interaction, where high partial-wave interactions are not required. Finally, we discuss the challenges in current experiments, and conclude with an outlook for what new exciting developments synthetic gauge fields may bring us in the near future.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the phenomenon of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of 87Rb vapor at room temperature in a magnetic field with an arbitrary angle to the laser propagation direction.
Abstract: We have studied the phenomenon of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of 87Rb vapor at room temperature in a magnetic field with an arbitrary angle to the laser propagation direction. Rather than exposing atoms to a parallelled or transverse magnetic field as usual, in our work, we apply a magnetic field (up to 45 Gauss) with an arbitrary angle to the laser propagation direction and the spectra become much more complex. More EIT dips are observed due to the Zeeman splitting on the D 2 line of 87Rb in a -type configuration. With a 5 Torr N2 buffer gas in the thermal 2 cm vapor cell, the state has a very short effective lifetime, corresponding to a large energy broadening, which removes the velocity selective optical pumping effect almost completely and keeps the high resolution EIT spectrum for the energy splitting of 87Rb in magnetic fields. The shifting of the EIT resonances with the strength of the applied magnetic field coincides well with the theory based on a full matrix Hamiltonian combined with a spectral decomposition method. Our work can be extended to measure the magnetic field vector in space. The effects of the detuning of the probe and coupling beams on the spectral lines are also investigated.
TL;DR: In this article, the Bertsch parameters of trapped few-body Fermi gas with short-range interactions in three dimensions were derived for the case where the s-wave scattering length diverges.
Abstract: © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd. We revisit the properties of the two-component Fermi gas with short-range interactions in three dimensions, in the limit where the s-wave scattering length diverges. Such a unitary Fermi gas possesses universal thermodynamic and dynamical observables that are independent of any interaction length scale. Focusing on trapped systems of N fermions, where N ≤ 10, we investigate how well we can determine the zero-temperature behavior of the many-body system from published few-body data on the ground-state energy and the contact. For the unpolarized case, we find that the Bertsch parameters extracted from trapped few-body systems all lie within 15% of the established value. Furthermore, the few-body values for the contact are well within the range of values determined in the literature for the many-body system. In the limit of large spin polarization, we obtain a similar accuracy for the polaron energy, and we estimate the polaron's effective mass from the dependence of its energy on N. We also compute an upper bound for the squared wave-function overlap between the unitary Fermi system and the non-interacting ground state, both for the trapped and uniform cases. This allows us to prove that the trapped unpolarized ground state at unitarity has zero overlap with its non-interacting counterpart in the many-body limit N → ∞.
TL;DR: In this article, a combined experimental and numerical study on strong-field ionisation of acetylene was performed with the aim of identifying the mechanism behind the previously reported surprisingly large multi-electron ionisation probabilities of polyatomic molecules.
Abstract: We present the results of a combined experimental and numerical study on strong-field ionisation of acetylene performed with the aim of identifying the mechanism behind the previously reported surprisingly large multi-electron ionisation probabilities of polyatomic molecules. Using coincidence momentum imaging techniques and time-dependent density functional simulations, we show that the reported efficient ionisation is due to the combined action of a significant geometrically induced energy upshift of the most relevant valence orbitals as the C–H distance stretches beyond about two times the equilibrium distance, and a strong increase in the coupling between multiple molecular orbitals concomitant with this stretch motion. The identified enhanced ionisation mechanism, which we refer to as EIC-MOUSE, is only effective for molecules aligned close to parallel to the laser polarisation direction, and is inhibited for perpendicularly aligned molecules because of a suppression of the C–H stretch motion during the onset of ionisation.
TL;DR: In this article, the first all-optical production of dual Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of paired 6Li (fermion) and one spin state of 7Li (boson) was reported.
Abstract: We report the first all-optical production of dual Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) of paired 6Li (fermion) and one spin state of 7Li (boson) at the magnetic field where the s-wave interactions between fermions are resonant. Fermions are cooled efficiently by evaporative cooling and they serve as coolant for bosons. As a result, the dual condensates can be achieved by using a simple experimental apparatus and procedures, as in the case of the all-optical production of a single BEC. We show that the all-optical method enables us to realize variety of ultracold Bose–Fermi mixtures.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare various theoretical approaches that are frequently used for modeling the excitation dynamics in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes, including the standard Redfield theory, the coherent modified redfield theory combined with the generalized Forster theory and the scaled hierarchical equation of motion.
Abstract: We compare various theoretical approaches that are frequently used for modeling the excitation dynamics in photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes. As an example, we calculate the dynamics in the major light-harvesting complex from higher plants using the standard Redfield theory, the coherent modified Redfield theory combined with the generalized Forster theory, and the scaled hierarchical equation of motion (HEOM). The modified Redfield and coherent modified Redfield theories predict unrealistically fast transfers between weakly coupled and isoenergetic sites due to the secular character of these approaches. This shortcoming can be excluded by the artificial breaking of exciton mixing between these sites and invoking a generalized Forster theory to calculate the transfers between them. A critical cutoff indicating which exciton couplings should be broken is dependent on the energy gap between the corresponding sites (and therefore can be different for different parts of the complex). An adequate determination of the strongly coupled compartments of the whole complex allows us to obtain a quantitatively correct description with the combined Redfield-Forster approach, resulting in kinetics not much different from the exact HEOM solution.
TL;DR: In this paper, a marginally stable optical resonator suitable for atom interferometry is proposed, which is based on two flat mirrors at the focal planes of a lens that produces the large beam waist required to coherently manipulate cold atomic ensembles.
Abstract: We propose a marginally stable optical resonator suitable for atom interferometry. The resonator geometry is based on two flat mirrors at the focal planes of a lens that produces the large beam waist required to coherently manipulate cold atomic ensembles. Optical gains of about 100 are achievable using optics with part-per-thousand losses. The resulting power build-up will allow for enhanced coherent manipulation of the atomic wavepackets such as large separation beamsplitters. We study the effect of longitudinal misalignments and assess the robustness of the resonator in terms of intensity and phase profiles of the intra-cavity field. We also study how to implement atom interferometry based on Large Momentum Transfer Bragg diffraction in such a cavity.