Ultracold Nonreactive Molecules in an Optical Lattice: Connecting Chemistry to Many-Body Physics.

PubMed

Doçaj, Andris; Wall, Michael L; Mukherjee, Rick; Hazzard, Kaden R A

2016-04-01

We derive effective lattice models for ultracold bosonic or fermionic nonreactive molecules (NRMs) in an optical lattice, analogous to the Hubbard model that describes ultracold atoms in a lattice. In stark contrast to the Hubbard model, which is commonly assumed to accurately describe NRMs, we find that the single on-site interaction parameter U is replaced by a multichannel interaction, whose properties we elucidate. Because this arises from complex short-range collisional physics, it requires no dipolar interactions and thus occurs even in the absence of an electric field or for homonuclear molecules. We find a crossover between coherent few-channel models and fully incoherent single-channel models as the lattice depth is increased. We show that the effective model parameters can be determined in lattice modulation experiments, which, consequently, measure molecular collision dynamics with a vastly sharper energy resolution than experiments in a free-space ultracold gas.

Creation of a strongly dipolar gas of ultracold ground-state 23 Na87 Rb molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Mingyang; Zhu, Bing; Lu, Bo; Ye, Xin; Wang, Fudong; Wang, Dajun; Vexiau, Romain; Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Quéméner, Goulven; Dulieu, Olivier

2016-05-01

We report on successful creation of an ultracold sample of ground-state 23 Na87 Rb molecules with a large effective electric dipole moment. Through a carefully designed two-photon Raman process, we have successfully transferred the magneto-associated Feshbach molecules to the singlet ground state with high efficiency, obtaining up to 8000 23 Na87 Rb molecules with peak number density over 1011 cm-3 in their absolute ground-state level. With an external electric field, we have induced an effective dipole moment over 1 Debye, making 23 Na87 Rb the most dipolar ultracold particle ever achieved. Contrary to the expectation, we observed a rather fast population loss even for 23 Na87 Rb in the absolute ground state with the bi-molecular exchange reaction energetically forbidden. The origin for the short lifetime and possible ways of mitigating it are currently under investigation. Our achievements pave the way toward investigation of ultracold bosonic molecules with strong dipolar interactions. This work is supported by the Hong Kong RGC CUHK404712 and the ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme ACUHK403/13.

Analysis of the Alkali Metal Diatomic Spectra; Using molecular beams and ultracold molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jin-Tae

2014-12-01

This ebook illustrates the complementarity of molecular beam (MB) spectra and ultracold molecule (UM) spectra in unraveling the complex electronic spectra of diatomic alkali metal molecules, using KRb as a prime example. Researchers interested in molecular spectroscopy, whether physicist, chemist, or engineer, may find this ebook helpful and may be able to apply similar ideas to their molecules of interest.

High precision optical spectroscopy and quantum state selected photodissociation of ultracold 88Sr2 molecules in an optical lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, Mickey Patrick

Over the past several decades, rapid progress has been made toward the accurate characterization and control of atoms, made possible largely by the development of narrow-linewidth lasers and techniques for trapping and cooling at ultracold temperatures. Extending this progress to molecules will have exciting implications for chemistry, condensed matter physics, and precision tests of physics beyond the Standard Model. These possibilities are all consequences of the richness of molecular structure, which is governed by physics substantially different from that characterizing atomic structure. This same richness of structure, however, increases the complexity of any molecular experiment manyfold over its atomic counterpart, magnifying the difficulty of everything from trapping and cooling to the comparison of theory with experiment. This thesis describes work performed over the past six years to establish the state of the art in manipulation and quantum control of ultracold molecules. Our molecules are produced via photoassociation of ultracold strontium atoms followed by spontaneous decay to a stable ground state. We describe a thorough set of measurements characterizing the rovibrational structure of very weakly bound (and therefore very large) 88Sr2 molecules from several different perspectives, including determinations of binding energies; linear, quadratic, and higher order Zeeman shifts; transition strengths between bound states; and lifetimes of narrow subradiant states. The physical intuition gained in these experiments applies generally to weakly bound diatomic molecules, and suggests extensive applications in precision measurement and metrology. In addition, we present a detailed analysis of the thermally broadened spectroscopic lineshape of molecules in a non-magic optical lattice trap, showing how such lineshapes can be used to directly determine the temperature of atoms or molecules in situ, addressing a long-standing problem in ultracold physics

Electric manipulation of ultracold polar ^40K^87Rb molecules in a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quéméner, Goulven; Bohn, John

2009-05-01

Ultracold fermionic polar molecules of ^40K^87Rb in their absolute rovibronic ground state (v=0,n=0,^1σ) have been created recently [1] in a magnetic trap and open new perspectives to create fermionic degenerate gases of polar molecules. To achieve this goal, it is very important to understand the collisional properties of such molecules under magnetic and electric fields. In our presentation, we investigate ground state fermionic ^40K^87Rb + ^40K^87Rb collisions in the presence of a magnetic field and explore the possibility to control these collisions when an electric field is applied. We will explore the main physical processes that can lead to such manipulation. This problem is complicated by the Zeeman and Stark splitting of all levels of the polar molecules and by the possibility of forming ^40K2 + ^87Rb2 chemical products. 1 - K.-K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, M. H. G. de Miranda, A. Pe'er, B. Neyenhuis, J. J. Zirbel, S. Kotochigova, P. S. Julienne, D. S. Jin, and J. Ye, Science 322, 231 (2008).

Long-Lived Ultracold Molecules with Electric and Magnetic Dipole Moments.

PubMed

Rvachov, Timur M; Son, Hyungmok; Sommer, Ariel T; Ebadi, Sepehr; Park, Juliana J; Zwierlein, Martin W; Ketterle, Wolfgang; Jamison, Alan O

2017-10-06

We create fermionic dipolar ^{23}Na^{6}Li molecules in their triplet ground state from an ultracold mixture of ^{23}Na and ^{6}Li. Using magnetoassociation across a narrow Feshbach resonance followed by a two-photon stimulated Raman adiabatic passage to the triplet ground state, we produce 3×10^{4} ground state molecules in a spin-polarized state. We observe a lifetime of 4.6 s in an isolated molecular sample, approaching the p-wave universal rate limit. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy of the triplet state was used to determine the hyperfine structure of this previously unobserved molecular state.

Long-Lived Ultracold Molecules with Electric and Magnetic Dipole Moments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rvachov, Timur M.; Son, Hyungmok; Sommer, Ariel T.; Ebadi, Sepehr; Park, Juliana J.; Zwierlein, Martin W.; Ketterle, Wolfgang; Jamison, Alan O.

2017-10-01

We create fermionic dipolar 23Na 6Li molecules in their triplet ground state from an ultracold mixture of 23Na and 6Li. Using magnetoassociation across a narrow Feshbach resonance followed by a two-photon stimulated Raman adiabatic passage to the triplet ground state, we produce 3 ×1 04 ground state molecules in a spin-polarized state. We observe a lifetime of 4.6 s in an isolated molecular sample, approaching the p -wave universal rate limit. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy of the triplet state was used to determine the hyperfine structure of this previously unobserved molecular state.

Ultracold molecules for the masses: Evaporative cooling and magneto-optical trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuhl, B. K.

While cold molecule experiments are rapidly moving towards their promised benefits of precision spectroscopy, controllable chemistry, and novel condensed phases, heretofore the field has been greatly limited by a lack of methods to cool and compress chemically diverse species to temperatures below ten millikelvin. While in atomic physics these needs are fulfilled by laser cooling, magneto-optical trapping, and evaporative cooling, until now none of these techniques have been applicable to molecules. In this thesis, two major breakthroughs are reported. The first is the observation of evaporative cooling in magnetically trapped hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which potentially opens a path all the way to Bose-Einstein condensation of dipolar radicals, as well as allowing cold- and ultracold-chemistry studies of fundamental reaction mechanisms. Through the combination of an extremely high gradient magnetic quadrupole trap and the use of the OH Λ-doublet transition to enable highly selective forced evaporation, cooling by an order of magnitude in temperature was achieved and yielded a final temperature no higher than 5mK. The second breakthrough is the successful application of laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping to molecules. Motivated by a proposal in this thesis, laser cooling of molecules is now known to be technically feasible in a select but substantial pool of diatomic molecules. The demonstration of not only Doppler cooling but also two-dimensional magneto-optical trapping in yttrium (II) oxide, YO, is expected to enable rapid growth in the availability of ultracold molecules—just as the invention of the atomic magneto-optical trap stimulated atomic physics twenty-five years ago.

Nonadiabatic effects in ultracold molecules via anomalous linear and quadratic Zeeman shifts.

PubMed

McGuyer, B H; Osborn, C B; McDonald, M; Reinaudi, G; Skomorowski, W; Moszynski, R; Zelevinsky, T

2013-12-13

Anomalously large linear and quadratic Zeeman shifts are measured for weakly bound ultracold 88Sr2 molecules near the intercombination-line asymptote. Nonadiabatic Coriolis coupling and the nature of long-range molecular potentials explain how this effect arises and scales roughly cubically with the size of the molecule. The linear shifts yield nonadiabatic mixing angles of the molecular states. The quadratic shifts are sensitive to nearby opposite f-parity states and exhibit fourth-order corrections, providing a stringent test of a state-of-the-art ab initio model.

Photodissociation of quantum state-selected diatomic molecules yields new insight into ultracold chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, Mickey; McGuyer, Bart H.; Lee, Chih-Hsi; Apfelbeck, Florian; Zelevinsky, Tanya

2016-05-01

When a molecule is subjected to a sufficiently energetic photon it can break apart into fragments through a process called ``photodissociation''. For over 70 years this simple chemical reaction has served as a vital experimental tool for acquiring information about molecular structure, since the character of the photodissociative transition can be inferred by measuring the 3D photofragment angular distribution (PAD). While theoretical understanding of this process has gradually evolved from classical considerations to a fully quantum approach, experiments to date have not yet revealed the full quantum nature of this process. In my talk I will describe recent experiments involving the photodissociation of ultracold, optical lattice-trapped, and fully quantum state-resolved 88Sr2 molecules. Optical absorption images of the PADs produced in these experiments reveal features which are inherently quantum mechanical in nature, such as matter-wave interference between output channels, and are sensitive to the quantum statistics of the molecular wavefunctions. The results of these experiments cannot be predicted using quasiclassical methods. Instead, we describe our results with a fully quantum mechanical model yielding new intuition about ultracold chemistry.

Molecular spectroscopy for producing ultracold ground-state NaRb molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dajun; Guo, Mingyang; Zhu, Bing; Lu, Bo; Ye, Xin; Wang, Fudong; Vexiau, Romain; Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Quéméner, Goulven; Dulieu, Olivier

2016-05-01

Recently, we have successfully created an ultracold sample of absolute ground-state NaRb molecules by two-photon Raman transfer of weakly bound Feshbach molecules. Here we will present the detailed spectroscopic investigations on both the excited and the rovibrational ground states for finding the two-photon path. For the excited state, we focus on the A1Σ+ /b3 Π singlet and triplet admixture. We discovered an anomalously strong coupling between the Ω =0+ and 0- components which renders efficient population transfer possible. In the ground state, the pure nuclear hyperfine levels have been clearly resolved, which allows us to create molecules in the absolute ground state directly with Raman transfer. This work is jointly supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche (#ANR-13- IS04-0004-01) and Hong Kong Research Grant Council (#A-CUHK403/13) through the COPOMOL project.

Formation of ultracold molecules induced by a high-power single frequency fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandes Passagem, Henry; Colin-Rodriguez, Ricardo; Ventura da Silva, Paulo; Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Dulieu, Olivier; Marcassa, Luis

2017-04-01

Photoassociation of a pair of ultracold atoms is a quite simple and rapid approach for cold molecule formation. The main limitation of PA is that the latter step is incoherent, so that the population of the created molecules is spread over many vibrational levels with weak or moderate binding energies. If the excited electronic molecular state exhibits a peculiar feature at short internuclear distance like a potential barrier or an avoided crossing, the population of deeply-bound ground state levels may be significantly enhanced. In this work, the influence of a high-power single frequency fiber laser on the formation of ultracold 85Rb2 molecules is investigated as a function of its frequency (in the 1062-1070 nm range) in a magneto optical trap. We found evidence for the formation of ground state 85Rb2 molecules in low vibrational levels (v <= 20) with a maximal rate of 104 s-1, induced by short-range photoassociation by the fiber laser followed by spontaneous emission. When this laser is used to set up a dipole trap, we measure an atomic loss rate at a wavelength far from the PA resonances only 4 times smaller than the one observed at a PA resonance wavelength. This work may have important consequences for atom trapping using lasers around 1060 nm. This work is supported by Grants 2013/02816-8 and 2014/24479-6, Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Ultracold atoms and their applications (Scientific session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 28 October 2015)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2016-02-01

A scientific session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), "Ultracold atoms and their applications", was held in the conference hall of the Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS, on 28 October 2015.The papers collected in this issue were written based on talks given at the session:(1) Vishnyakova G A, Golovizin A A, Kalganova E S, Tregubov D O, Khabarova K Yu (Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudnyi, Moscow region), Sorokin V N, Sukachev D D, Kolachevsky N N (Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow) "Ultracold lanthanides: from optical clock to a quantum simulator"; (2) Barmashova T V, Martiyanov K A, Makhalov V B (Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod), Turlapov A V (Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod; Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod) "Fermi liquid to Bose condensate crossover in a two-dimensional ultracold gas experiment"; (3) Taichenachev A V, Yudin V I, Bagayev S N (Institute of Laser Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk) "Ultraprecise optical frequency standards based on ultracold atoms: state of the art and prospects"; (4) Ryabtsev I I, Beterov I I, Tretyakov D B, Entin V M, Yakshina E A (Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk) "Spectroscopy of cold rubidium Rydberg atoms for applications in quantum information". • Ultracold lanthanides: from optical clock to a quantum simulator, G A Vishnyakova, A A Golovizin, E S Kalganova, V N Sorokin, D D Sukachev, D O Tregubov, K Yu Khabarova, N N Kolachevsky Physics-Uspekhi, 2016, Volume 59, Number 2, Pages 168-173 • Fermi liquid-to-Bose condensate crossover in a two

Pump-probe study of the formation of rubidium molecules by ultrafast photoassociation of ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCabe, David J.; England, Duncan G.; Martay, Hugo E. L.; Friedman, Melissa E.; Petrovic, Jovana; Dimova, Emiliya; Chatel, Béatrice; Walmsley, Ian A.

2009-09-01

An experimental pump-probe study of the photoassociative creation of translationally ultracold rubidium molecules is presented together with numerical simulations of the process. The formation of loosely bound excited-state dimers is observed as a first step toward a fully coherent pump-dump approach to the stabilization of Rb2 into its lowest ground vibrational states. The population that contributes to the pump-probe process is characterized and found to be distinct from a background population of preassociated molecules.

Observation of Resonant Effects in Ultracold Collisions between Heteronuclear Feshbach Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Xin; Wang, Fudong; Zhu, Bing; Guo, Mingyang; Lu, Bo; Wang, Dajun

2016-05-01

Magnetic field dependent dimer-dimer collisional losses are studied with ultracold 23 Na87 Rb Feshbach molecules. By ramping the magnetic field across the 347.8 G inter-species Feshbach resonance and removing residual atoms with a magnetic field gradient, ~ 8000 pure NaRb Feshbach molecules with a temperature below 1 μK are produced. By holding the pure molecule sample in a crossed optical dipole trap and measuring the time-dependent loss curves under different magnetic fields near the Feshbach resonance, the dimer-dimer loss rates with respect to the atomic scattering length a are mapped out. We observe a resonant feature at around a = 600a0 and a rising tail at above a = 1600a0 . This behavior resembles previous theoretical works on homonuclear Feshbach molecule, where resonant effects between dimer-dimer collisions tied to tetramer bound states were predicted. Our work shows the possibility of exploring four-body physics within a heteronuclear system. We are supported by Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund no. CUHK403813.

Prospects for quantum computing with an array of ultracold polar paramagnetic molecules.

PubMed

Karra, Mallikarjun; Sharma, Ketan; Friedrich, Bretislav; Kais, Sabre; Herschbach, Dudley

2016-03-07

Arrays of trapped ultracold molecules represent a promising platform for implementing a universal quantum computer. DeMille [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 067901 (2002)] has detailed a prototype design based on Stark states of polar (1)Σ molecules as qubits. Herein, we consider an array of polar (2)Σ molecules which are, in addition, inherently paramagnetic and whose Hund's case (b) free-rotor pair-eigenstates are Bell states. We show that by subjecting the array to combinations of concurrent homogeneous and inhomogeneous electric and magnetic fields, the entanglement of the array's Stark and Zeeman states can be tuned and the qubit sites addressed. Two schemes for implementing an optically controlled CNOT gate are proposed and their feasibility discussed in the face of the broadening of spectral lines due to dipole-dipole coupling and the inhomogeneity of the electric and magnetic fields.

High precision optical spectroscopy and quantum state selected photodissociation of ultracold 88Sr2 molecules in an optical lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, Mickey

2017-04-01

Over the past several decades, rapid progress has been made toward the accurate characterization and control of atoms, epitomized by the ever-increasing accuracy and precision of optical atomic lattice clocks. Extending this progress to molecules will have exciting implications for chemistry, condensed matter physics, and precision tests of physics beyond the Standard Model. My thesis describes work performed over the past six years to establish the state of the art in manipulation and quantum control of ultracold molecules. We describe a thorough set of measurements characterizing the rovibrational structure of weakly bound 88Sr2 molecules from several different perspectives, including determinations of binding energies; linear, quadratic, and higher order Zeeman shifts; transition strengths between bound states; and lifetimes of narrow subradiant states. Finally, we discuss measurements of photofragment angular distributions produced by photodissociation of molecules in single quantum states, leading to an exploration of quantum-state-resolved ultracold chemistry. The images of exploding photofragments produced in these studies exhibit dramatic interference effects and strongly violate semiclassical predictions, instead requiring a fully quantum mechanical description.

Universality and chaotic dynamics in reactive scattering of ultracold KRb molecules with K atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ming; Makrides, Constantinos; Petrov, Alexander; Kotochigova, Svetlana; Croft, James F. E.; Balakrishnan, Naduvalath; Kendrick, Brian K.

2017-04-01

We study the benchmark reaction between the most-celebrated ultracold polar molecule, KRb, with an ultracold K atom. For the first time we map out an accurate ab initio ground potential energy surface of the K2Rb complex in full dimensionality and performed a numerically exact quantum-mechanical calculation of reaction dynamics based on coupled-channels approach in hyperspherical coordinates. An analysis of the adiabatic hyperspherical potentials reveals a chaotic distribution for the short-range complex that plays a key role in governing the reaction outcome. The equivalent distribution for a lighter collisional system with a smaller density of states (here the Li2Yb trimer) only shows random behavior. We find an extreme sensitivity of our chaotic system to a small perturbation associated with the weak non-additive three-body potential contribution that does not affect the total reaction rate coefficient but leads to a significant change in the rotational distribution in the product molecule. In both cases the distribution of these rates is random or Poissonian. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1505557 (N.B.) and PHY-1619788 (S.K.), ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B. & S.K.), and DOE LDRD Grant No. 20170221ER (B.K.).

Role of Feshbach resonances in enhancing the production of deeply bound ultracold LiRb molecules with laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gacesa, Marko; Ghosal, Subhas; Côté, Robin

2010-03-01

We investigate the possibility of forming deeply bound LiRb molecules in a two-color photoassociation experiment. Ultracold ^6Li and ^87Rb atoms colliding in the vicinity of a magnetic Feshbach resonance are photoassociated into an excited electronic state. A wavepacket is then formed by exciting a few vibrational levels of the excited state and allowed to propagate. We calculate the time-dependent overlaps between the wave packet and the lowest vibrational levels of the ground state. After the optimal overlap is obtained we use the second laser pulse to dump the wave packet and efficiently populate the deeply bound ro-vibrational levels of ^6Li^87Rb in the ground state. The resulting combination of Feshbach-optimized photoassociation (FOPA) with the time-dependent pump-dump approach will produce a large number of stable ultracold molecules in the ground state. This technique is general and applicable to other systems.

Nicholas Metropolis Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Work in Computational Physics: Quantum many-body physics of ultracold molecules in optical lattices: models and simulation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wall, Michael

2014-03-01

Experimental progress in generating and manipulating synthetic quantum systems, such as ultracold atoms and molecules in optical lattices, has revolutionized our understanding of quantum many-body phenomena and posed new challenges for modern numerical techniques. Ultracold molecules, in particular, feature long-range dipole-dipole interactions and a complex and selectively accessible internal structure of rotational and hyperfine states, leading to many-body models with long range interactions and many internal degrees of freedom. Additionally, the many-body physics of ultracold molecules is often probed far from equilibrium, and so algorithms which simulate quantum many-body dynamics are essential. Numerical methods which are to have significant impact in the design and understanding of such synthetic quantum materials must be able to adapt to a variety of different interactions, physical degrees of freedom, and out-of-equilibrium dynamical protocols. Matrix product state (MPS)-based methods, such as the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG), have become the de facto standard for strongly interacting low-dimensional systems. Moreover, the flexibility of MPS-based methods makes them ideally suited both to generic, open source implementation as well as to studies of the quantum many-body dynamics of ultracold molecules. After introducing MPSs and variational algorithms using MPSs generally, I will discuss my own research using MPSs for many-body dynamics of long-range interacting systems. In addition, I will describe two open source implementations of MPS-based algorithms in which I was involved, as well as educational materials designed to help undergraduates and graduates perform research in computational quantum many-body physics using a variety of numerical methods including exact diagonalization and static and dynamic variational MPS methods. Finally, I will mention present research on ultracold molecules in optical lattices, such as the exploration of

Formation of ultracold molecules induced by a high-power single-frequency fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandes Passagem, Henry; Colín-Rodríguez, Ricardo; Ventura da Silva, Paulo Cesar; Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Dulieu, Olivier; Marcassa, Luis Gustavo

2017-02-01

The influence of a high-power single-frequency fiber laser on the formation of ultracold 85Rb2 molecules is investigated as a function of its frequency (in the 1062-1070 nm range) in a magneto-optical trap. We find evidence for the formation of ground-state 85Rb2 molecules in low vibrational levels (v≤slant 20) with a maximal rate of 104 s-1, induced by short-range photoassociation by the fiber laser followed by spontaneous emission. When this laser is used to set up a dipole trap, we measure an atomic loss rate at a wavelength far from the PA resonances, only four times smaller than that observed at a PA resonance wavelength. This work may have important consequences for atom trapping using lasers around the conventional 1064 nm wavelength.

Photoassociation of ultracold LiRb molecules with short pulses near a Feshbach resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gacesa, Marko; Ghosal, Subhas; Byrd, Jason; Côté, Robin

2014-05-01

Ultracold diatomic molecules prepared in the lowest ro-vibrational state are a required first step in many experimental studies aimed at investigating the properties of cold quantum matter. We propose a novel approach to produce such molecules in a two-color photoassociation experiment with short pulses performed near a Feshbach resonance. Specifically, we report the results of a theoretical investigation of formation of 6Li87Rb molecules in a magnetic field. We show that the molecular formation rate can be significantly increased if the pump step is performed near a magnetic Feshbach resonance due to the strong coupling between the energetically open and closed hyperfine states. In addition, the dependence of the nodal structure of the total wave function on the magnetic field allows for enhanced control over the shape and position of the wave packet. The proposed approach is applicable to different systems that have accessible Feshbach resonances. Partially supported by ARO(MG), DOE(SG), AFOFR(JB), NSF(RC).

Hyperfine structure of 2Σ molecules containing alkaline-earth-metal atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aldegunde, Jesus; Hutson, Jeremy M.

2018-04-01

Ultracold molecules with both electron spin and an electric dipole moment offer new possibilities in quantum science. We use density-functional theory to calculate hyperfine coupling constants for a selection of molecules important in this area, including RbSr, LiYb, RbYb, CaF, and SrF. We find substantial hyperfine coupling constants for the fermionic isotopes of the alkaline-earth-metal and Yb atoms. We discuss the hyperfine level patterns and Zeeman splittings expected for these molecules. The results will be important both to experiments aimed at forming ultracold open-shell molecules and to their applications.

Internal state control of a dense sample of ultracold 23Na87Rb molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Xin; Guo, Mingyang; He, Junyu; Wang, Dajun; Quemener, Goulven; Gonzalez-Martinez, Maykel; Dulieu, Oliver

2017-04-01

We report the optimized production of ultracold 23Na87Rb molecules with completely controlled population distribution among internal states. Starting from a sample of 104 weakly bound Feshbach molecules, we achieved a hyperfine-structure-resolved STIRAP transfer to the ground state with an efficiency up to 95%. By tuning the frequency difference between the Raman lasers and applying an additional microwave signal, we realized the preparation of NaRb samples in different vibrational, rotational, and hyperfine levels. Based on this achievement, some results on molecular collisions with a range of possible loss channels will also be reported. This work was supported by the French ANR/Hong Kong RGC COPOMOL project (Grant No. A-CUHK403/13), the RGC General Research Fund (Grant No. CUHK14301815).

Control of Ultracold Photodissociation with Magnetic Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, M.; Majewska, I.; Lee, C.-H.; Kondov, S. S.; McGuyer, B. H.; Moszynski, R.; Zelevinsky, T.

2018-01-01

Photodissociation of a molecule produces a spatial distribution of photofragments determined by the molecular structure and the characteristics of the dissociating light. Performing this basic reaction at ultracold temperatures allows its quantum mechanical features to dominate. In this regime, weak applied fields can be used to control the reaction. Here, we photodissociate ultracold diatomic strontium in magnetic fields below 10 G and observe striking changes in photofragment angular distributions. The observations are in excellent agreement with a multichannel quantum chemistry model that includes nonadiabatic effects and predicts strong mixing of partial waves in the photofragment energy continuum. The experiment is enabled by precise quantum-state control of the molecules.

Experimental observation and determination of the laser-induced frequency shift of hyperfine levels of ultracold polar molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Wenliang; Wang, Xiaofeng; Wu, Jizhou; Su, Xingliang; Wang, Shen; Sovkov, Vladimir B.; Ma, Jie; Xiao, Liantuan; Jia, Suotang

2017-08-01

We report on the experimental observation and quantitative determination of the laser-induced frequency shift (LIFS) of the ultracold polar molecules formed by photoassociation (PA). The experiments are performed by detecting a series of double PA spectra with a molecular hyperfine structure, which are induced by two PA lasers with a precise and adjustable frequency reference. We find that the LIFS of the molecular hyperfine levels shows a linear dependence on PA laser intensity.

Enhancement of ultracold molecule formation by local control in the nanosecond regime

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carini, J. L.; Kallush, S.; Kosloff, R.

2015-02-01

We describe quantum simulations of ultracold 87Rb 2 molecule formation using photoassociation (PA) with nanosecond-time-scale pulses of frequency chirped light. In particular, we compare the case of a linear chirp to one where the frequency evolution is optimized by local control (LC) of the phase, and find that LC can provide a significant enhancement. The resulting optimal frequency evolution corresponds to a rapid jump from the PA absorption resonance to a downward transition to a bound level of the lowest triplet state. We also consider the case of two frequencies and investigate interference effects. The assumed chirp parameters should bemore » achievable with nanosecond pulse shaping techniques and are predicted to provide a significant enhancement over recent experiments with linear chirps.« less

Creation of ultracold molecules within the lifetime scale by direct implementation of an optical frequency comb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Gengyuan; Malinovskaya, S. A.

2018-06-01

A method is proposed to create molecules in the ultracold state from the Feshbach molecules by stepwise adiabatic passage using an optical frequency comb without losses due to decoherence. An emphasis is made on the impact of the vibrational state manifold on controllability of the coherent dynamics by including five excited states into the model. The results are compared with recently reported results on a three-level ? system. Sinusoidal modulation across an individual pulse in the pulse train is applied, leading to the creation of a quasi-dark state, which minimizes population of the transitional, vibrational state manifold, and efficiently mitigates decoherence in the system. The parity of the temporal chirp is shown to be an important factor in designing population dynamics in the system.

Towards fundamental understanding of ultracold KRb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotochigova, Svetlana

2009-05-01

The recent formation of ultracold KRb molecules in their absolute rovibrational ground state [1] has created great promise for study of collective phenomena that rely on the long-range interactions between polar molecules. Here we discuss the theoretical analysis of various essential properties of the KRb molecules [2] that accompanied these experimental advances. This analysis is based on multi-channel bound-state calculations of both ground and excited electronic states. We have found that the theoretical hyperfine and Zeeman mixed X^1&+circ; and a^3&+circ; vibrational structure shows excellent agreement with the experimentally observed structure. In addition, multi-channel calculations of the rovibrational structure of the excited state potentials have allowed us to find the optimal transitions to the lowest v=0 vibrational levels. Finally, we examine the dynamic polarizability of vibrationally cold KRb molecules as a function of laser frequency. Based on this knowledge, laser frequencies can be selected to minimize decoherence from loss of molecules due to spontaneous or laser-induced transitions. [1] K.-K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, M. H. G. de Miranda, A. Peer, B. Neyenhuis, J. J. Zirbel, S. Kotochigova, P. S. Julienne, D. S. Jin, and J. Ye, Science 322, 231 (2008). [2] S. Kotochigova, E. Tiesinga, and P. S. Julienne, submitted to New J. Phys. (2009).

Quantum chaos in ultracold collisions of gas-phase erbium atoms.

PubMed

Frisch, Albert; Mark, Michael; Aikawa, Kiyotaka; Ferlaino, Francesca; Bohn, John L; Makrides, Constantinos; Petrov, Alexander; Kotochigova, Svetlana

2014-03-27

Atomic and molecular samples reduced to temperatures below one microkelvin, yet still in the gas phase, afford unprecedented energy resolution in probing and manipulating the interactions between their constituent particles. As a result of this resolution, atoms can be made to scatter resonantly on demand, through the precise control of a magnetic field. For simple atoms, such as alkalis, scattering resonances are extremely well characterized. However, ultracold physics is now poised to enter a new regime, where much more complex species can be cooled and studied, including magnetic lanthanide atoms and even molecules. For molecules, it has been speculated that a dense set of resonances in ultracold collision cross-sections will probably exhibit essentially random fluctuations, much as the observed energy spectra of nuclear scattering do. According to the Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture, such fluctuations would imply chaotic dynamics of the underlying classical motion driving the collision. This would necessitate new ways of looking at the fundamental interactions in ultracold atomic and molecular systems, as well as perhaps new chaos-driven states of ultracold matter. Here we describe the experimental demonstration that random spectra are indeed found at ultralow temperatures. In the experiment, an ultracold gas of erbium atoms is shown to exhibit many Fano-Feshbach resonances, of the order of three per gauss for bosons. Analysis of their statistics verifies that their distribution of nearest-neighbour spacings is what one would expect from random matrix theory. The density and statistics of these resonances are explained by fully quantum mechanical scattering calculations that locate their origin in the anisotropy of the atoms' potential energy surface. Our results therefore reveal chaotic behaviour in the native interaction between ultracold atoms.

State-to-state chemistry for three-body recombination in an ultracold rubidium gas.

PubMed

Wolf, Joschka; Deiß, Markus; Krükow, Artjom; Tiemann, Eberhard; Ruzic, Brandon P; Wang, Yujun; D'Incao, José P; Julienne, Paul S; Denschlag, Johannes Hecker

2017-11-17

Experimental investigation of chemical reactions with full quantum state resolution for all reactants and products has been a long-term challenge. Here we prepare an ultracold few-body quantum state of reactants and demonstrate state-to-state chemistry for the recombination of three spin-polarized ultracold rubidium (Rb) atoms to form a weakly bound Rb 2 molecule. The measured product distribution covers about 90% of the final products, and we are able to discriminate between product states with a level splitting as small as 20 megahertz multiplied by Planck's constant. Furthermore, we formulate propensity rules for the distribution of products, and we develop a theoretical model that predicts many of our experimental observations. The scheme can readily be adapted to other species and opens a door to detailed investigations of inelastic or reactive processes. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Magnetoassociation of KRb Feshbach molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cumby, Tyler; Perreault, John; Shewmon, Ruth; Jin, Deborah

2010-03-01

I will discuss experiments in which we study the creation of ^40K^87Rb Feshbach molecules via magnetoassociation. We measure the molecule number as a function of the magnetic-field sweep rate through the interspecies Feshbach resonance and explore the dependence of association on the initial atom gas conditions. This study of the Feshbach molecule creation process may be relevant to the production of ultracold polar molecules, where magnetoassociated Feshbach molecules can be a crucial first step [1].[4pt] [1] K.-K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, M. H. G. de Miranda, A. Peer, B. Neyenhuis, J. J. Zirbel, S. Kotochigova, P. S. Julienne, D. S. Jin, and J. Ye, Science, 2008, 322, 231- 235.

Magnetoassociation of KRb Feshbach molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cumby, Tyler; Perreault, John; Shewmon, Ruth; Jin, Deborah

2010-03-01

I will discuss experiments in which we study the creation of ^40K^87Rb Feshbach molecules via magnetoassociation. We measure the molecule number as a function of the magnetic-field sweep rate through the interspecies Feshbach resonance and explore the dependence of association on the initial atom gas conditions. This study of the Feshbach molecule creation process may be relevant to the production of ultracold polar molecules, where magnetoassociated Feshbach molecules can be a crucial first step [1].[4pt] [1] K.-K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, M. H. G. de Miranda, A. Peer, B. Neyenhuis, J. J. Zirbel, S. Kotochigova, P. S. Julienne, D. S. Jin, and J. Ye, Science, 2008, 322, 231-235.

Universality and chaoticity in ultracold K+KRb chemical reactions

DOE PAGES

Croft, J. F. E.; Makrides, C.; Li, M.; ...

2017-07-19

A fundamental question in the study of chemical reactions is how reactions proceed at a collision energy close to absolute zero. This question is no longer hypothetical: quantum degenerate gases of atoms and molecules can now be created at temperatures lower than a few tens of nanokelvin. Here we consider the benchmark ultracold reaction between, the most-celebrated ultracold molecule, KRb and K. We map out an accurate ab initio ground-state potential energy surface of the K 2Rb complex in full dimensionality and report numerically-exact quantum-mechanical reaction dynamics. The distribution of rotationally resolved rates is shown to be Poissonian. An analysismore » of the hyperspherical adiabatic potential curves explains this statistical character revealing a chaotic distribution for the short-range collision complex that plays a key role in governing the reaction outcome.« less

Correlations and enlarged superconducting phase of t -J⊥ chains of ultracold molecules on optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manmana, Salvatore R.; Möller, Marcel; Gezzi, Riccardo; Hazzard, Kaden R. A.

2017-10-01

We compute physical properties across the phase diagram of the t -J⊥ chain with long-range dipolar interactions, which describe ultracold polar molecules on optical lattices. Our results obtained by the density-matrix renormalization group indicate that superconductivity is enhanced when the Ising component Jz of the spin-spin interaction and the charge component V are tuned to zero and even further by the long-range dipolar interactions. At low densities, a substantially larger spin gap is obtained. We provide evidence that long-range interactions lead to algebraically decaying correlation functions despite the presence of a gap. Although this has recently been observed in other long-range interacting spin and fermion models, the correlations in our case have the peculiar property of having a small and continuously varying exponent. We construct simple analytic models and arguments to understand the most salient features.

Observation of Feshbach resonances between ultracold Na and Rb atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fudong; Xiong, Dezhi; Li, Xiaoke; Wang, Dajun

2013-03-01

Absolute ground-state 23Na87Rb molecule has a large electric dipole moment of 3.3 Debye and its two body exchange chemical reaction is energetically forbidden at ultracold temperatures. It is thus a nice candidate for studying quantum gases with dipolar interactions. We have built an experiment setup to investigate ultracold collisions between Na and Rb atoms as a first step toward the production of ground state molecular samples. Ultracold mixtures are first obtained by evaporative cooling of Rb and sympathetic cooling of Na. They are then transferred to a crossed dipole trap and prepared in different spin combinations for Feshbach resonance study. Several resonances below 1000 G are observed with both atoms prepared in either | F = 1,mF = 1 > or | F = 1,mF = - 1 > hyperfine states. Most of them are within 30 G of predicted values§ based on potentials obtained by high quality molecular spectroscopy studies. This work is supported by RGC Hong Kong. § E. Tiemann, private communications

Spin relaxation in ultracold collisions of molecular radicals with alkali-metal atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tscherbul, Timur; Klos, Jacek; Zukowski, Piotr

2016-05-01

We present accurate quantum scattering calculations of spin relaxation in ultracold collisions of alkali-metal atoms and polar 2 Σ molecules CaH, SrF, and SrOH. The calculations employ state-of-the-art ab initio interaction potentials and a rigorous quantum theory of atom-molecule collisions in a magnetic field based on the total angular momentum representation. We will further discuss the relevance of the results to atom-molecule sympathetic cooling experiments in a magnetic trap.

Molecular physics. Production of trilobite Rydberg molecule dimers with kilo-Debye permanent electric dipole moments.

PubMed

Booth, D; Rittenhouse, S T; Yang, J; Sadeghpour, H R; Shaffer, J P

2015-04-03

Permanent electric dipole moments are important for understanding symmetry breaking in molecular physics, control of chemical reactions, and realization of strongly correlated many-body quantum systems. However, large molecular permanent electric dipole moments are challenging to realize experimentally. We report the observation of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules with bond lengths of ~100 nanometers and kilo-Debye permanent electric dipole moments that form when an ultracold ground-state cesium (Cs) atom becomes bound within the electronic cloud of an extended Cs electronic orbit. The electronic character of this hybrid class of "trilobite" molecules is dominated by degenerate Rydberg manifolds, making them difficult to produce by conventional photoassociation. We used detailed coupled-channel calculations to reproduce their properties quantitatively. Our findings may lead to progress in ultracold chemistry and strongly correlated many-body physics. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Determination of the axial-vector weak coupling constant with ultracold neutrons.

PubMed

Liu, J; Mendenhall, M P; Holley, A T; Back, H O; Bowles, T J; Broussard, L J; Carr, R; Clayton, S; Currie, S; Filippone, B W; García, A; Geltenbort, P; Hickerson, K P; Hoagland, J; Hogan, G E; Hona, B; Ito, T M; Liu, C-Y; Makela, M; Mammei, R R; Martin, J W; Melconian, D; Morris, C L; Pattie, R W; Pérez Galván, A; Pitt, M L; Plaster, B; Ramsey, J C; Rios, R; Russell, R; Saunders, A; Seestrom, S J; Sondheim, W E; Tatar, E; Vogelaar, R B; VornDick, B; Wrede, C; Yan, H; Young, A R

2010-10-29

A precise measurement of the neutron decay β asymmetry A₀ has been carried out using polarized ultracold neutrons from the pulsed spallation ultracold neutron source at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Combining data obtained in 2008 and 2009, we report A₀ = -0.119 66±0.000 89{-0.001 40}{+0.001 23}, from which we determine the ratio of the axial-vector to vector weak coupling of the nucleon g{A}/g{V}=-1.275 90{-0.004 45}{+0.004 09}.

Triatomic molecules laser-cooled

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2017-06-01

Molecules containing three atoms have been laser-cooled to ultracold temperatures for the first time. John Doyle and colleagues at Harvard University in the US used a technique called Sisyphus cooling to chill an ensemble of about a million strontium-monohydroxide molecules to 750 μK.

Geometric phase effects in ultracold chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazra, Jisha; Naduvalath, Balakrishnan; Kendrick, Brian K.

2016-05-01

In molecules, the geometric phase, also known as Berry's phase, originates from the adiabatic transport of the electronic wavefunction when the nuclei follow a closed path encircling a conical intersection between two electronic potential energy surfaces. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of the geometric phase has an important effect on ultracold chemical reaction rates. The effect appears in rotationally and vibrationally resolved integral cross sections as well as cross sections summed over all product quantum states. It arises from interference between scattering amplitudes of two reaction pathways: a direct path and a looping path that encircle the conical intersection between the two lowest adiabatic electronic potential energy surfaces. Illustrative results are presented for the O+ OH --> H+ O2 reaction and for hydrogen exchange in H+ H2 and D+HD reactions. It is also qualitatively demonstrated that the geometric phase effect can be modulated by applying an external electric field allowing the possibility of quantum control of chemical reactions in the ultracold regime. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1505557 (N.B.) and ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B.).

From ultracold Fermi Gases to Neutron Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salomon, Christophe

2012-02-01

Ultracold dilute atomic gases can be considered as model systems to address some pending problem in Many-Body physics that occur in condensed matter systems, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. We have developed a general method to probe with high precision the thermodynamics of locally homogeneous ultracold Bose and Fermi gases [1,2,3]. This method allows stringent tests of recent many-body theories. For attractive spin 1/2 fermions with tunable interaction (^6Li), we will show that the gas thermodynamic properties can continuously change from those of weakly interacting Cooper pairs described by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory to those of strongly bound molecules undergoing Bose-Einstein condensation. First, we focus on the finite-temperature Equation of State (EoS) of the unpolarized unitary gas. Surprisingly, the low-temperature properties of the strongly interacting normal phase are well described by Fermi liquid theory [3] and we localize the superfluid phase transition. A detailed comparison with theories including recent Monte-Carlo calculations will be presented. Moving away from the unitary gas, the Lee-Huang-Yang and Lee-Yang beyond-mean-field corrections for low density bosonic and fermionic superfluids are quantitatively measured for the first time. Despite orders of magnitude difference in density and temperature, our equation of state can be used to describe low density neutron matter such as the outer shell of neutron stars. [4pt] [1] S. Nascimbène, N. Navon, K. Jiang, F. Chevy, and C. Salomon, Nature 463, 1057 (2010) [0pt] [2] N. Navon, S. Nascimbène, F. Chevy, and C. Salomon, Science 328, 729 (2010) [0pt] [3] S. Nascimbène, N. Navon, S. Pilati, F. Chevy, S. Giorgini, A. Georges, and C. Salomon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 215303 (2011)

Inductively guided circuits for ultracold dressed atoms

PubMed Central

Sinuco-León, German A.; Burrows, Kathryn A.; Arnold, Aidan S.; Garraway, Barry M.

2014-01-01

Recent progress in optics, atomic physics and material science has paved the way to study quantum effects in ultracold atomic alkali gases confined to non-trivial geometries. Multiply connected traps for cold atoms can be prepared by combining inhomogeneous distributions of DC and radio-frequency electromagnetic fields with optical fields that require complex systems for frequency control and stabilization. Here we propose a flexible and robust scheme that creates closed quasi-one-dimensional guides for ultracold atoms through the ‘dressing’ of hyperfine sublevels of the atomic ground state, where the dressing field is spatially modulated by inductive effects over a micro-engineered conducting loop. Remarkably, for commonly used atomic species (for example, 7Li and 87Rb), the guide operation relies entirely on controlling static and low-frequency fields in the regimes of radio-frequency and microwave frequencies. This novel trapping scheme can be implemented with current technology for micro-fabrication and electronic control. PMID:25348163

Quantum Reactive Scattering of Ultracold K+KRb Reaction: Universality and Chaotic Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croft, J. F. E.; Makrides, C.; Li, M.; Petrov, A.; Kendrick, B. K.; Balakrishnan, N.; Kotochigova, S.

2017-04-01

A fundamental question in the study of chemical reactions is how reactions proceed at a collision energy close to absolute zero. This question is no longer hypothetical: quantum degenerate gases of atoms and molecules can now be created at temperatures lower than a few tens of nanoKelvin. In this talk, we discuss the benchmark ultracold reaction between, the most-celebrated ultracold molecule, KRb and K. We report numerically exact quantum-mechanical calculations of the K+KRb reaction on an accurate ab initio ground state potential energy surface of the K2Rb system and compare our results with available experimental data and predictions of universal models. The role of non-additive three-body contributions to the interaction potential is examined and is found to be small for the total reaction rates. However, the rotationally resolved rate coefficients are shown to be sensitive to the short-range interaction potential and follow a Poissonian distribution. This work was supported in part by NSF Grants PHY-1505557 (N.B.), PHY-1619788 (S.K.), ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B. & S.K.), and DOE LDRD Grant No. 20170221ER (B.K.).

Possible Many-Body Localization in a Long-Lived Finite-Temperature Ultracold Quasineutral Molecular Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sous, John; Grant, Edward

2018-03-01

We argue that the quenched ultracold plasma presents an experimental platform for studying the quantum many-body physics of disordered systems in the long-time and finite energy-density limits. We consider an experiment that quenches a plasma of nitric oxide to an ultracold system of Rydberg molecules, ions, and electrons that exhibits a long-lived state of arrested relaxation. The qualitative features of this state fail to conform with classical models. Here, we develop a microscopic quantum description for the arrested phase based on an effective many-body spin Hamiltonian that includes both dipole-dipole and van der Waals interactions. This effective model appears to offer a way to envision the essential quantum disordered nonequilibrium physics of this system.

Building one molecule from a reservoir of two atoms.

PubMed

Liu, L R; Hood, J D; Yu, Y; Zhang, J T; Hutzler, N R; Rosenband, T; Ni, K-K

2018-05-25

Chemical reactions typically proceed via stochastic encounters between reactants. Going beyond this paradigm, we combined exactly two atoms in a single, controlled reaction. The experimental apparatus traps two individual laser-cooled atoms [one sodium (Na) and one cesium (Cs)] in separate optical tweezers and then merges them into one optical dipole trap. Subsequently, photoassociation forms an excited-state NaCs molecule. The discovery of previously unseen resonances near the molecular dissociation threshold and measurement of collision rates are enabled by the tightly trapped ultracold sample of atoms. As laser-cooling and trapping capabilities are extended to more elements, the technique will enable the study of more diverse, and eventually more complex, molecules in an isolated environment, as well as synthesis of designer molecules for qubits. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Quantum Engineering of Strongly Correlated Matter with Ultracold Fermi Gases

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

aim at realizing model systems of strongly correlated, disordered electrons using ultracold fermionic atoms stored in an optical "crystal". The general...theme is to study high-temperature superfluids, Fermi liquids ("metals") and insulators in the presence of disordered impurities whose influence on...Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Education (PECASE). In this program, we aim at realizing model systems of strongly correlated, disordered

Collisional Thermalization in Strongly Coupled Ultracold Neutral Plasmas

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-25

Beaumont, TX (4/16). “Studying Strongly Coupled Systems with Ultracold Plasmas," Department of Physics and Astronomy Colloquium, University of South...Alabama, Mobile, AL (11/15). “Collective Modes and Correlations in Strongly Coupled Ultracold Plasmas," Department of Physics and Astronomy

Robust Quantum Computing using Molecules with Switchable Dipole

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-15

REPORT Robust quantum computing using molecules with switchable dipole 14. ABSTRACT 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: Of the many systems studied to...Research Office P.O. Box 12211 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211 15. SUBJECT TERMS Ultracold polar molecules, quantum computing , phase gates...From - To) 30-Aug-2006 Standard Form 298 (Rev 8/98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18 - 31-Aug-2009 Robust quantum computing using molecules with

Geometric phase effects in ultracold hydrogen exchange reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naduvalath, Balakrishnan; Croft, James F. E.; Hazra, Jisha; Kendrick, Brian K.

2017-04-01

Electronically non-adiabatic effects play an important role in many chemical reactions. The geometric phase, also known as the Berry's phase, arises from the adiabatic transport of the electronic wave function around a conical intersection between two electronic potential energy surfaces. It is shown that in ultracold collisions of H and D atoms with vibrationally excited HD, inclusion of the geometric phase leads to constructive and destructive interferences between non-reactive and exchange components of the wave function. This results in strong enhancement or suppression of reactivity depending on the final rovibrational levels of the scattered HD molecules. The effect is illustrated for non-rotating and rotationally excited HD molecules in the v = 4 vibrational level for which the H+HD and D+HD reactions occur through a barrierless path. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1505557 (N.B.), ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B.), and DOE LDRD Grant No. 20170221ER (B.K.).

The geometric phase controls ultracold chemistry

DOE PAGES

Kendrick, B. K.; Hazra, Jisha; Balakrishnan, N.

2015-07-30

In this study, the geometric phase is shown to control the outcome of an ultracold chemical reaction. The control is a direct consequence of the sign change on the interference term between two scattering pathways (direct and looping), which contribute to the reactive collision process in the presence of a conical intersection (point of degeneracy between two Born–Oppenheimer electronic potential energy surfaces). The unique properties of the ultracold energy regime lead to an effective quantization of the scattering phase shift enabling maximum constructive or destructive interference between the two pathways. By taking the O + OH → H + Omore » 2 reaction as an illustrative example, it is shown that inclusion of the geometric phase modifies ultracold reaction rates by nearly two orders of magnitude. Interesting experimental control possibilities include the application of external electric and magnetic fields that might be used to exploit the geometric phase effect reported here and experimentally switch on or off the reactivity.« less

Magnetic Trapping and Coherent Control of Laser-Cooled Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, H. J.; Caldwell, L.; Fitch, N. J.; Truppe, S.; Rodewald, J.; Hinds, E. A.; Sauer, B. E.; Tarbutt, M. R.

2018-04-01

We demonstrate coherent microwave control of the rotational, hyperfine, and Zeeman states of ultracold CaF molecules, and the magnetic trapping of these molecules in a single, selectable quantum state. We trap about 5 ×103 molecules for almost 2 s at a temperature of 70 (8 ) μ K and a density of 1.2 ×105 cm-3. We measure the state-specific loss rate due to collisions with background helium.

Efficient photoassociation of ultracold cesium atoms with picosecond pulse laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hai, Yang; Hu, Xue-Jin; Li, Jing-Lun; Cong, Shu-Lin

2017-08-01

We investigate theoretically the formation of ultracold Cs2 molecules via photoassociation (PA) with three kinds of pulses (the Gaussian pulse, the asymmetric shaped laser pulse SL1 with a large rising time and a small falling time and the asymmetric shaped laser pulse SL2 with a small rising time and a large falling time). For the three kinds of pulses, the final population on vibrational levels from v‧ = 120 to 175 of the excited state displays a regular oscillation change with pulse width and interaction strength, and a high PA efficiency can be achieved with optimised parameters. The PA efficiency in the excited state steered by the SL1-pulse (SL2-pulse) train with optimised parameters which is composed of four SL1 (SL2) pulses is 1.74 times as much as that by the single SL1 (SL2) pulse due to the population accumulation effect. Moreover, a dump laser is employed to transfer the excited molecules from the excited state to the vibrational level v″ = 12 of the ground state to obtain stable molecules.

Ultracold collisions between Rb atoms and a Sr+ ion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meir, Ziv; Sikorsky, Tomas; Ben-Shlomi, Ruti; Dallal, Yehonatan; Ozeri, Roee

2015-05-01

In last decade, a novel field emerged, in which ultracold atoms and ions in overlapping traps are brought into interaction. In contrast to the short ranged atom-atom interaction which scales as r-6, atom-ion potential persists for hundreds of μm's due to its lower power-law scaling - r-4. Inelastic collisions between the consistuents lead to spin and charge transfer and also to molecule formation. Elastic collisions control the energy transfer between the ion and the atoms. The study of collisions at the μK range has thus far been impeded by the effect of the ion's micromotion which limited collision energy to mK scale. Unraveling this limit will allow to investigate few partial wave and even S-wave collisions. Our system is capable of trapping Sr+ ions and Rb and Sr atoms and cooling them to their quantum ground state. Atoms and ions are trapped and cooled in separate chambers. Then, the atoms are transported using an optical conveyer belt to overlap the ions. In contrast to other experiments in this field where the atoms are used to sympathetic cool the ion, our system is also capable of ground state cooling the ion before immersing it into the atom cloud. By this method, we would be able to explore heating and cooling dynamics in the ultracold regime.

From dipolar to multipolar interactions between ultracold Feshbach molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quéméner, Goulven; Lepers, Maxence; Luc-Koenig, Eliane; Dulieu, Olivier

2016-05-01

Using the multipolar expansion of electrostatic and magnetostatic potential energies, we characterize the long-range interactions between two weakly-bound diatomic molecules, taking as an example the paramagnetic Er2 Feshbach molecules which were produced recently. The interaction between atomic magnetic dipoles gives rise to the usual R-3 leading term of the multipolar expansion, where R is the intermolecular distance. We show that additional terms scaling as R-5, R-7 and so on also appear, which are strongly anisotropic with respect to the orientation of the molecules. These terms can be seen as effective molecular multipole moments reflecting the spatial extension of the molecules which is non-negligible compared to R. We acknowledge the financial support of the COPOMOL project (ANR-13-IS04-0004) from Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

Efficient production of long-lived ultracold Sr2 molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciamei, Alessio; Bayerle, Alex; Chen, Chun-Chia; Pasquiou, Benjamin; Schreck, Florian

2017-07-01

We associate Sr atom pairs on sites of a Mott insulator optically and coherently into weakly bound ground-state molecules, achieving an efficiency above 80%. This efficiency is 2.5 times higher than in our previous work [S. Stellmer, B. Pasquiou, R. Grimm, and F. Schreck, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 115302 (2012), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.115302] and obtained through two improvements. First, the lifetime of the molecules is increased beyond one minute by using an optical lattice wavelength that is further detuned from molecular transitions. Second, we compensate undesired dynamic light shifts that occur during the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) used for molecule association. We also characterize and model STIRAP, providing insights into its limitations. Our work shows that significant molecule association efficiencies can be achieved even for atomic species or mixtures that lack Feshbach resonances suitable for magnetoassociation.

Contact interaction in an unitary ultracold Fermi gas

DOE PAGES

Pessoa, Renato; Gandolfi, Stefano; Vitiello, S. A.; ...

2015-12-16

An ultracold Fermi atomic gas at unitarity presents universal properties that in the dilute limit can be well described by a contact interaction. By employing a guiding function with correct boundary conditions and making simple modifications to the sampling procedure we are able to calculate the properties of a true contact interaction with the diffusion Monte Carlo method. The results are obtained with small variances. Our calculations for the Bertsch and contact parameters are in excellent agreement with published experiments. The possibility of using a more faithful description of ultracold atomic gases can help uncover additional features of ultracold atomicmore » gases. In addition, this work paves the way to perform quantum Monte Carlo calculations for other systems interacting with contact interactions, where the description using potentials with finite effective range might not be accurate.« less

Reaching Higher Gamma in Ultracold Neutral Plasmas Through Disorder-Induced Heating Control

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-27

shielding ,” Phys. Rev. E 87, 033101 (2013) 4 Sequential ionization of ultracold plasma ions A simulation published in 2007 by Michael Murillo showed...AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2017-0031 Reaching higher Gamma in ultracold neutral plasmas through disorder-induced heating control Scott Bergeson BRIGHAM YOUNG...TYPE Final Report 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 01 June 2012 - 31 May 2016 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Reaching higher Gamma in ultracold neutral plasmas

Plasma oscillations in spherical Gaussian shaped ultracold neutral plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Tianxing; Lu, Ronghua, E-mail: lurh@siom.ac.cn; Guo, Li

2016-04-15

The collective plasma oscillations are investigated in ultracold neutral plasma with a non-uniform density profile. Instead of the plane configuration widely used, we derive the plasma oscillation equations with spherically symmetric distribution and Gaussian density profile. The damping of radial oscillation is found. The Tonks–Dattner resonances of the ultracold neutral plasma with an applied RF field are also calculated.

Thermometry of ultracold atoms by electromagnetically induced transparency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, Thorsten; Wittrock, Benjamin; Blatt, Frank; Halfmann, Thomas; Yatsenko, Leonid P.

2012-06-01

We report on systematic numerical and experimental investigations of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to determine temperatures in an ultracold atomic gas. The technique relies on the strong dependence of EIT on atomic motion (i.e., Doppler shifts), when the relevant atomic transitions are driven with counterpropagating probe and control laser beams. Electromagnetically induced transparency permits thermometry with satisfactory precision over a large temperature range, which can be addressed by the appropriate choice of Rabi frequency in the control beam. In contrast to time-of-flight techniques, thermometry by EIT is fast and nondestructive, i.e., essentially it does not affect the ultracold medium. In an experimental demonstration we apply both EIT and time-of-flight measurements to determine temperatures along different symmetry axes of an anisotropic ultracold gas. As an interesting feature we find that the temperatures in the anisotropic atom cloud vary in different directions.

Toward Triplet Ground State NaLi Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebadi, Sepehr; Jamison, Alan; Rvachov, Timur; Jing, Li; Son, Hyungmok; Jiang, Yijun; Zwierlein, Martin; Ketterle, Wolfgang

2016-05-01

The NaLi molecule is expected to have a long lifetime in the triplet ground-state due to its fermionic nature, large rotational constant, and weak spin-orbit coupling. The triplet state has both electric and magnetic dipole moments, affording unique opportunities in quantum simulation and ultracold chemistry. We have mapped the excited state NaLi triplet potential by means of photoassociation spectroscopy. We report on this and our further progress toward the creation of the triplet ground-state molecules using STIRAP. NSF, ARO-MURI, Samsung, NSERC.

Direct photoassociation of halo molecules in ultracold 86 Sr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aman, J. A.; Hill, Joshua; Killian, T. C.

2017-04-01

We investigate the creation of 1S0 +1S0 halo molecules in strontium 86 through direct photoassociation in an optical dipole trap. We drive two photon Raman transitions near-resonance with a molecular level of the 1S0 +3P1 interatomic potential as the intermediate state. This provides large Frank-Condon factors and allows us to observe resonances for the creation of halo molecules through higher order Raman processes. The halo molecule is bound by EB 85 kHz at low excitation-laser intensity, but experiments show large AC Stark shifts of the molecular binding energy. These conditions suggest that STIRAP should be very effective for improving molecular conversion efficiency. Further experiments in a 3D lattice will explore molecular lifetimes and collision rates. Travel support provided by Shell Corporation.

Nodal Topological Phases in s-wave Superfluid of Ultracold Fermionic Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Bei-Bing; Yang, Xiao-Sen

2018-02-01

The gapless Weyl superfluid has been widely studied in the three-dimensional ultracold fermionic superfluid. In contrast to Weyl superfluid, there exists another kind of gapless superfluid with topologically protected nodal lines, which can be regarded as the superfluid counterpart of nodal line semimetal in the condensed matter physics, just as Weyl superfluid with Weyl semimetal. In this paper we study the ground states of the cold fermionic gases in cubic optical lattices with one-dimensional spin-orbit coupling and transverse Zeeman field and map out the topological phase diagram of the system. We demonstrate that in addition to a fully gapped topologically trivial phase, some different nodal line superfluid phases appear when the Zeeman field is adjusted. The presence of topologically stable nodal lines implies the dispersionless zero-energy flat band in a finite region of the surface Brillouin zone. Experimentally these nodal line superfluid states can be detected via the momentum-resolved radio-frequency spectroscopy. The nodal line topological superfluid provide fertile grounds for exploring exotic quantum matters in the context of ultracold atoms. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 11547047 and 11504143

JILA BEC/Ultracold Atoms Homepage

Science.gov Websites

JILA BEC & Ultracold Atoms Bose Einstein Condensate Eric Cornell Cornell Group Debbie Jin Jin Group Jun Ye Ye Group Dana Anderson Anderson Group What is BEC? Easy BEC Machine Nobel BEC BibTek Papers

Laser Cooled YbF Molecules for Measuring the Electron's Electric Dipole Moment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, J.; Almond, J. R.; Trigatzis, M. A.; Devlin, J. A.; Fitch, N. J.; Sauer, B. E.; Tarbutt, M. R.; Hinds, E. A.

2018-03-01

We demonstrate one-dimensional sub-Doppler laser cooling of a beam of YbF molecules to 100 μ K . This is a key step towards a measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using ultracold molecules. We compare the effectiveness of magnetically assisted and polarization-gradient sub-Doppler cooling mechanisms. We model the experiment and find good agreement with our data.

Laser Cooled YbF Molecules for Measuring the Electron's Electric Dipole Moment.

PubMed

Lim, J; Almond, J R; Trigatzis, M A; Devlin, J A; Fitch, N J; Sauer, B E; Tarbutt, M R; Hinds, E A

2018-03-23

We demonstrate one-dimensional sub-Doppler laser cooling of a beam of YbF molecules to 100  μK. This is a key step towards a measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using ultracold molecules. We compare the effectiveness of magnetically assisted and polarization-gradient sub-Doppler cooling mechanisms. We model the experiment and find good agreement with our data.

Non-destructive Faraday imaging of dynamically controlled ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gajdacz, Miroslav; Pedersen, Poul; Mørch, Troels; Hilliard, Andrew; Arlt, Jan; Sherson, Jacob

2013-05-01

We investigate non-destructive measurements of ultra-cold atomic clouds based on dark field imaging of spatially resolved Faraday rotation. In particular, we pursue applications to dynamically controlled ultracold atoms. The dependence of the Faraday signal on laser detuning, atomic density and temperature is characterized in a detailed comparison with theory. In particular the destructivity per measurement is extremely low and we illustrate this by imaging the same cloud up to 2000 times. The technique is applied to avoid the effect of shot-to-shot fluctuations in atom number calibration. Adding dynamic changes to system parameters, we demonstrate single-run vector magnetic field imaging and single-run spatial imaging of the system's dynamic behavior. The method can be implemented particularly easily in standard imaging systems by the insertion of an extra polarizing beam splitter. These results are steps towards quantum state engineering using feedback control of ultracold atoms.

Trapped ultracold molecular ions: candidates for an optical molecular clock for a fundamental physics mission in space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, B.; Koelemeij, J.; Daerr, H.; Ernsting, I.; Jorgensen, S.; Okhapkin, M.; Wicht, A.; Nevsky, A.; Schiller, S.

2017-11-01

Narrow ro-vibrational transitions in ultracold molecules are excellent candidates for frequency references in the near-IR to visible spectral domain and interesting systems for fundamental tests of physics, in particular for a satellite test of the gravitational redshift of clocks. We have performed laser spectroscopy of several ro-vibrational overtone transitions υ = 0 → υ = 4 in HD+ ions at around 1.4 μm. 1+1 REMPD was used as a detection method, followed by measurement of the number of remaining molecules. The molecular ions were stored in a linear radiofrequency trap and cooled to millikelvin temperatures, by sympathetic cooling using laser-cooled Be+ ions simultaneously stored in the same trap.

Coherent all-optical control of ultracold atoms arrays in permanent magnetic traps.

PubMed

Abdelrahman, Ahmed; Mukai, Tetsuya; Häffner, Hartmut; Byrnes, Tim

2014-02-10

We propose a hybrid architecture for quantum information processing based on magnetically trapped ultracold atoms coupled via optical fields. The ultracold atoms, which can be either Bose-Einstein condensates or ensembles, are trapped in permanent magnetic traps and are placed in microcavities, connected by silica based waveguides on an atom chip structure. At each trapping center, the ultracold atoms form spin coherent states, serving as a quantum memory. An all-optical scheme is used to initialize, measure and perform a universal set of quantum gates on the single and two spin-coherent states where entanglement can be generated addressably between spatially separated trapped ultracold atoms. This allows for universal quantum operations on the spin coherent state quantum memories. We give detailed derivations of the composite cavity system mediated by a silica waveguide as well as the control scheme. Estimates for the necessary experimental conditions for a working hybrid device are given.

The charge imbalance in ultracold plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Tianxing; Lu, Ronghua, E-mail: lurh@siom.ac.cn; Guo, Li

2016-09-15

Ultracold plasmas are regarded as quasineutral but not strictly neutral. The results of charge imbalance in the expansion of ultracold plasmas are reported. The calculations are performed by a full molecular-dynamics simulation. The details of the electron velocity distributions are calculated without the assumption of electron global thermal equilibrium and Boltzmann distribution. Spontaneous evolutions of the charge imbalance from the initial states with perfect neutrality are given in the simulations. The expansion of outer plasma slows down with the charge imbalance. The influences of plasma size and parameters on the charge imbalance are discussed. The radial profiles of electron temperaturemore » are given for the first time, and the self-similar expansion can still occur even if there is no global thermal equilibrium. The electron disorder induced heating is also found in the simulation.« less

Analytical Wave Functions for Ultracold Collisions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavagnero, M. J.

1998-05-01

Secular perturbation theory of long-range interactions(M. J. Cavagnero, PRA 50) 2841, (1994). has been generalized to yield accurate wave functions for near threshold processes, including low-energy scattering processes of interest at ultracold temperatures. In particular, solutions of Schrödinger's equation have been obtained for motion in the combined r-6, r-8, and r-10 potentials appropriate for describing an utlracold collision of two neutral ground state atoms. Scattering lengths and effective ranges appropriate to such potentials are readily calculated at distances comparable to the LeRoy radius, where exchange forces can be neglected, thereby eliminating the need to integrate Schrödinger's equation to large internuclear distances. Our method yields accurate base pair solutions well beyond the energy range of effective range theories, making possible the application of multichannel quantum defect theory [MQDT] and R-matrix methods to the study of ultracold collisions.

Testing Lorentz and C P T invariance with ultracold neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín-Ruiz, A.; Escobar, C. A.

2018-05-01

In this paper we investigate, within the standard model extension framework, the influence of Lorentz- and C P T -violating terms on gravitational quantum states of ultracold neutrons. Using a semiclassical wave packet, we derive the effective nonrelativistic Hamiltonian which describes the neutrons vertical motion by averaging the contributions from the perpendicular coordinates to the free falling axis. We compute the physical implications of the Lorentz- and C P T -violating terms on the spectra. The comparison of our results with those obtained in the GRANIT experiment leads to an upper bound for the symmetries-violation cμν n coefficients. We find that ultracold neutrons are sensitive to the ain and ein coefficients, which thus far are unbounded by experiments in the neutron sector. We propose two additional problems involving ultracold neutrons which could be relevant for improving our current bounds; namely, gravity-resonance spectroscopy and neutron whispering gallery wave.

Laser Slowing of CaF Molecules and Progress towards a Dual-MOT for Li and CaF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chae, Eunmi

Diatomic molecules are considered good candidates for the study of strongly correlated systems and precision measurement searches due to their combination of complex internal states and strong long-range interactions. Cooling molecules down to ultracold temperatures is often a necessary step for fully utilizing the power of the molecule. This requires a trap for molecules and the ability to cool molecules to the mK regime and below. A magneto-optical trap (MOT) is a good tool for achieving mK temperatures. However, extra care is needed for molecules to form the necessary quasi-closed cycling transitions due to molecule's complicated energy structure. In our work with CaF, we use two repump lasers to block vibrational leakage and selection rules for the rotational degree of freedom to achieve about 105 photon cycles. The two-stage buffer gas beam source is a general method to generate a cold and slow beam of molecules with a forward velocity of about 50 m/s. The compatibility of the buffer-gas source with a MOT is studied and we confirm that such beams can be nicely compatible with MOTs using various atomic species. In order to load molecules into a MOT from even such a slow beam, additional slowing is required due to the low capture velocity of a molecular MOT (< 10 m/s). We apply a frequency-broadened "white-light" slowing on CaF from a two-stage source, demonstrating slowing of CaF below 10 m/s. An AC MOT, which provides active remixing of dark substates, is also developed and Li atoms are slowed and trapped. These are crucial ingredients for co-trapping CaF molecules and Li atoms and study their collisional properties, which would lead to sympathetic cooling of molecules down to ultracold temperatures. The achievement of slowing and development of this system allowed for the detailed study of the CaF laser cooling system, as well as physical processes involved with AC MOTs and the proposed MOT for CaF. Crucial knowledge of this archetypal system provides

Artificial Gauge Fields for Ultracold Neutral Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jimenez-Garcia, Karina

2013-05-01

Ultracold atoms are a versatile probe for physics at the core of the most intriguing and fascinating systems in the quantum world. Due to the high degree of experimental control offered by such systems, effective Hamiltonians can be designed and experimentally implemented on them. This unique feature makes ultracold atom systems ideal for quantum simulation of complex phenomena as important as high-temperature superconductivity, and recently of novel artificial gauge fields. Suitably designed artificial gauge fields allow neutral particles to experience synthetic- electric or magnetic fields; furthermore, their generalization to matrix valued gauge fields leads to spin-orbit coupling featuring unprecedented control in contrast to ordinary condensed matter systems, thus allowing the characterization of the underlying mechanism of phenomena such as the spin Hall effect and topological insulators. In this talk, I will present an overview of our experiments on quantum simulation with ultracold atom systems by focusing on the realization of light induced artificial gauge fields. We illuminate our Bose-Einstein condensates with a pair of far detuned ``Raman'' lasers, thus creating dressed states that are spin and momentum superpositions. We adiabatically load the atoms into the lowest energy dressed state, where they acquire an experimentally-tunable effective dispersion relation, i.e. we introduce gauge terms into the Hamiltonian. We control such light-induced gauge terms via the strength of the Raman coupling and the detuning from Raman resonance. Our experimental techniques for ultracold bosons have surpassed the apparent limitations imposed by their neutral charge, bosonic nature, and ultra-low energy and have allowed the observation of these new and exciting phenomena. Future work might allow the realization of the bosonic quantum Hall effect, of topological insulators and of systems supporting Majorana fermions using cold atoms. This work was partially supported by

Computational Modeling of Low-Density Ultracold Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Witte, Craig

In this dissertation I describe a number of different computational investigations which I have undertaken during my time at Colorado State University. Perhaps the most significant of my accomplishments was the development of a general molecular dynamic model that simulates a wide variety of physical phenomena in ultracold plasmas (UCPs). This model formed the basis of most of the numerical investigations discussed in this thesis. The model utilized the massively parallel architecture of GPUs to achieve significant computing speed increases (up to 2 orders of magnitude) above traditional single core computing. This increased computing power allowed for each particle in an actual UCP experimental system to be explicitly modeled in simulations. By using this model, I was able to undertake a number of theoretical investigations into ultracold plasma systems. Chief among these was our lab's investigation of electron center-of-mass damping, in which the molecular dynamics model was an essential tool in interpreting the results of the experiment. Originally, it was assumed that this damping would solely be a function of electron-ion collisions. However, the model was able to identify an additional collisionless damping mechanism that was determined to be significant in the first iteration of our experiment. To mitigate this collisionless damping, the model was used to find a new parameter range where this mechanism was negligible. In this new parameter range, the model was an integral part in verifying the achievement of a record low measured UCP electron temperature of 1.57 +/- 0.28K and a record high electron strong coupling parameter, Gamma, of 0.35 +/-0.08$. Additionally, the model, along with experimental measurements, was used to verify the breakdown of the standard weak coupling approximation for Coulomb collisions. The general molecular dynamics model was also used in other contexts. These included the modeling of both the formation process of ultracold plasmas

Ultracold atoms in an optical lattice one millimeter from air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jervis, Dylan; Edge, Graham; Trotzky, Stefan; McKay, David; Thywissen, Joseph

2013-05-01

Over the past decade, ultracold atoms in optical lattices have shown to be versatile systems able to realize canonical Hamiltonians of condensed matter. High-resolution in-situ imaging of ultracold clouds has furthermore enabled thermometry, equation of state measurements, direct measurement of fluctuations, and unprecedented control. We report on microscopy of ultracold bosons and fermions in a novel configuration where the atoms are harmonically trapped 800 microns away from a 200 micron-thick vacuum window. This window also serves as a retro-reflecting mirror for an optical lattice, into which the atoms can be loaded. Two additional transverse standing waves complete the three-dimensional lattice setup. In free space, we have shown that laser cooling with 405 nm light, on the open 4S1/2-5P3/2 transition, allows for temperatures below the Doppler temperature of the 4S1/2-4P3/2 cycling transition at 767 nm. Microscopy with 405 nm light furthermore reduces the diffraction limit of in-situ imaging.

Ab Initio Study of Ultracold Polar Molecules in Optical Lattices

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

collisions of Li and alkaline-earth or rare- earth atoms, such LiSr and LiYb. Finally, we calculated the isotropic and anisotropic interaction potentials... LiSr and LiYb molecules. To the best of our knowledge, only LiMg was experimentally investigated [3], which allowed us to compare our predictions...alkaline-earth or rare-earth atoms. Interest in the LiSr and LiYb molecules stems from prospects to achieve optical Feshbach tuning of scattering properties

Towards the mass production of slow, trappable molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarron, Daniel J.

2018-05-01

The Fast Track Communication by Petzold et al (2018 New J. Phys. 20 042001) demonstrates the first Zeeman slowing scheme for species with type-II optical cycling transitions. This new approach is directly applicable to those 2Σ molecules that have recently been captured and cooled in molecular magneto-optical traps (MOTs) and has the potential to efficiently and continuously load these traps for the first time. This advance could produce molecular MOTs with populations comparable to their atomic counterparts and realize an ideal platform for a wide range of studies using large, dense samples of ultracold molecules.

Evaluation of commercial nickel-phosphorus coating for ultracold neutron guides using a pinhole bottling method

DOE PAGES

Pattie. Jr., Robert Wayne; Adamek, Evan Robert; Brenner, Thomas; ...

2017-08-10

We report on the evaluation of commercial electroless nickel phosphorus (NiP) coatings for ultracold neutron (UCN) transport and storage. The material potential of 50μm thick NiP coatings on stainless steel and aluminum substrates was measured to be V F=213(5.2)neV using the time-of-flight spectrometer ASTERIX at the Lujan Center. The loss per bounce probability was measured in pinhole bottling experiments carried out at ultracold neutron sources at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and the Institut Laue-Langevin. For these tests a new guide coupling design was used to minimize gaps between the guide sections. The observed UCN loss in the bottle wasmore » interpreted in terms of an energy independent effective loss per bounce, which is the appropriate model when gaps in the system and upscattering are the dominate loss mechanisms, yielding a loss per bounce of 1.3(1)×10 –4. In conclusion, we also present a detailed discussion of the pinhole bottling methodology and an energy dependent analysis of the experimental results.« less

Evaluation of commercial nickel-phosphorus coating for ultracold neutron guides using a pinhole bottling method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pattie, R. W.; Adamek, E. R.; Brenner, T.; Brandt, A.; Broussard, L. J.; Callahan, N. B.; Clayton, S. M.; Cude-Woods, C.; Currie, S. A.; Geltenbort, P.; Ito, T. M.; Lauer, T.; Liu, C. Y.; Majewski, J.; Makela, M.; Masuda, Y.; Morris, C. L.; Ramsey, J. C.; Salvat, D. J.; Saunders, A.; Schroffenegger, J.; Tang, Z.; Wei, W.; Wang, Z.; Watkins, E.; Young, A. R.; Zeck, B. A.

2017-11-01

We report on the evaluation of commercial electroless nickel phosphorus (NiP) coatings for ultracold neutron (UCN) transport and storage. The material potential of 50 μm thick NiP coatings on stainless steel and aluminum substrates was measured to be VF = 213(5 . 2) neV using the time-of-flight spectrometer ASTERIX at the Lujan Center. The loss per bounce probability was measured in pinhole bottling experiments carried out at ultracold neutron sources at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and the Institut Laue-Langevin. For these tests a new guide coupling design was used to minimize gaps between the guide sections. The observed UCN loss in the bottle was interpreted in terms of an energy independent effective loss per bounce, which is the appropriate model when gaps in the system and upscattering are the dominate loss mechanisms, yielding a loss per bounce of 1 . 3(1) × 10-4. We also present a detailed discussion of the pinhole bottling methodology and an energy dependent analysis of the experimental results.

Evaluation of commercial nickel-phosphorus coating for ultracold neutron guides using a pinhole bottling method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pattie. Jr., Robert Wayne; Adamek, Evan Robert; Brenner, Thomas

We report on the evaluation of commercial electroless nickel phosphorus (NiP) coatings for ultracold neutron (UCN) transport and storage. The material potential of 50μm thick NiP coatings on stainless steel and aluminum substrates was measured to be V F=213(5.2)neV using the time-of-flight spectrometer ASTERIX at the Lujan Center. The loss per bounce probability was measured in pinhole bottling experiments carried out at ultracold neutron sources at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and the Institut Laue-Langevin. For these tests a new guide coupling design was used to minimize gaps between the guide sections. The observed UCN loss in the bottle wasmore » interpreted in terms of an energy independent effective loss per bounce, which is the appropriate model when gaps in the system and upscattering are the dominate loss mechanisms, yielding a loss per bounce of 1.3(1)×10 –4. In conclusion, we also present a detailed discussion of the pinhole bottling methodology and an energy dependent analysis of the experimental results.« less

Total cross sections for ultracold neutrons scattered from gases

DOE PAGES

Seestrom, Susan Joyce; Adamek, Evan R.; Barlow, Dave; ...

2017-01-30

Here, we have followed up on our previous measurements of upscattering of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) from a series of gases by making measurements of total cross sections on the following gases hydrogen, ethane, methane, isobutene, n-butane, ethylene, water vapor, propane, neopentane, isopropyl alcohol, and 3He. The values of these cross sections are important for estimating the loss rate of trapped neutrons due to residual gas and are relevant to neutron lifetime measurements using UCNs. The effects of the UCN velocity and path-length distributions were accounted for in the analysis using a Monte Carlo transport code. Results are compared to ourmore » previous measurements and with the known absorption cross section for 3He scaled to our UCN energy. We find that the total cross sections for the hydrocarbon gases are reasonably described by a function linear in the number of hydrogen atoms in the molecule.« less

Synthetic Spin-Orbit and Light Field Coupling in Ultra-cold Quantum Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Lin

Ultra-cold quantum gases subjected to light-induced synthetic gauge potentials have become an emergent field of theoretical and experimental studies. Because of the novel application of two-photon Raman transitions, ultra-cold neutral atoms behave like charged particles in magnetic field. The Raman coupling naturally gives rise to an effective spin-orbit interaction which couples the atoms center-of-mass motion to its selected pseudo-spin degrees of freedom. Combined with unprecedented controllability of interactions, geometry, disorder strength, spectroscopy, and high resolution measurement of momentum distribution, etc., we are truly in an exciting era of fulfilling and going beyond Richard Feynman's vision. of realizing quantum simulators to better understand the quantum mechanical nature of the universe, manifested immensely in the ultra-cold regimes. In this dissertation, we present a collection of theoretical progresses made by the doctoral candidate and his colleagues and collaborators. From the past few years of work, we mainly address three aspects of the synthetic spin-orbit and light field induced coupling in ultracold quantum gases: a) The ground-state physics of singleparticle system, two-body bound states, and many-body systems, all of which are subjected to spin-orbit coupling originated from synthetic gauge potentials; b) The symmetry breaking, topological phase transition and quench dynamics, which are conveniently offered by the realized experimental setup; c) The proposal and implications of light field induced dynamical spin-orbit coupling for atoms inside optical cavity. Our work represents an important advancement of theoretical understanding to the active research frontier of ultra-cold atom physics with spin-orbit coupling.

Coherent Spectroscopy of Ultra-Cold Mercury for the UV to VUV

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-20

AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2015-0388 COHERENT SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRA-COLD MERCURY FOR THE UV TO VUV R Jason Jones ARIZONA UNIV BOARD OF REGENTS TUCSON Final...TITLE AND SUBTITLE COHERENT SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRA-COLD MERCURY FOR THE UV TO VUV 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER FA9550-09-1-0563 5c. PROGRAM...NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Distribution A 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT Narrow UV transitions in atomic Hg can be utilized

Adimensional theory of shielding in ultracold collisions of dipolar rotors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González-Martínez, Maykel L.; Bohn, John L.; Quéméner, Goulven

2017-09-01

We investigate the electric field shielding of ultracold collisions of dipolar rotors, initially in their first rotational excited state, using an adimensional approach. We establish a map of good and bad candidates for efficient evaporative cooling based on this shielding mechanism, by presenting the ratio of elastic over quenching processes as a function of a rescaled rotational constant B ˜=B /sE3 and a rescaled electric field F ˜=d F /B . B ,d ,F ,andsE 3 are respectively the rotational constant, the full electric dipole moment of the molecules, the applied electric field, and a characteristic dipole-dipole energy. We identify two groups of bi-alkali-metal dipolar molecules. The first group, including RbCs, NaK, KCs, LiK, NaRb, LiRb, NaCs, and LiCs, is favorable with a ratio over 1000 at collision energies equal to (or even higher than) their characteristic dipolar energy. The second group, including LiNa and KRb, is not favorable. More generally, for molecules well described by Hund's case b, our adimensional study provides the conditions of efficient evaporative cooling. The range of appropriate rescaled rotational constant and rescaled field is approximately B ˜≥108 and 3.25 ≤F ˜≤3.8 , with a maximum ratio reached for F ˜≃3.4 for a given B ˜. We also discuss the importance of the electronic van der Waals interaction on the adimensional character of our study.

Importance of geometric phase effects in ultracold chemistry

DOE PAGES

Hazra, Jisha; Kendrick, Brian K.; Balakrishnan, Naduvalath

2015-08-28

Here, it is demonstrated that the inclusion of the geometric phase has an important effect on ultracold chemical reaction rates. The effect appears in rotationally and vibrationally resolved integral cross sections as well as cross sections summed over all product quantum states. The effect arises from interference between scattering amplitudes of two reaction pathways: a direct path and a looping path that encircle the conical intersection between the two lowest adiabatic electronic potential energy surfaces. It is magnified when the two scattering amplitudes have comparable magnitude and they scatter into the same angular region which occurs in the isotropic scatteringmore » characteristic of the ultracold regime (s-wave scattering). Results are presented for the O + OH → H + O 2 reaction for total angular momentum quantum number J = 0–5. Large geometric phase effects occur for collision energies below 0.1 K, but the effect vanishes at higher energies when contributions from different partial waves are included. It is also qualitatively demonstrated that the geometric phase effect can be modulated by applying an external electric field allowing the possibility of quantum control of chemical reactions in the ultracold regime. In this case, the geometric phase plays the role of a “quantum switch” which can turn the reaction “on” or “off”.« less

Symmetry and the geometric phase in ultracold hydrogen-exchange reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croft, J. F. E.; Hazra, J.; Balakrishnan, N.; Kendrick, B. K.

2017-08-01

Quantum reactive scattering calculations are reported for the ultracold hydrogen-exchange reaction and its non-reactive atom-exchange isotopic counterparts, proceeding from excited rotational states. It is shown that while the geometric phase (GP) does not necessarily control the reaction to all final states, one can always find final states where it does. For the isotopic counterpart reactions, these states can be used to make a measurement of the GP effect by separately measuring the even and odd symmetry contributions, which experimentally requires nuclear-spin final-state resolution. This follows from symmetry considerations that make the even and odd identical-particle exchange symmetry wavefunctions which include the GP locally equivalent to the opposite symmetry wavefunctions which do not. It is shown how this equivalence can be used to define a constant which quantifies the GP effect and can be obtained solely from experimentally observable rates. This equivalence reflects the important role that discrete symmetries play in ultracold chemistry and highlights the key role that ultracold reactions can play in understanding fundamental aspects of chemical reactivity more generally.

Detecting Friedel oscillations in ultracold Fermi gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riechers, Keno; Hueck, Klaus; Luick, Niclas; Lompe, Thomas; Moritz, Henning

2017-09-01

Investigating Friedel oscillations in ultracold gases would complement the studies performed on solid state samples with scanning-tunneling microscopes. In atomic quantum gases interactions and external potentials can be tuned freely and the inherently slower dynamics allow to access non-equilibrium dynamics following a potential or interaction quench. Here, we examine how Friedel oscillations can be observed in current ultracold gas experiments under realistic conditions. To this aim we numerically calculate the amplitude of the Friedel oscillations which are induced by a potential barrier in a 1D Fermi gas and compare it to the expected atomic and photonic shot noise in a density measurement. We find that to detect Friedel oscillations the signal from several thousand one-dimensional systems has to be averaged. However, as up to 100 parallel one-dimensional systems can be prepared in a single run with present experiments, averaging over about 100 images is sufficient.

Quantum phase transition from mixed atom-molecule phase to pure molecule phase: Characteristic scaling laws and Berry-curvature signature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li Shengchang; Graduate School, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100088; Fu Libin

2011-08-15

We investigate the quantum phase transition in an ultracold atom-molecule conversion system. It is found that the system undergoes a phase transition from a mixed atom-molecule phase to a pure molecule phase when the energy bias exceeds a critical value. By constructing a coherent state as variational state, we get a good approximation of the quantum ground state of the system. Using this variational state, we deduce the critical point analytically. We then discuss the scaling laws characterizing the transition and obtain the corresponding critical exponents. Furthermore, the Berry curvature signature of the transition is studied. In particular, we findmore » that the derivatives of the Berry curvature with respect to total particle number intersect at the critical point. The underlying mechanism of this finding is discussed as well.« less

Ultra-Cold Atoms on Optical Lattices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghosh, Parag

2009-01-01

The field of ultra-cold atoms, since the achievement of Bose-Einstein Condensation (Anderson et al., 1995; Davis et al., 1995; Bradley et al., 1995), have seen an immensely growing interest over the past decade. With the creation of optical lattices, new possibilities of studying some of the widely used models in condensed matter have opened up.…

Preparation of Ultracold Atom Clouds at the Shot Noise Level.

PubMed

Gajdacz, M; Hilliard, A J; Kristensen, M A; Pedersen, P L; Klempt, C; Arlt, J J; Sherson, J F

2016-08-12

We prepare number stabilized ultracold atom clouds through the real-time analysis of nondestructive images and the application of feedback. In our experiments, the atom number N∼10^{6} is determined by high precision Faraday imaging with uncertainty ΔN below the shot noise level, i.e., ΔNultracold clouds can be prepared below the shot noise level.

New Experimental Approaches and Theoretical Modeling Methods for Laser Cooling Atoms and Molecules

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-27

support of experimental efforts in various laboratories to produce ultracold molecules by laser -induced photoassociation of laser -cooled atoms. We are......temperatures so far have been 25mK [7], rather than tens of µK as one can achieve with laser cooling of atoms. Thus an approach that begins with cold

Deep learning for single-molecule science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albrecht, Tim; Slabaugh, Gregory; Alonso, Eduardo; Al-Arif, SM Masudur R.

2017-10-01

Exploring and making predictions based on single-molecule data can be challenging, not only due to the sheer size of the datasets, but also because a priori knowledge about the signal characteristics is typically limited and poor signal-to-noise ratio. For example, hypothesis-driven data exploration, informed by an expectation of the signal characteristics, can lead to interpretation bias or loss of information. Equally, even when the different data categories are known, e.g., the four bases in DNA sequencing, it is often difficult to know how to make best use of the available information content. The latest developments in machine learning (ML), so-called deep learning (DL) offer interesting, new avenues to address such challenges. In some applications, such as speech and image recognition, DL has been able to outperform conventional ML strategies and even human performance. However, to date DL has not been applied much in single-molecule science, presumably in part because relatively little is known about the ‘internal workings’ of such DL tools within single-molecule science as a field. In this Tutorial, we make an attempt to illustrate in a step-by-step guide how one of those, a convolutional neural network (CNN), may be used for base calling in DNA sequencing applications. We compare it with a SVM as a more conventional ML method, and discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of the approach. In particular, a ‘deep’ neural network has many features of a ‘black box’, which has important implications on how we look at and interpret data.

Characterizing Feshbach resonances in ultracold scattering calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frye, Matthew D.; Hutson, Jeremy M.

2017-10-01

We describe procedures for converging on and characterizing zero-energy Feshbach resonances that appear in scattering lengths for ultracold atomic and molecular collisions as a function of an external field. The elastic procedure is appropriate for purely elastic scattering, where the scattering length is real and displays a true pole. The regularized scattering length procedure is appropriate when there is weak background inelasticity, so that the scattering length is complex and displays an oscillation rather than a pole, but the resonant scattering length ares is close to real. The fully complex procedure is appropriate when there is substantial background inelasticity and the real and imaginary parts of ares are required. We demonstrate these procedures for scattering of ultracold 85Rb in various initial states. All of them can converge on and provide full characterization of resonances, from initial guesses many thousands of widths away, using scattering calculations at only about ten values of the external field.

A Zeeman slower for diatomic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petzold, M.; Kaebert, P.; Gersema, P.; Siercke, M.; Ospelkaus, S.

2018-04-01

We present a novel slowing scheme for beams of laser-coolable diatomic molecules reminiscent of Zeeman slowing of atomic beams. The scheme results in efficient compression of the one-dimensional velocity distribution to velocities trappable by magnetic or magneto-optical traps. We experimentally demonstrate our method in an atomic testbed and show an enhancement of flux below v = 35 m s‑1 by a factor of ≈20 compared to white light slowing. 3D Monte Carlo simulations performed to model the experiment show excellent agreement. We apply the same simulations to the prototype molecule 88Sr19F and expect 15% of the initial flux to be continuously compressed in a narrow velocity window at around 10 m s‑1. This is the first experimentally shown continuous and dissipative slowing technique in molecule-like level structures, promising to provide the missing link for the preparation of large ultracold molecular ensembles.

Building one molecule from a reservoir of two atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L. R.; Hood, J. D.; Yu, Y.; Zhang, J. T.; Hutzler, N. R.; Rosenband, T.; Ni, K.-K.

2018-05-01

Chemical reactions typically proceed via stochastic encounters between reactants. Going beyond this paradigm, we combined exactly two atoms in a single, controlled reaction. The experimental apparatus traps two individual laser-cooled atoms [one sodium (Na) and one cesium (Cs)] in separate optical tweezers and then merges them into one optical dipole trap. Subsequently, photoassociation forms an excited-state NaCs molecule. The discovery of previously unseen resonances near the molecular dissociation threshold and measurement of collision rates are enabled by the tightly trapped ultracold sample of atoms. As laser-cooling and trapping capabilities are extended to more elements, the technique will enable the study of more diverse, and eventually more complex, molecules in an isolated environment, as well as synthesis of designer molecules for qubits.

Ultracold neutral plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyon, M.; Rolston, S. L.

2017-01-01

By photoionizing samples of laser-cooled atoms with laser light tuned just above the ionization limit, plasmas can be created with electron and ion temperatures below 10 K. These ultracold neutral plasmas have extended the temperature bounds of plasma physics by two orders of magnitude. Table-top experiments, using many of the tools from atomic physics, allow for the study of plasma phenomena in this new regime with independent control over the density and temperature of the plasma through the excitation process. Characteristic of these systems is an inhomogeneous density profile, inherited from the density distribution of the laser-cooled neutral atom sample. Most work has dealt with unconfined plasmas in vacuum, which expand outward at velocities of order 100 m/s, governed by electron pressure, and with lifetimes of order 100 μs, limited by stray electric fields. Using detection of charged particles and optical detection techniques, a wide variety of properties and phenomena have been observed, including expansion dynamics, collective excitations in both the electrons and ions, and collisional properties. Through three-body recombination collisions, the plasmas rapidly form Rydberg atoms, and clouds of cold Rydberg atoms have been observed to spontaneously avalanche ionize to form plasmas. Of particular interest is the possibility of the formation of strongly coupled plasmas, where Coulomb forces dominate thermal motion and correlations become important. The strongest impediment to strong coupling is disorder-induced heating, a process in which Coulomb energy from an initially disordered sample is converted into thermal energy. This restricts electrons to a weakly coupled regime and leaves the ions barely within the strongly coupled regime. This review will give an overview of the field of ultracold neutral plasmas, from its inception in 1999 to current work, including efforts to increase strong coupling and effects on plasma properties due to strong coupling.

Actinide Sputtering Induced by Fission with Ultra-cold Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venuti, Michael; Shi, Tan; Fellers, Deion; Morris, Christopher; Makela, Mark

2017-09-01

Understanding the effects of actinide sputtering due to nuclear fission is important for a wide range of applications, including nuclear fuel storage, space science, and national defense. A new program at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center uses ultracold neutrons (UCN) to induce fission in actinides such as uranium and plutonium. By controlling the energy of UCN, it is possible to induce fission at the sample surface within a well-defined depth. It is therefore an ideal tool for studying the effects of fission-induced sputtering as a function of interaction depth. Since the mechanism for fission-induced surface damage is not well understood, especially for samples with a surface oxide layer, this work has the potential to separate the various damage mechanisms proposed in previous works. During the irradiation with UCN, fission events are monitored by coincidence counting between prompt gamma rays using NaI detectors. Alpha spectroscopy of the ejected actinide material is performed in a custom-built ionization chamber to determine the amount of sputtered material. Actinide samples with various sample properties and surface conditions are irradiated and analyzed. In this presentation, we will discuss our experimental setup and present the preliminary results.

Ultracold Neutron Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Jeffery

2016-09-01

The free neutron is an excellent laboratory for searches for physics beyond the standard model. Ultracold neutrons (UCN) are free neutrons that can be confined to material, magnetic, and gravitational traps. UCN are compelling for experiments requiring long observation times, high polarization, or low energies. The challenge of experiments has been to create enough UCN to reach the statistical precision required. Production techniques involving neutron interactions with condensed matter systems have resulted in some successes, and new UCN sources are being pursued worldwide to exploit higher UCN densities offered by these techniques. I will review the physics of how the UCN sources work, along with the present status of the world's efforts. research supported by NSERC, CFI, and CRC.

Understanding Molecular Ion-Neutral Atom Collisions for the Production of Ultracold Molecular Ions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-06

Understanding Molecular Ion-Neutral Atom Collisions for the Production of Utracold Molecular Ions In the last five years, the study of ultracold...U.S. Army Research Office P.O. Box 12211 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211 molecular ion, quantum chemistry, atom ion interaction...Molecular Ion-Neutral Atom Collisions for the Production of Utracold Molecular Ions Report Title In the last five years, the study of ultracold molecular

Research of fundamental interactions with use of ultracold neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serebrov, A. P.

2017-01-01

Use of ultracold neutrons (UCN) gives unique opportunities of a research of fundamental interactions in physics of elementary particles. Search of the electric dipole moment of a neutron (EDM) aims to test models of CP violation. Precise measurement of neutron lifetime is extremely important for cosmology and astrophysics. Considerable progress in these questions can be reached due to supersource of ultracold neutrons on the basis of superfluid helium which is under construction now in PNPI NRC KI. This source will allow us to increase density of ultracold neutrons approximately by 100 times in respect to the best UCN source at high flux reactor of Institute Laue-Langevin (Grenoble, France). Now the project and basic elements of the source are prepared, full-scale model of the source is tested, the scientific program is developed. Increase in accuracy of neutron EDM measurements by order of magnitude, down to level 10-27 -10-28 e cm is planned. It is highly important for physics of elementary particles. Accuracy of measurement of neutron lifetime can be increased by order of magnitude also. At last, at achievement of UCN density ˜ 103 - 104 cm-3, the experiment search for a neutron-antineutron oscillations using UCN will be possible. The present status of the project and its scientific program will be discussed.

A cryofuge for cold-collision experiments with slow polar molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xing; Gantner, Thomas; Koller, Manuel; Zeppenfeld, Martin; Chervenkov, Sotir; Rempe, Gerhard

2017-11-01

Ultracold molecules represent a fascinating research frontier in physics and chemistry, but it has proven challenging to prepare dense samples at low velocities. Here, we present a solution to this goal by means of a nonconventional approach dubbed cryofuge. It uses centrifugal force to bring cryogenically cooled molecules to kinetic energies below 1 K × kB in the laboratory frame, where kB is the Boltzmann constant, with corresponding fluxes exceeding 1010 per second at velocities below 20 meters per second. By attaining densities higher than 109 per cubic centimeter and interaction times longer than 25 milliseconds in samples of fluoromethane as well as deuterated ammonia, we observed cold dipolar collisions between molecules and determined their collision cross sections.

Diffusion of Magnetized Binary Ionic Mixtures at Ultracold Plasma Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidal, Keith R.; Baalrud, Scott D.

2017-10-01

Ultracold plasma experiments offer an accessible means to test transport theories for strongly coupled systems. Application of an external magnetic field might further increase their utility by inhibiting heating mechanisms of ions and electrons and increasing the temperature at which strong coupling effects are observed. We present results focused on developing and validating a transport theory to describe binary ionic mixtures across a wide range of coupling and magnetization strengths relevant to ultracold plasma experiments. The transport theory is an extension of the Effective Potential Theory (EPT), which has been shown to accurately model correlation effects at these conditions, to include magnetization. We focus on diffusion as it can be measured in ultracold plasma experiments. Using EPT within the framework of the Chapman-Enskog expansion, the parallel and perpendicular self and interdiffusion coefficients for binary ionic mixtures with varying mass ratios are calculated and are compared to molecular dynamics simulations. The theory is found to accurately extend Braginskii-like transport to stronger coupling, but to break down when the magnetization strength becomes large enough that the typical gyroradius is smaller than the interaction scale length. This material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Award Number FA9550-16-1-0221.

Formation of molecules in an expanding Bose-Einstein condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurovsky, Vladimir; Ben-Reuven, Abraham

2004-05-01

A mean field theory [1] is extended to an inhomogeneous case of expanding hybrid atom-molecule Bose-Einstein condensates. This theory is applied to the recent MPI experiments [2] on ^87Rb demonstrating the formation of ultracold molecules due to Feshbach resonance. The subsequent dissociation of the molecules is treated using a non-mean-field parametric approximation [3]. The latter method is also used in determining optimal conditions for the formation of molecular BEC. [1] V. A. Yurovsky, A. Ben-Reuven, P. S. Julienne and C. J. Williams, Phys. Rev. A 60, R765 (1999); Phys. Rev. A 62, 043605 (2000). [2] S. Dürr, T. Volz, A. Marte, and G. Rempe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 020406 (2004). [3] V. A. Yurovsky and A. Ben-Reuven, Phys. Rev. A 67, 043611 (2003).

Coherent Control of Ground State NaK Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zoe; Park, Jee Woo; Loh, Huanqian; Will, Sebastian; Zwierlein, Martin

2016-05-01

Ultracold dipolar molecules exhibit anisotropic, tunable, long-range interactions, making them attractive for the study of novel states of matter and quantum information processing. We demonstrate the creation and control of 23 Na40 K molecules in their rovibronic and hyperfine ground state. By applying microwaves, we drive coherent Rabi oscillations of spin-polarized molecules between the rotational ground state (J=0) and J=1. The control afforded by microwave manipulation allows us to pursue engineered dipolar interactions via microwave dressing. By driving a two-photon transition, we are also able to observe Ramsey fringes between different J=0 hyperfine states, with coherence times as long as 0.5s. The realization of long coherence times between different molecular states is crucial for applications in quantum information processing. NSF, AFOSR- MURI, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, DARPA-OLE

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS On control of kinematic parameters of ultracold neutrons in waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivlin, Lev A.

2010-10-01

The possibility of controlling the kinematic parameters of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) is analysed by the example of a waveguide transfer and transformation of 2D images in ultracold neutrons and by the example of an increase in the concentration and deceleration/acceleration of ultracold neutrons during their transport in the waveguide with a variable cross section. The critical parameters of the problem are estimated, which indicates both consistency of the proposed approach and the emerging experimental limitations.

Tunneling and traversal of ultracold three-level atoms through vacuum-induced potentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Badshah, Fazal; Irfan, Muhammad; Qamar, Shahid

2011-09-15

The passage of ultracold three-level atoms through the potential induced by the vacuum cavity mode is discussed using cascade atomic configuration. We study the tunneling or traversal time of the ultracold atoms via a bimodal high-Q cavity. It is found that the phase time, which may be considered as a measure for the time required to traverse the cavity, exhibits superclassical and subclassical behaviors. Further, the dark states and interference effects in cascade atomic configuration may influence the passage time of the atom through the cavity.

Quantum simulation of ultrafast dynamics using trapped ultracold atoms.

PubMed

Senaratne, Ruwan; Rajagopal, Shankari V; Shimasaki, Toshihiko; Dotti, Peter E; Fujiwara, Kurt M; Singh, Kevin; Geiger, Zachary A; Weld, David M

2018-05-25

Ultrafast electronic dynamics are typically studied using pulsed lasers. Here we demonstrate a complementary experimental approach: quantum simulation of ultrafast dynamics using trapped ultracold atoms. Counter-intuitively, this technique emulates some of the fastest processes in atomic physics with some of the slowest, leading to a temporal magnification factor of up to 12 orders of magnitude. In these experiments, time-varying forces on neutral atoms in the ground state of a tunable optical trap emulate the electric fields of a pulsed laser acting on bound charged particles. We demonstrate the correspondence with ultrafast science by a sequence of experiments: nonlinear spectroscopy of a many-body bound state, control of the excitation spectrum by potential shaping, observation of sub-cycle unbinding dynamics during strong few-cycle pulses, and direct measurement of carrier-envelope phase dependence of the response to an ultrafast-equivalent pulse. These results establish cold-atom quantum simulation as a complementary tool for studying ultrafast dynamics.

Actinide Sputtering Induced by Fission with Ultra-cold Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Tan; Venuti, Michael; Fellers, Deion; Martin, Sean; Morris, Chris; Makela, Mark

2017-09-01

Understanding the effects of actinide sputtering due to nuclear fission is important for a wide range of applications, including nuclear fuel storage, space science, and national defense. A new program at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center uses ultracold neutrons (UCN) to induce fission in actinides such as uranium and plutonium. By controlling the UCN energy, it is possible to induce fission at the sample surface within a well-defined depth. It is therefore an ideal tool for studying the effects of fission-induced sputtering as a function of interaction depth. Since the mechanism for fission-induced surface damage is not well understood, this work has the potential to deconvolve the various damage mechanisms. During the irradiation with UCN, NaI detectors are used to monitor the fission events and were calibrated by monitoring fission fragments with an organic scintillator. Alpha spectroscopy of the ejected actinide material is performed in an ion chamber to determine the amount of sputtered material. Actinide samples with various sample properties and surface conditions are irradiated and analyzed. In this talk, I will discuss our experimental setup and present the preliminary results from the testing of multiple samples. This work has been supported by Los Alamos National Laboratory and Seaborg Summer Research Fellowship.

Strong Photoassociation in Ultracold Fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Li; Jamison, Alan; Rvachov, Timur; Ebadi, Sepher; Son, Hyungmok; Jiang, Yijun; Zwierlein, Martin; Ketterle, Wolfgang

2016-05-01

Despite many studies there are still open questions about strong photoassociation in ultracold gases. Photoassociation occurs only at short range and thus can be used as a tool to probe and control the two-body correlation function in an interacting many-body system and to engineer Hamiltonians using dissipation. We propose the possibility to slow down decoherence by photoassociation through the quantum Zeno effect. This can realized by shining strong photoassociation light on the superposition of the lowest two hyperfine states of Lithium 6. NSF, ARO-MURI, Samsung, NSERC.

Observation of Spin Polarons in a Tunable Fermi Liquid of Ultracold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zwierlein, Martin

2009-05-01

We have observed spin polarons, dressed spin down impurities in a spin up Fermi sea of ultracold atoms via tomographic RF spectroscopy. Feshbach resonances allow to freely tune the interactions between the two spin states involved. A single spin down atom immersed in a Fermi sea of spin up atoms can do one of two things: For strong attraction, it can form a molecule with exactly one spin up partner, but for weaker interaction it will spread its attraction and surround itself with a collection of majority atoms. This spin down atom dressed with a spin up cloud constitutes the spin- or Fermi polaron. We have observed a striking spectroscopic signature of this quasi-particle for various interaction strengths, a narrow peak in the spin down spectrum that emerges above a broad background. The spectra allow us to directly measure the polaron energy and the quasi-particle residue Z. The polarons are found to be only weakly interacting with each other, and can thus be identified with the quasi-particles of Landau's Fermi liquid theory. At a critical interaction strength, we observe a transition from spin one-half polarons to spin zero molecules. At this point the Fermi liquid undergoes a phase transition into a superfluid Bose liquid.

Observation of photoassociation of ultracold sodium and cesium at the asymptote Na (3S1/2) + Cs (6P1/2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jizhou; Liu, Wenliang; Wang, Xiaofeng; Ma, Jie; Li, Dan; Sovkov, Vladimir B.; Xiao, Liantuan; Jia, Suotang

2018-05-01

We report on the production of ultracold heteronuclear NaCs* molecules in a dual-species magneto-optical trap through photoassociation. The electronically excited molecules are formed below the Na (3S1/2) + Cs (6P1/2) dissociation limit. 12 resonance lines are detected using trap-loss spectroscopy based on a highly sensitive modulation technique. The highest observed rovibrational level exhibits clear hyperfine structure, which is detected for the first time. This structure is simulated within a simplified model consisting of 4 coupled levels belonging to the initially unperturbed Hund's case "a" electronic states, which have been explored in our previous work that dealt with the Na (3S1/2) + Cs (6P3/2) asymptote [W. Liu et al., Phys. Rev. A 94, 032518 (2016)].

Ultracold Gas Theory from the Top-Down and Bottom-Up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colussi, Victor E.

Advances in trapping and cooling of ultracold gases over the last several decades have made it possible to test many formerly outstanding predictions from disparate branches of physics. This thesis touches on three historical problems that have found new life recently in the context of ultracold Bose gases of alkali atoms. The first problem revolves around an outstanding prediction from Boltzmann over a century and half old that the breathing mode of a isotropically trapped classical gas should oscillate indefinitely. I analyze recent experimental results, and attribute observed damping sources to trap imperfections. The second question is about the analogue of first and second sound modes from liquid helium in trapped dilute gases. I present the results of a joint theoretical/experimental investigation of the breathing mode of a finite temperature Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), attributing a striking collapse revival behavior of the resultant oscillation to in-phase and out-of-phase normal modes of the thermal cloud and condensate. The third problem is that of the formation of Borromean ring-like three-body bound states, referred to as Efimov trimers, in strongly-interacting few-body systems. I extend the predicted spectrum of Efimov states into the realm of many degenerate internal levels, and investigate the difficult three-body elastic scattering problem. These questions are part of the broader theme of this thesis: How can our understanding of few-body physics in the ultracold limit be translated into statements about the bulk behavior of an ultracold gas? For weakly-interacting Bose gases, this translation is well-known: the many-body properties of the gas are well-described by the tracking just the one and two particle correlations. I analyze a generalization of this procedure to higher order correlations, the general connection between few-body physics and correlations in a dilute gas, and results for the emergence of Efimov physics in the magnetic phase

Ultra-cold molecules in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wynar, Roahn Helden

2000-08-01

This thesis is about photoassociation of Bose-condensed 87Rb. Most importantly we report that state selected 87Rb2 molecules were created at rest in a condensate of 87Rb using two-photon photoassociation. Additionally, we have identified three weakly bound states of the 87Rb2 S+u3 , potential for the |1, -1> + |1, - 1> collisional channel. The binding energies of these states are 529.4 +/- .07, 636.0094 +/- .0012, and 24.24 +/- .01 MHz respectively. We have also carried out a detailed study of the density dependence of the shift and width of the two-photon lineshape. This shift and width is modeled using the theory of Bohn and Julienne [34] and in addition to the precise measurement of binding energy we also report the first measurement of an atom molecule scattering length, aam, which we conclude is -180 +/- 150 a0, and the inelastic collision rate, Kinel < 8 × 10-11 cm-3/s. Stimulated Raman free bound coupling in an atomic Bose- Einstein condensate may lead to the formation of a molecular condensate. In order to evaluate this possibility we present a many-body quantum mean field theory of a Bose-Einstein condensate that includes a density dependent coherent coupling between atoms and molecules. This theory yields two coupled equations, one for the evolution of atomic condensate amplitude and one for the evolution of molecular condensate amplitude. The nature of the atomic-molecular condensate evolution is shown to depend on six, model parameters including the coherent coupling, given by cn . The other five parameters can be interpreted as light-shifts and incoherent loss rates. We present a calculation intended to estimate the values of these six parameters for the 87Rb - 87Rb 2 system. Based on the results of this calculation we identify two locations in the 87Rb2 spectrum where coherent transfer of population from atomic condensate to molecular condensate is plausible. Finally, we examine the credibility of the theoretical model used to

Sympathetic cooling of polyatomic molecules with S-state atoms in a magnetic trap.

PubMed

Tscherbul, T V; Yu, H-G; Dalgarno, A

2011-02-18

We present a rigorous theoretical study of low-temperature collisions of polyatomic molecular radicals with (1)S(0) atoms in the presence of an external magnetic field. Accurate quantum scattering calculations based on ab initio and scaled interaction potentials show that collision-induced spin relaxation of the prototypical organic molecule CH(2)(X(3)B(1)) (methylene) and nine other triatomic radicals in cold (3)He gas occurs at a slow rate, demonstrating that cryogenic buffer-gas cooling and magnetic trapping of these molecules is feasible with current technology. Our calculations further suggest that it may be possible to create ultracold gases of polyatomic molecules by sympathetic cooling with alkaline-earth atoms in a magnetic trap.

Quenching of para-H{sub 2} with an ultracold antihydrogen atom H{sub 1s}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sultanov, Renat A.; Guster, Dennis; Adhikari, Sadhan K.

2010-02-15

In this work we report the results of calculation for quantum-mechanical rotational transitions in molecular hydrogen, H{sub 2}, induced by an ultracold ground-state antihydrogen atom H{sub 1s}. The calculations are accomplished using a nonreactive close-coupling quantum-mechanical approach. The H{sub 2} molecule is treated as a rigid rotor. The total elastic-scattering cross section {sigma}{sub el}({epsilon}) at energy {epsilon}, state-resolved rotational transition cross sections {sigma}{sub jj}{sup '}({epsilon}) between states j and j{sup '}, and corresponding thermal rate coefficients k{sub jj}{sup '}(T) are computed in the temperature range 0.004 K < or approx. T < or approx. 4 K. Satisfactory agreement with othermore » calculations (variational) has been obtained for {sigma}{sub el}({epsilon}).« less

Coherent Multiple Light Scattering in Ultracold Atomic Rb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulatunga, Pasad; Sukenik, C. I.; Balik, Salim; Havey, M. D.; Kupriyanov, D. V.; Sokolov, I. M.

2003-05-01

Wave transport in mesoscopic systems can be strongly influenced by coherent multiple scattering,which can lead to novel magneto-optic, transmission, and backscattering effects of light in atomic vapors. Although related to traditional studies of radiation trapping, in ultracold vapors negligible frequency or phase redistribution takes place in the scattering, and high-order coherent light scattering occurs. Among other things, this leads to enhancement of the influence of otherwise small non-resonant terms in the scattering amplitudes. We report investigation of multiple coherent light scattering from ultracold Rb atoms confined in a magneto-optic trap (MOT). In experimental studies, measurements are made of the angular, spectral, and polarization-dependent coherent backscattering profile of a low-intensity probe beam tuned near the F = 3 - F' = 4 hyperfine transition. The influence of higher probe beam intensity is also studied. In a theoretical study of angular intensity enhancement of backscattered light, we consider scattering orders up to 10 and a realistic and asymmetric Gaussian atom distribution in the MOT. Supported by NSF, NATO, and RFBR.

Manipulation of ultracold Rb atoms using a single linearly chirped laser pulse.

PubMed

Collins, T A; Malinovskaya, S A

2012-06-15

At ultracold temperatures, atoms are free from thermal motion, which makes them ideal objects of investigations aiming to advance high-precision spectroscopy, metrology, quantum computation, producing Bose condensates, etc. The quantum state of ultracold atoms may be created and manipulated by making use of quantum control methods employing low-intensity pulses. We theoretically investigate population dynamics of ultracold Rb vapor induced by nanosecond linearly chirped pulses having kW/cm2 beam intensity and show a possibility of controllable population transfer between hyperfine (HpF) levels of 5(2)/S(1/2) state through Raman transitions. Satisfying the one-photon resonance condition with the lowest of the HpF states of 5(2)/P(1/2) or 5(2)/P(3/2) state allows us to enter the adiabatic region of population transfer at very low field intensities, such that corresponding Rabi frequencies are less than or equal to the HpF splitting. This methodology provides a robust way to create a specifically designed superposition state in Rb in the basis of HpF levels and perform state manipulation controllable on the picosecond-to-nanosecond time scale.

Velocity selection for ultracold atoms using mazer action in a bimodal cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irshad, Afshan; Qamar, Sajid; Qamar, Shahid

2010-01-01

In this paper, we discuss the velocity selection of ultracold three-level atoms in Λ configuration using a mazer. Our model is the same as discussed by Arun et al. [R. Arun, G.S. Agarwal, M.O. Scully, H. Walther, Phys. Rev. A 62 (2000) 023809] for mazer action in a bimodal cavity. We show that the initial Maxwellian velocity distribution of ultracold atoms can be narrowed due to the presence of resonances in the transmission through dressed-state potential. When the atoms are initially prepared in one of the two lower atomic states then significantly better velocity selectivity is obtained due to the presence of dark states.

Ultracold Polar Molecules

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

large positive scattering lengths make clouds difficult to overlap (but 85RbCs looked promising), but 85RbCs is difficult because 85Rb is hard to...produce at high densities. We revealed broad Feshbach resonances that we hope will allow production of higher-density 85Rb clouds . We are now...and this makes clouds of 87Rb and Cs hard to overlap. We therefore investi- gated 85RbCs, using the potentials we had developed for 85RbCs, and showed

An apparatus for immersing trapped ions into an ultracold gas of neutral atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmid, Stefan; Härter, Arne; Frisch, Albert; Hoinka, Sascha; Denschlag, Johannes Hecker

2012-05-01

We describe a hybrid vacuum system in which a single ion or a well-defined small number of trapped ions (in our case Ba+ or Rb+) can be immersed into a cloud of ultracold neutral atoms (in our case Rb). This apparatus allows for the study of collisions and interactions between atoms and ions in the ultracold regime. Our setup is a combination of a Bose-Einstein condensation apparatus and a linear Paul trap. The main design feature of the apparatus is to first separate the production locations for the ion and the ultracold atoms and then to bring the two species together. This scheme has advantages in terms of stability and available access to the region where the atom-ion collision experiments are carried out. The ion and the atoms are brought together using a moving one-dimensional optical lattice transport which vertically lifts the atomic sample over a distance of 30 cm from its production chamber into the center of the Paul trap in another chamber. We present techniques to detect and control the relative position between the ion and the atom cloud.

Floquet Engineering of Correlated Tunneling in the Bose-Hubbard Model with Ultracold Atoms.

PubMed

Meinert, F; Mark, M J; Lauber, K; Daley, A J; Nägerl, H-C

2016-05-20

We report on the experimental implementation of tunable occupation-dependent tunneling in a Bose-Hubbard system of ultracold atoms via time-periodic modulation of the on-site interaction energy. The tunneling rate is inferred from a time-resolved measurement of the lattice site occupation after a quantum quench. We demonstrate coherent control of the tunneling dynamics in the correlated many-body system, including full suppression of tunneling as predicted within the framework of Floquet theory. We find that the tunneling rate explicitly depends on the atom number difference in neighboring lattice sites. Our results may open up ways to realize artificial gauge fields that feature density dependence with ultracold atoms.

Observation of symmetry-protected topological band with ultracold fermions

PubMed Central

Song, Bo; Zhang, Long; He, Chengdong; Poon, Ting Fung Jeffrey; Hajiyev, Elnur; Zhang, Shanchao; Liu, Xiong-Jun; Jo, Gyu-Boong

2018-01-01

Symmetry plays a fundamental role in understanding complex quantum matter, particularly in classifying topological quantum phases, which have attracted great interests in the recent decade. An outstanding example is the time-reversal invariant topological insulator, a symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phase in the symplectic class of the Altland-Zirnbauer classification. We report the observation for ultracold atoms of a noninteracting SPT band in a one-dimensional optical lattice and study quench dynamics between topologically distinct regimes. The observed SPT band can be protected by a magnetic group and a nonlocal chiral symmetry, with the band topology being measured via Bloch states at symmetric momenta. The topology also resides in far-from-equilibrium spin dynamics, which are predicted and observed in experiment to exhibit qualitatively distinct behaviors in quenching to trivial and nontrivial regimes, revealing two fundamental types of spin-relaxation dynamics related to bulk topology. This work opens the way to expanding the scope of SPT physics with ultracold atoms and studying nonequilibrium quantum dynamics in these exotic systems. PMID:29492457

Atomtronics: Realizing the behavior of electronic components in ultracold atomic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pepino, Ron

2007-06-01

Atomtronics focuses on creating an analogy of electronic devices and circuits with ultracold atoms. Such an analogy can come from the highly tunable band structure of ultracold neutral atoms trapped in optical lattices. Solely by tuning the parameters of the optical lattice, we demonstrate that conditions can be created that cause atoms in lattices to exhibit the same behavior as electrons moving through solid state media. We present our model and show how the atomtronic diode, field effect transistor, and bipolar junction transistor can all be realized. Our analogs of these fundamental components exhibit precisely-controlled atomic signal amplification, trimming, and switching (on/off) characteristics. In addition, the evolution of dynamics of the superfluid atomic currents within these systems is completely reversible. This implies a possible use of atomtronic systems in the development of quantum computational devices.

Expansion of an ultracold Rydberg plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forest, Gabriel T.; Li, Yin; Ward, Edwin D.; Goodsell, Anne L.; Tate, Duncan A.

2018-04-01

We report a systematic experimental and numerical study of the expansion of ultracold Rydberg plasmas. Specifically, we have measured the asymptotic expansion velocities, v0, of ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) which evolve from cold, dense samples of Rydberg rubidium atoms using ion time-of-flight spectroscopy. From this, we have obtained values for the effective initial plasma electron temperature, Te ,0=mionv02/kB (where mion is the Rb+ ion mass), as a function of the original Rydberg atom density and binding energy, Eb ,i. We have also simulated numerically the interaction of UNPs with a large reservoir of Rydberg atoms to obtain data to compare with our experimental results. We find that for Rydberg atom densities in the range 107-109 cm-3, for states with principal quantum number n >40 , Te ,0 is insensitive to the initial ionization mechanism which seeds the plasma. In addition, the quantity kBTe ,0 is strongly correlated with the fraction of atoms which ionize, and is in the range 0.6 ×| Eb ,i|≲ kBTe ,0≲2.5 ×|Eb ,i| . On the other hand, plasmas from Rydberg samples with n ≲40 evolve with no significant additional ionization of the remaining atoms once a threshold number of ions has been established. The dominant interaction between the plasma electrons and the Rydberg atoms is one in which the atoms are deexcited, a heating process for electrons that competes with adiabatic cooling to establish an equilibrium where Te ,0 is determined by their Coulomb coupling parameter, Γe˜0.01 .

Enhanced Optical and Electric Manipulation of a Quantum Gas of KRb Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Covey, Jacob P.

Polar molecules are an ideal platform for studying quantum information and quantum simulation due to their long-range dipolar interactions. However, they have many degrees of freedom at disparate energy scales and thus are difficult to cool. Ultracold KRb molecules near quantum degeneracy were first produced in 2008. Nevertheless, it was found that even when prepared in the absolute lowest state chemical reactions can make the gas unstable. During my PhD we worked to mitigate these limitations by loading molecules into an optical lattice where the tunneling rates, and thus the chemistry, can be exquisitely controlled. This setting allowed us to start using the rotational degree of freedom as a pseudo-spin, and paved the way for studying models of quantum magnetism, such as the t-J model and the XXZ model. Further, by allowing molecules of two "spin''-states to tunnel in the lattice, we were able to observe a continuous manifestion of the quantum Zeno effect, where increased mobility counterintuitively suppresses dissipation from inelastic collisions. In a deep lattice we observed dipolar spin-exchange interactions, and we were able to elucidate their truly many-body nature. These two sets of experiments informed us that the filling fraction of the molecules in the lattice was only 5-10%, and so we implemented a quantum synthesis approach where atomic insulators were used to maximize the number of sites with one K and one Rb, and then these "doublons'' were converted to molecules with a filling of 30%. Despite these successes, a number of tools such as high resolution detection and addressing as well as large, stable electric fields were unavailable. Also during my PhD I led efforts to design, build, test, and implement a new apparatus which provides access to these tools and more. We have successfully produced ultracold molecules in this new apparatus, and we are now applying AC and DC electric fields with in vacuum electrodes. This apparatus will allow us to study

Probing and Manipulating Ultracold Fermi Superfluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Lei

Ultracold Fermi gas is an exciting field benefiting from atomic physics, optical physics and condensed matter physics. It covers many aspects of quantum mechanics. Here I introduce some of my work during my graduate study. We proposed an optical spectroscopic method based on electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) as a generic probing tool that provides valuable insights into the nature of Fermi paring in ultracold Fermi gases of two hyperfine states. This technique has the capability of allowing spectroscopic response to be determined in a nearly non-destructive manner and the whole spectrum may be obtained by scanning the probe laser frequency faster than the lifetime of the sample without re-preparing the atomic sample repeatedly. Both quasiparticle picture and pseudogap picture are constructed to facilitate the physical explanation of the pairing signature in the EIT spectra. Motivated by the prospect of realizing a Fermi gas of 40K atoms with a synthetic non-Abelian gauge field, we investigated theoretically BEC-HCS crossover physics in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a system of two-component Fermi gas with and without a Zeeman field that breaks the population balance. A new bound state (Rashba pair) emerges because of the spin-orbit interaction. We studied the properties of Rashba pairs using a standard pair fluctuation theory. As the two-fold spin degeneracy is lifted by spin-orbit interaction, bound pairs with mixed singlet and triplet pairings (referred to as rashbons) emerge, leading to an anisotropic superfluid. We discussed in detail the experimental signatures for observing the condensation of Rashba pairs by calculating various physical observables which characterize the properties of the system and can be measured in experiment. The role of impurities as experimental probes in the detection of quantum material properties is well appreciated. Here we studied the effect of a single classical impurity in trapped ultracold Fermi

SU(3) Orbital Kondo Effect with Ultracold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishida, Yusuke

2013-09-01

We propose a simple but novel scheme to realize the Kondo effect with ultracold atoms. Our system consists of a Fermi sea of spinless fermions interacting with an impurity atom of different species which is confined by an isotropic potential. The interspecies attraction can be tuned with an s-wave Feshbach resonance so that the impurity atom and a spinless fermion form a bound dimer that occupies a threefold-degenerate p orbital of the confinement potential. Many-body scatterings of this dimer and surrounding spinless fermions occur with exchanging their angular momenta and thus exhibit the SU(3) orbital Kondo effect. The associated Kondo temperature has a universal leading exponent given by TK∝exp⁡[-π/(3apkF3)] that depends only on an effective p-wave scattering volume ap and a Fermi wave vector kF. We also elucidate a Kondo singlet formation at zero temperature and an anisotropic interdimer interaction mediated by surrounding spinless fermions. The Kondo effect thus realized in ultracold atom experiments may be observed as an increasing atom loss by lowering the temperature or with radio-frequency spectroscopy. Our scheme and its extension to a dense Kondo lattice will be useful to develop new insights into yet unresolved aspects of Kondo physics.

Dirac-, Rashba-, and Weyl-type spin-orbit couplings: Toward experimental realization in ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bao-Zong; Lu, Yue-Hui; Sun, Wei; Chen, Shuai; Deng, Youjin; Liu, Xiong-Jun

2018-01-01

We propose a hierarchy set of minimal optical Raman lattice schemes to pave the way for experimental realization of high-dimensional spin-orbit (SO) couplings for ultracold atoms, including two-dimensional (2D) Dirac type, 2D Rashba type, and three-dimensional (3D) Weyl type. The proposed Dirac-type SO coupling exhibits precisely controllable high symmetry, for which a large topological phase region is predicted. The generation of 2D Rashba and 3D Weyl types requires that two sources of laser beams have distinct frequencies of factor 2 difference. Surprisingly, we find that 133Cs atoms provide an ideal candidate for the realization. A common and essential feature is of high controllability and absent of any fine-tuning in the realization, and the resulting SO coupled ultracold atoms have a long lifetime. In particular, a long-lived topological Bose gas of 2D Dirac SO coupling has been proved in the follow-up experiment. These schemes essentially improve over the current experimental accessibility and controllability, and open a realistic way to explore novel high-dimensional SO physics, particularly quantum many-body physics and quantum far-from-equilibrium dynamics with novel topology for ultracold atoms.

Above-threshold scattering about a Feshbach resonance for ultracold atoms in an optical collider.

PubMed

Horvath, Milena S J; Thomas, Ryan; Tiesinga, Eite; Deb, Amita B; Kjærgaard, Niels

2017-09-06

Ultracold atomic gases have realized numerous paradigms of condensed matter physics, where control over interactions has crucially been afforded by tunable Feshbach resonances. So far, the characterization of these Feshbach resonances has almost exclusively relied on experiments in the threshold regime near zero energy. Here, we use a laser-based collider to probe a narrow magnetic Feshbach resonance of rubidium above threshold. By measuring the overall atomic loss from colliding clouds as a function of magnetic field, we track the energy-dependent resonance position. At higher energy, our collider scheme broadens the loss feature, making the identification of the narrow resonance challenging. However, we observe that the collisions give rise to shifts in the center-of-mass positions of outgoing clouds. The shifts cross zero at the resonance and this allows us to accurately determine its location well above threshold. Our inferred resonance positions are in excellent agreement with theory.Studies on energy-dependent scattering of ultracold atoms were previously carried out near zero collision energies. Here, the authors observe a magnetic Feshbach resonance in ultracold Rb collisions for above-threshold energies and their method can also be used to detect higher partial wave resonances.

Improved Radio-Frequency Magneto-Optical Trap of SrF Molecules.

PubMed

Steinecker, Matthew H; McCarron, Daniel J; Zhu, Yuqi; DeMille, David

2016-11-18

We report the production of ultracold, trapped strontium monofluoride (SrF) molecules with number density and phase-space density significantly higher than previously achieved. These improvements are enabled by three distinct changes to our recently-demonstrated scheme for radio-frequency magneto-optical trapping of SrF: modification of the slowing laser beam geometry, addition of an optical pumping laser, and incorporation of a compression stage to the magneto-optical trap. With these improvements, we observe a trapped sample of SrF molecules at density 2.5×10 5  cm -3 and phase-space density 6×10 -14 , each a factor of 4 greater than in previous work. Under different experimental conditions, we observe trapping of up to 10 4 molecules, a factor of 5 greater than in previous work. Finally, by reducing the intensity of the applied trapping light, we observe molecular temperatures as low as 250 μK. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Frequency standards based on ultracold atoms in tests of general relativity, navigation and gravimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khabarova, K. Yu.; Kudeyarov, K. S.; Kolachevsky, N. N.

2017-06-01

Research and development in the field of optical clocks based on ultracold atoms and ions have enabled the relative uncertainty in frequency to be reduced down to a few parts in 1018. The use of novel, precise frequency comparison methods opens up new possibilities for basic research (sensitive tests of general relativity, a search for a drift of fundamental constants and a search for ‘dark matter’) as well as for state-of-the-art navigation and gravimetry. We discuss the key methods that are used in creating precision clocks (including transportable clocks) based on ultracold atoms and ions and the feasibility of using them in resolving current relativistic gravimetry issues.

Interference, focusing and excitation of ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kandes, M. C.; Fahy, B. M.; Williams, S. R.; Tally, C. H., IV; Bromley, M. W. J.

2011-05-01

One of the pressing technological challenges in atomic physics is to go orders-of-magnitude beyond the limits of photon-based optics by harnessing the wave-nature of dilute clouds of ultracold atoms. We have developed parallelised algorithms to perform numerical calculations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation in up to three dimensions and with up to three components to simulate Bose-Einstein condensates. A wide-ranging array of the physics associated with atom optics-based systems will be presented including BEC-based Sagnac interferometry in circular waveguides, the focusing of BECs using Laguerre-Gauss beams, and the interactions between BECs and Ince-Gaussian laser beams and their potential applications. One of the pressing technological challenges in atomic physics is to go orders-of-magnitude beyond the limits of photon-based optics by harnessing the wave-nature of dilute clouds of ultracold atoms. We have developed parallelised algorithms to perform numerical calculations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation in up to three dimensions and with up to three components to simulate Bose-Einstein condensates. A wide-ranging array of the physics associated with atom optics-based systems will be presented including BEC-based Sagnac interferometry in circular waveguides, the focusing of BECs using Laguerre-Gauss beams, and the interactions between BECs and Ince-Gaussian laser beams and their potential applications. Performed on computational resources via NSF grants PHY-0970127, CHE-0947087 and DMS-0923278.

Transfer coefficients in ultracold strongly coupled plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bobrov, A. A.; Vorob'ev, V. S.; Zelener, B. V.

2018-03-01

We use both analytical and molecular dynamic methods for electron transfer coefficients in an ultracold plasma when its temperature is small and the coupling parameter characterizing the interaction of electrons and ions exceeds unity. For these conditions, we use the approach of nearest neighbor to determine the average electron (ion) diffusion coefficient and to calculate other electron transfer coefficients (viscosity and electrical and thermal conductivities). Molecular dynamics simulations produce electronic and ionic diffusion coefficients, confirming the reliability of these results. The results compare favorably with experimental and numerical data from earlier studies.

Atom chip apparatus for experiments with ultracold rubidium and potassium gases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ivory, M. K.; Ziltz, A. R.; Fancher, C. T.

2014-04-15

We present a dual chamber atom chip apparatus for generating ultracold {sup 87}Rb and {sup 39}K atomic gases. The apparatus produces quasi-pure Bose-Einstein condensates of 10{sup 4} {sup 87}Rb atoms in an atom chip trap that features a dimple and good optical access. We have also demonstrated production of ultracold {sup 39}K and subsequent loading into the chip trap. We describe the details of the dual chamber vacuum system, the cooling lasers, the magnetic trap, the multicoil magnetic transport system, the atom chip, and two optical dipole traps. Due in part to the use of light-induced atom desorption, the lasermore » cooling chamber features a sufficiently good vacuum to also support optical dipole trap-based experiments. The apparatus is well suited for studies of atom-surface forces, quantum pumping and transport experiments, atom interferometry, novel chip-based traps, and studies of one-dimensional many-body systems.« less

Continuous all-optical deceleration of molecular beams and demonstration with Rb atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Xueping; Jayich, Andrew; Campbell, Wesley

2017-04-01

Ultracold samples of molecules are desirable for a variety of applications, such as many-body physics, precision measurement and quantum information science. However, the pursuit of ultracold molecules has achieved limited success: spontaneous emission into many different dark states makes it hard to optically decelerate molecules to trappable speed. We propose to address this problem with a general optical deceleration technique that exploits a pump-dump pulse pair from a mode-locked laser. A molecular beam is first excited by a counter-propagating ``pump'' pulse. The molecular beam is then driven back to the initial ground state by a co-propagating ``dump'' pulse via stimulated emission. The delay between the pump and dump pulse is set to be shorter than the excited state lifetimes in order to limit decays to dark states. We report progress benchmarking this stimulated force by accelerating a cold sample of neutral Rb atoms.

Three Body Recombination and Photoassociative Ultracold Collisions Studied Using Translational Energy

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-27

Sumission, or Preparation 1. "Multiple Scattering and the Density Distribution of a Cs MOT," R. Overstreet, P. Zabawa , J. Tallant, A. Schwettmann... Zabawa . J. Tallant, A. Schwettmann, J. Crawford, and J.P. Shaffer, DAMOP, Knoxville, TN, (2006). 6. "Ultracold Cs Rydberg Gas Dynamics," K.R

The BCS-BEC crossover: From ultra-cold Fermi gases to nuclear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strinati, Giancarlo Calvanese; Pieri, Pierbiagio; Röpke, Gerd; Schuck, Peter; Urban, Michael

2018-04-01

This report addresses topics and questions of common interest in the fields of ultra-cold gases and nuclear physics in the context of the BCS-BEC crossover. By this crossover, the phenomena of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), which share the same kind of spontaneous symmetry breaking, are smoothly connected through the progressive reduction of the size of the fermion pairs involved as the fundamental entities in both phenomena. This size ranges, from large values when Cooper pairs are strongly overlapping in the BCS limit of a weak inter-particle attraction, to small values when composite bosons are non-overlapping in the BEC limit of a strong inter-particle attraction, across the intermediate unitarity limit where the size of the pairs is comparable with the average inter-particle distance. The BCS-BEC crossover has recently been realized experimentally, and essentially in all of its aspects, with ultra-cold Fermi gases. This realization, in turn, has raised the interest of the nuclear physics community in the crossover problem, since it represents an unprecedented tool to test fundamental and unanswered questions of nuclear many-body theory. Here, we focus on the several aspects of the BCS-BEC crossover, which are of broad joint interest to both ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter, and which will likely help to solve in the future some open problems in nuclear physics (concerning, for instance, neutron stars). Similarities and differences occurring in ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter will then be emphasized, not only about the relative phenomenologies but also about the theoretical approaches to be used in the two contexts. Common to both contexts is the fact that at zero temperature the BCS-BEC crossover can be described at the mean-field level with reasonable accuracy. At finite temperature, on the other hand, inclusion of pairing fluctuations beyond mean field represents an essential ingredient

Ultracold Mixtures of Rubidium and Ytterbium for Open Quantum System Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herold, Creston David

Exquisite experimental control of quantum systems has led to sharp growth of basic quantum research in recent years. Controlling dissipation has been crucial in producing ultracold, trapped atomic samples. Recent theoretical work has suggested dissipation can be a useful tool for quantum state preparation. Controlling not only how a system interacts with a reservoir, but the ability to engineer the reservoir itself would be a powerful platform for open quantum system research. Toward this end, we have constructed an apparatus to study ultracold mixtures of rubidium (Rb) and ytterbium (Yb). We have developed a Rb-blind optical lattice at 423.018(7) nm, which will enable us to immerse a lattice of Yb atoms (the system) into a Rb BEC (superfluid reservoir). We have produced Bose-Einstein condensates of 170Yb and 174Yb, two of the five bosonic isotopes of Yb, which also has two fermionic isotopes. Flexible optical trapping of Rb and Yb was achieved with a two-color dipole trap of 532 and 1064 nm, and we observed thermalization in ultracold mixtures of Rb and Yb. Using the Rb-blind optical lattice, we measured very small light shifts of 87Rb BECs near the light shift zero-wavelengths adjacent the 6p electronic states, through a coherent series of lattice pulses. The positions of the zero-wavelengths are sensitive to the electric dipole matrix elements between the 5s and 6p states, and we made the first experimental measurement of their strength. By measuring a light shift, we were not sensitive to excited state branching ratios, and we achieved a precision better than 0.3%.

PENTrack - a versatile Monte Carlo tool for ultracold neutron sources and experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Picker, Ruediger; Chahal, Sanmeet; Christopher, Nicolas; Losekamm, Martin; Marcellin, James; Paul, Stephan; Schreyer, Wolfgang; Yapa, Pramodh

2016-09-01

Ultracold neutrons have energies in the hundred nano eV region. They can be stored in traps for hundreds of seconds. This makes them the ideal tool to study the neutron itself. Measurements of neutron decay correlations, lifetime or electric dipole moment are ideally suited for ultracold neutrons, as well as experiments probing the neutron's gravitational levels in the earth's field. We have developed a Monte Carlo simulation tool that can serve to design and optimize these experiments, and possibly correct results: PENTrack is a C++ based simulation code that tracks neutrons, protons and electrons or atoms, as well as their spins, in gravitational and electromagnetic fields. In addition wall interactions of neutrons due to strong interaction are modeled with a Fermi-potential formalism and take surface roughness into account. The presentation will introduce the physics behind the simulation and provide examples of its application.

Optoelectrical Cooling of Formaldehyde to Sub-Millikelvin Temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeppenfeld, Martin

2016-05-01

Due to their strong long-range dipole-dipole interactions and large number of internal states, polar molecules cooled to ultracold temperatures enable fascinating applications ranging from ultracold chemistry to investigation of dipolar quantum gases. However, realizing a simple and general technique to cool molecules to ultracold temperatures, akin to laser cooling of atoms, has been a formidable challenge. We present results for opto-electrical Sisyphus cooling applied to formaldehyde (H2 CO). In this generally applicable cooling scheme, molecules repeatedly move up and down electric field gradients of a trapping potential in different rotational states to efficiently extract kinetic energy. A total of about 300,000 molecules are thereby cooled by a factor of 1000 to 400uK, resulting in a record-large ensemble of ultracold molecules. In addition to cooling of the motional degrees of freedom, optical pumping via a vibrational transition allows us to control the internal rotational state. We thereby achieve a purity of over 80% of formaldehyde molecules in a single rotational M-sublevel. Our experiment provides an excellent starting point for precision spectroscopy and investigation of ultracold collisions.

The determination of potential energy curve and dipole moment of the (5)0{sup +} electronic state of {sup 85}Rb{sup 133}Cs molecule by high resolution photoassociation spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yuan, Jinpeng; Zhao, Yanting, E-mail: zhaoyt@sxu.edu.cn; Ji, Zhonghua

2015-12-14

We present the formation of ultracold {sup 85}Rb{sup 133}Cs molecules in the (5)0{sup +} electronic state by photoassociation and their detection via resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization. Up to v = 47 vibrational levels including the lowest v = 0 vibrational and lowest J = 0 levels are identified with rotationally resolved high resolution photoassociation spectra. Precise Dunham coefficients are determined for the (5)0{sup +} state with high accuracy, then the Rydberg-Klein-Rees potential energy curve is derived. The electric dipole moments with respect to the vibrational numbers of the (5)0{sup +} electronic state of {sup 85}Rb{sup 133}Cs molecule are also measured inmore » the range between 1.9 and 4.8 D. These comprehensive studies on previously unobserved rovibrational levels of the (5)0{sup +} state are helpful to understand the molecular structure and discover suitable transition pathways for transferring ultracold atoms to deeply bound rovibrational levels of the electronic ground state.« less

Ultracold atoms in strong synthetic magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ketterle, Wolfgang

2015-03-01

The Harper Hofstadter Hamiltonian describes charged particles in the lowest band of a lattice at high magnetic fields. This Hamiltonian can be realized with ultracold atoms using laser assisted tunneling which imprints the same phase into the wavefunction of neutral atoms as a magnetic field dose for electrons. I will describe our observation of a bosonic superfluid in a magnetic field with half a flux quantum per lattice unit cell, and discuss new possibilities for implementing spin-orbit coupling. Work done in collaboration with C.J. Kennedy, G.A. Siviloglou, H. Miyake, W.C. Burton, and Woo Chang Chung.

Ultra-cold 4He atom beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulders, N.; Wyatt, A. F. G.

1994-02-01

It has been shown that it is possible to create ultra-cold 4He atom beams, using a metal film heater covered with a superfluid helium film. The transient behaviour of the atom pulse can be improved significantly by shaping of the heater pulse. The leading edge of more energetic atoms can be suppressed nearly completely, leaving a core of mono-energetic atoms. The maximum number of atoms in the pulse is determined by the amount of helium in the superfluid film on the heater. This seriously limits the ranges of pulse width and energy over which this beam source can be operated. However, these can be increased significantly by using porous gold smoke heaters.

Direct observation of ultrafast many-body electron dynamics in an ultracold Rydberg gas

PubMed Central

Takei, Nobuyuki; Sommer, Christian; Genes, Claudiu; Pupillo, Guido; Goto, Haruka; Koyasu, Kuniaki; Chiba, Hisashi; Weidemüller, Matthias; Ohmori, Kenji

2016-01-01

Many-body correlations govern a variety of important quantum phenomena such as the emergence of superconductivity and magnetism. Understanding quantum many-body systems is thus one of the central goals of modern sciences. Here we demonstrate an experimental approach towards this goal by utilizing an ultracold Rydberg gas generated with a broadband picosecond laser pulse. We follow the ultrafast evolution of its electronic coherence by time-domain Ramsey interferometry with attosecond precision. The observed electronic coherence shows an ultrafast oscillation with a period of 1 femtosecond, whose phase shift on the attosecond timescale is consistent with many-body correlations among Rydberg atoms beyond mean-field approximations. This coherent and ultrafast many-body dynamics is actively controlled by tuning the orbital size and population of the Rydberg state, as well as the mean atomic distance. Our approach will offer a versatile platform to observe and manipulate non-equilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body systems on the ultrafast timescale. PMID:27849054

A hybrid system of a membrane oscillator coupled to ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kampschulte, Tobias

2015-05-01

The control over micro- and nanomechanical oscillators has recently made impressive progress. First experiments demonstrated ground-state cooling and single-phonon control of high-frequency oscillators using cryogenic cooling and techniques of cavity optomechanics. Coupling engineered mechanical structures to microscopic quantum system with good coherence properties offers new possibilities for quantum control of mechanical vibrations, precision sensing and quantum-level signal transduction. Ultracold atoms are an attractive choice for such hybrid systems: Mechanical can either be coupled to the motional state of trapped atoms, which can routinely be ground-state cooled, or to the internal states, for which a toolbox of coherent manipulation and detection exists. Furthermore, atomic collective states with non-classical properties can be exploited to infer the mechanical motion with reduced quantum noise. Here we use trapped ultracold atoms to sympathetically cool the fundamental vibrational mode of a Si3N4 membrane. The coupling of membrane and atomic motion is mediated by laser light over a macroscopic distance and enhanced by an optical cavity around the membrane. The observed cooling of the membrane from room temperature to 650 +/- 230 mK shows that our hybrid mechanical-atomic system operates at a large cooperativity. Our scheme could provide ground-state cooling and quantum control of low-frequency oscillators such as levitated nanoparticles, in a regime where purely optomechanical techniques cannot reach the ground state. Furthermore, we will present a scheme where an optomechanical system is coupled to internal states of ultracold atoms. The mechanical motion is translated into a polarization rotation which drives Raman transitions between atomic ground states. Compared to the motional-state coupling, the new scheme enables to couple atoms to high-frequency structures such as optomechanical crystals.

A high-field adiabatic fast passage ultracold neutron spin flipper for the UCNA experiment.

PubMed

Holley, A T; Broussard, L J; Davis, J L; Hickerson, K; Ito, T M; Liu, C-Y; Lyles, J T M; Makela, M; Mammei, R R; Mendenhall, M P; Morris, C L; Mortensen, R; Pattie, R W; Rios, R; Saunders, A; Young, A R

2012-07-01

The UCNA collaboration is making a precision measurement of the β asymmetry (A) in free neutron decay using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). A critical component of this experiment is an adiabatic fast passage neutron spin flipper capable of efficient operation in ambient magnetic fields on the order of 1 T. The requirement that it operate in a high field necessitated the construction of a free neutron spin flipper based, for the first time, on a birdcage resonator. The design, construction, and initial testing of this spin flipper prior to its use in the first measurement of A with UCN during the 2007 run cycle of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's 800 MeV proton accelerator is detailed. These studies determined the flipping efficiency of the device, averaged over the UCN spectrum present at the location of the spin flipper, to be ̅ε=0.9985(4).

Dimer formation of perylene: An ultracold spectroscopic and computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Birer, Ö.; Yurtsever, E.

2015-10-01

The electronic spectra of perylene inside helium nanodroplets recorded by the depletion method are presented. The results show two broad peaks in addition to sharp monomer vibronic transitions due to dimer formation. In order to understand the details of the spectra, first the dimer formation is studied by DFT and SCS-MP2 calculations and then the electronic spectra are calculated at the minima of the potential energy surface (PES). Theoretical calculations show that there are two low-lying energetically degenerate dimer structures; namely a parallel displaced one and a rotated stacked one. PES around these minima is very flat with a number of local minima at higher energies which at the experimental temperatures cannot be populated. Even though thermodynamically these two structures are equally populated, dynamical considerations point out that in helium droplet the parallel displaced geometry is encouraged by the natural alignment of the molecules due to the acquired angular momentum following the pick-up process. The calculated spectrum of the parallel displaced geometry predicts the positions of the dimer transitions within 30 nm of the experimental spectrum. Furthermore, the difference between the two dimer transitions is accurately predicted to be about 25 nm while the experimental difference was about 20 nm. Such a small difference could only be detected due to the ultracold conditions helium nanodroplets provided.

Mass Spectrometry as a Preparative Tool for the Surface Science of Large Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauschenbach, Stephan; Ternes, Markus; Harnau, Ludger; Kern, Klaus

2016-06-01

Measuring and understanding the complexity that arises when nanostructures interact with their environment are one of the major current challenges of nanoscale science and technology. High-resolution microscopy methods such as scanning probe microscopy have the capacity to investigate nanoscale systems with ultimate precision, for which, however, atomic scale precise preparation methods of surface science are a necessity. Preparative mass spectrometry (pMS), defined as the controlled deposition of m/z filtered ion beams, with soft ionization sources links the world of large, biological molecules and surface science, enabling atomic scale chemical control of molecular deposition in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Here we explore the application of high-resolution scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy to the characterization of structure and properties of large molecules. We introduce the fundamental principles of the combined experiments electrospray ion beam deposition and scanning tunneling microscopy. Examples for the deposition and investigation of single particles, for layer and film growth, and for the investigation of electronic properties of individual nonvolatile molecules show that state-of-the-art pMS technology provides a platform analog to thermal evaporation in conventional molecular beam epitaxy. Additionally, it offers additional, unique features due to the use of charged polyatomic particles. This new field is an enormous sandbox for novel molecular materials research and demands the development of advanced molecular ion beam technology.

Quantum Simulation of the Hubbard Model Using Ultra-Cold Atoms

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-11-01

explore phases that do not yet have analogous behavior in QCD . ..,.. Ultracold fennions in optical lattices . The evolution from BCS to BEC...trimer states. The three-component Fermi gas we have created will, when confined in an optical lattice , be an experimental realization of the SU(3...chromodynamics ( QCD ): the color superconducting phase and the formation of baryons. Our initial investigations have focused on understanding three-body

Theory of diatomic molecules in an external electromagnetic field from first quantum mechanical principles.

PubMed

Sindelka, Milan; Moiseyev, Nimrod

2006-04-27

We study a general problem of the translational/rotational/vibrational/electronic dynamics of a diatomic molecule exposed to an interaction with an arbitrary external electromagnetic field. The theory developed in this paper is relevant to a variety of specific applications, such as alignment or orientation of molecules by lasers, trapping of ultracold molecules in optical traps, molecular optics and interferometry, rovibrational spectroscopy of molecules in the presence of intense laser light, or generation of high order harmonics from molecules. Starting from the first quantum mechanical principles, we derive an appropriate molecular Hamiltonian suitable for description of the center of mass, rotational, vibrational, and electronic molecular motions driven by the field within the electric dipole approximation. Consequently, the concept of the Born-Oppenheimer separation between the electronic and the nuclear degrees of freedom in the presence of an electromagnetic field is introduced. Special cases of the dc/ac-field limits are then discussed separately. Finally, we consider a perturbative regime of a weak dc/ac field, and obtain simple analytic formulas for the associated Born-Oppenheimer translational/rotational/vibrational molecular Hamiltonian.

Experimental and theoretical study of the B(2)2Σ+ → X(1)2Σ+ system in the KSr molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczepkowski, Jacek; Grochola, Anna; Kowalczyk, Paweł; Dulieu, Olivier; Guérout, Romain; Żuchowski, Piotr S.; Jastrzebski, Włodzimierz

2018-05-01

Spectral bands for the B(2)2Σ+ → X(1)2Σ+ electronic transition in the doubly-polar open-shell KSr molecule are recorded at moderate resolution using the thermoluminescence technique. The spectra are simulated using three kinds of advanced electronic structure calculations, allowing for an assessment of their accuracy on one hand, and for the derivation of fundamental spectroscopic constants of the X(1)2Σ+ KSr ground state and the excited electronic state B(2)2Σ+ , on the other hand. These results should facilitate further studies aiming at creating ultracold bosonic or fermionic KSr molecules.

Slowing techniques for loading a magneto-optical trap of CaF molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Truppe, Stefan; Fitch, Noah; Williams, Hannah; Hambach, Moritz; Sauer, Ben; Hinds, Ed; Tarbutt, Mike

2016-05-01

Ultracold molecules in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are useful for testing fundamental physics and studying strongly-interacting quantum systems. With experiments starting with a relatively fast (50-200 m/s) buffer-gas beam, a primary concern is decelerating molecules to below the MOT capture velocity, typically 10 m/s. Direct laser cooling, where the molecules are slowed via momentum transfer from a chirped counter-propagating narrowband laser, is a natural choice. However, chirping the cooling and repump lasers requires precise control of multiple laser frequencies simultaneously. Another approach, called ``white-light slowing'' uses a broadband laser such that all fast molecules in the beam are decelerated. By addressing numerous velocities no chirping is needed. Unfortunately, both techniques have significant losses as molecules are transversely heated during the optical cycling. Ideally, the slowing method would provide simultaneous deceleration and transverse guiding. A newly developed technique, called Zeeman-Sisyphus deceleration, is potentially capable of both. Using permanent magnets and optical pumping, the number of scattered photons is reduced, lessening transverse heating and relaxing the repump requirements. Here we compare all three options for CaF.

Self-diffusion and conductivity in an ultracold strongly coupled plasma: Calculation by the method of molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zelener, B. B.; Zelener, B. V.; Manykin, E. A.; Bronin, S. Ya; Bobrov, A. A.; Khikhlukha, D. R.

2018-01-01

We present results of calculations by the method of molecular dynamics of self-diffusion and conductivity of electron and ion components of ultracold plasma in a comparison with available theoretical and experimental data. For the ion self-diffusion coefficient, good agreement was obtained with experiments on ultracold plasma. The results of the calculation of self-diffusion also agree well with other calculations performed for the same values of the coupling parameter, but at high temperatures. The difference in the results of the conductivity calculations on the basis of the current autocorrelation function and on the basis of the diffusion coefficient is discussed.

Developing Density of Laser-Cooled Neutral Atoms and Molecules in a Linear Magnetic Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velasquez, Joe, III; Walstrom, Peter; di Rosa, Michael

2013-05-01

In this poster we show that neutral particle injection and accumulation using laser-induced spin flips may be used to form dense ensembles of ultracold magnetic particles, i.e., laser-cooled paramagnetic atoms and molecules. Particles are injected in a field-seeking state, are switched by optical pumping to a field-repelled state, and are stored in the minimum-B trap. The analogous process in high-energy charged-particle accumulator rings is charge-exchange injection using stripper foils. The trap is a linear array of sextupoles capped by solenoids. Particle-tracking calculations and design of our linear accumulator along with related experiments involving 7Li will be presented. We test these concepts first with atoms in preparation for later work with selected molecules. Finally, we present our preliminary results with CaH, our candidate molecule for laser cooling. This project is funded by the LDRD program of Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Magnetic-film atom chip with 10 μm period lattices of microtraps for quantum information science with Rydberg atoms.

PubMed

Leung, V Y F; Pijn, D R M; Schlatter, H; Torralbo-Campo, L; La Rooij, A L; Mulder, G B; Naber, J; Soudijn, M L; Tauschinsky, A; Abarbanel, C; Hadad, B; Golan, E; Folman, R; Spreeuw, R J C

2014-05-01

We describe the fabrication and construction of a setup for creating lattices of magnetic microtraps for ultracold atoms on an atom chip. The lattice is defined by lithographic patterning of a permanent magnetic film. Patterned magnetic-film atom chips enable a large variety of trapping geometries over a wide range of length scales. We demonstrate an atom chip with a lattice constant of 10 μm, suitable for experiments in quantum information science employing the interaction between atoms in highly excited Rydberg energy levels. The active trapping region contains lattice regions with square and hexagonal symmetry, with the two regions joined at an interface. A structure of macroscopic wires, cutout of a silver foil, was mounted under the atom chip in order to load ultracold (87)Rb atoms into the microtraps. We demonstrate loading of atoms into the square and hexagonal lattice sections simultaneously and show resolved imaging of individual lattice sites. Magnetic-film lattices on atom chips provide a versatile platform for experiments with ultracold atoms, in particular for quantum information science and quantum simulation.

Magnetic-film atom chip with 10 μm period lattices of microtraps for quantum information science with Rydberg atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leung, V. Y. F.; Complex Photonic Systems; Pijn, D. R. M.

2014-05-15

We describe the fabrication and construction of a setup for creating lattices of magnetic microtraps for ultracold atoms on an atom chip. The lattice is defined by lithographic patterning of a permanent magnetic film. Patterned magnetic-film atom chips enable a large variety of trapping geometries over a wide range of length scales. We demonstrate an atom chip with a lattice constant of 10 μm, suitable for experiments in quantum information science employing the interaction between atoms in highly excited Rydberg energy levels. The active trapping region contains lattice regions with square and hexagonal symmetry, with the two regions joined atmore » an interface. A structure of macroscopic wires, cutout of a silver foil, was mounted under the atom chip in order to load ultracold {sup 87}Rb atoms into the microtraps. We demonstrate loading of atoms into the square and hexagonal lattice sections simultaneously and show resolved imaging of individual lattice sites. Magnetic-film lattices on atom chips provide a versatile platform for experiments with ultracold atoms, in particular for quantum information science and quantum simulation.« less

Quenching of internally 'hot' H2 and N2 gases by collisions with ultracold electrons: a computational 'experiment'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gianturco, F. A.

2008-11-01

Quantum mechanical methods are employed to obtain superelastic cross sections involving H2 and N2 molecules, in excited rotational states, colliding with electrons at the very low collision energies which are encountered in cold trap experiments. This computational analysis intends to explore the feasibility of cold electrons for the collisional quenching of molecular gases down to the nanokelvin regimes. The results are obtained using rigorous coupled-channel (CC) calculations in the laboratory frame of reference which allows one to correctly describe the cross section behaviour at ultralow energies. The results are analysed down to the ultracold region of validity of Wigner's law, where it is found that electron-driven collisions exhibit substantial efficiency for the quenching of rotational populations in molecular gases involving the title systems. This work is affectionately dedicated to Anna Giardini, a creative experimentalist and a long-time friend, on the occasion of her 'official' retirement.

Optical Feshbach resonances and ground-state-molecule production in the RbHg system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borkowski, Mateusz; Muñoz Rodriguez, Rodolfo; Kosicki, Maciej B.; Ciuryło, Roman; Żuchowski, Piotr S.

2017-12-01

We present the prospects for photoassociation, optical control of interspecies scattering lengths, and, finally, the production of ultracold absolute ground-state molecules in the Rb+Hg system. We use the state-of-the-art ab initio methods for the calculations of ground- [CCSD(T)] and excited-state (EOM-CCSD) potential curves. The RbHg system, thanks to the wide range of stable Hg bosonic isotopes, offers possibilities for mass tuning of ground-state interactions. The optical lengths describing the strengths of optical Feshbach resonances near the Rb transitions are favorable even at large laser detunings. Ground-state RbHg molecules can be produced with efficiencies ranging from about 20% for deeply bound to at least 50% for weakly bound states close to the dissociation limit. Finally, electronic transitions with favorable Franck-Condon factors can be found for the purposes of a STIRAP transfer of the weakly bound RbHg molecules to the absolute ground state using commercially available lasers.

Influence of intrinsic decoherence on tripartite entanglement and bipartite fidelity of polar molecules in pendular states.

PubMed

Han, Jia-Xing; Hu, Yuan; Jin, Yu; Zhang, Guo-Feng

2016-04-07

An array of ultracold polar molecules trapped in an external electric field is regarded as a promising carrier of quantum information. Under the action of this field, molecules are compelled to undergo pendular oscillations by the Stark effect. Particular attention has been paid to the influence of intrinsic decoherence on the model of linear polar molecular pendular states, thereby we evaluate the tripartite entanglement with negativity, as well as fidelity of bipartite quantum systems for input and output signals using electric dipole moments of polar molecules as qubits. According to this study, we consider three typical initial states for both systems, respectively, and investigate the temporal evolution with variable values of the external field intensity, the intrinsic decoherence factor, and the dipole-dipole interaction. Thus, we demonstrate the sound selection of these three main parameters to obtain the best entanglement degree and fidelity.

Parametric Cooling of Ultracold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boguslawski, Matthew; Bharath, H. M.; Barrios, Maryrose; Chapman, Michael

2017-04-01

An oscillator is characterized by a restoring force which determines the natural frequency at which oscillations occur. The amplitude and phase-noise of these oscillations can be amplified or squeezed by modulating the magnitude of this force (e.g. the stiffness of the spring) at twice the natural frequency. This is parametric excitation; a long-studied phenomena in both the classical and quantum regimes. Parametric cooling, or the parametric squeezing of thermo-mechanical noise in oscillators has been studied in micro-mechanical oscillators and trapped ions. We study parametric cooling in ultracold atoms. This method shows a modest reduction of the variance of atomic momenta, and can be easily employed with pre-existing controls in many experiments. Parametric cooling is comparable to delta-kicked cooling, sharing similar limitations. We expect this cooling to find utility in microgravity experiments where the experiment duration is limited by atomic free expansion.

Ultracold Chemical Reactions of a Single Rydberg Atom in a Dense Gas

DOE PAGES

Schlagmüller, Michael; Liebisch, Tara Cubel; Engel, Felix; ...

2016-08-10

Within a dense environment (ρ ≈ 10 14 atoms/cm 3) at ultracold temperatures (T < 1 μK), a single atom excited to a Rydberg state acts as a reaction center for surrounding neutral atoms. At these temperatures, almost all neutral atoms within the Rydberg orbit are bound to the Rydberg core and interact with the Rydberg atom. We have studied the reaction rate and products for nS 87Rb Rydberg states, and we mainly observe a state change of the Rydberg electron to a high orbital angular momentum l, with the released energy being converted into kinetic energy of the Rydberg atom. Unexpectedly, the measurements show a threshold behavior at n ≈ 100 for the inelastic collision time leading to increased lifetimes of the Rydberg state independent of the densities investigated. Even at very high densities (ρ ≈ 4.8 x 10 14 cm -3), the lifetime of a Rydberg atom exceeds 10 μs at n > 140 compared to 1 μs at n = 90. In addition, a second observed reaction mechanism, namely, Rbmore » $$+\\atop{2}$$ molecule formation, was studied. Both reaction products are equally probable for n = 40, but the fraction of Rb + 2 created drops to below 10% for n ≥ 90.« less

Quantum levitation of nanoparticles seen with ultracold neutrons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nesvizhevsky, V. V., E-mail: nesvizhevsky@ill.eu; Voronin, A. Yu.; Lambrecht, A.

2013-09-15

Analyzing new experiments with ultracold neutrons (UCNs) we show that physical adsorption of nanoparticles/nanodroplets, levitating in high-excited states in a deep and broad potential well formed by van der Waals/Casimir-Polder (vdW/CP) forces results in new effects on a cross-road of the fields of fundamental interactions, neutron, surface and nanoparticle physics. Accounting for the interaction of UCNs with nanoparticles explains a recently discovered intriguing so-called 'small heating' of UCNs in traps. It might be relevant to the striking conflict of the neutron lifetime experiments with smallest reported uncertainties by adding false effects there.

Work on the physics of ultracold atoms in Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolachevsky, N. N.; Taichenachev, A. V.

2018-05-01

In December 2017, the regular All-Russian Conference 'Physics of Ultracold Atoms' was held. Several tens of Russian scientists from major scientific centres of the country, as well as a number of leading foreign scientists took part in the Conference. The Conference topics covered a wide range of urgent problems: quantum metrology, quantum gases, waves of matter, spectroscopy, quantum computing, and laser cooling. This issue of Quantum Electronics publishes the papers reported at the conference and selected for the Journal by the Organising committee.

Effects of mode profile on tunneling and traversal of ultracold atoms through vacuum-induced potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badshah, Fazal; Irfan, Muhammad; Qamar, Sajid; Qamar, Shahid

2016-04-01

We consider the resonant interaction of an ultracold two-level atom with an electromagnetic field inside a high-Q micromaser cavity. In particular, we study the tunneling and traversal of ultracold atoms through vacuum-induced potentials for secant hyperbolic square and sinusoidal cavity mode functions. The phase time which may be considered as an appropriate measure of the time required for the atoms to cross the cavity, significantly modifies with the change of cavity mode profile. For example, switching between the sub and superclassical behaviors in phase time can occur due to the mode function. Similarly, negative phase time appears for the transmission of the two-level atoms in both excited and ground states for secant hyperbolic square mode function which is in contrast to the mesa mode case.

Pre-service Science Teachers (PSTs)’ Creative Thinking Skills on Atoms, Ions and Molecules Digital Media Creation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agustin, RR; Liliasari, L.; Sinaga, P.; Rochintaniawati, D.

2017-09-01

Atoms, ions and molecules are considered as abstract concepts that often lead to students’ learning difficulties. Th is study aimed at providing description of pre-service science teachers (PSTs)’ creative thinking skills on atoms, elements and compounds digital media creation. Qualitative descriptive method were employed to acquire data. Instruments used were rubric of PSTs’ digital teaching media, open ended question related to PSTs’ technological knowledge and pre-test about atoms, ions and molecules that were given to eighteen PSTs. The study reveals that PSTs’ creative thinking skills were still low and inadequate to create qualified teaching media of atoms, ions and molecules. PSTs’ content and technological knowledge in regard with atoms, ions and molecules are the most contributing factors. This finding support the necessity of developing pre-service and in-service science teachers’ creative thinking skill in digital media that is embedded to development of technological content knowledge.

Bonding of Alkali-Alkaline Earth Molecules in the Lowest Σ^+ States of Doublet and Quartet Multiplicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pototschnig, Johann V.; Hauser, Andreas W.; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2016-06-01

n the present study the ground state as well as the lowest ^4Σ^+ state were determined for 16 AK-AKE molecules. Multireference configuration interaction calculations were carried out in order to understand the bonding of diatomic alkali-alkaline earth (AK-AKE) molecules. The correlations between molecular properties (disociation energy, bond distances, electric dipole moment) and atomic properties (electronegativity, polarizability) will be discussed. A correlation between the dissociation energy and the dipole moment of the lowest ^4Σ^+ state was observed, while the dipole moment of the lowest ^2Σ^+ state does not show such a simple dependency. In this case an empirical relation could be established. The class of AK-AKE molecules was selected for this investigation due to their possible applications in ultracold molecular physics. J. V. Pototschnig, A. W. Hauser and W. E. Ernst, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016,18, 5964-5973

Influence of intrinsic decoherence on tripartite entanglement and bipartite fidelity of polar molecules in pendular states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, Jia-Xing; Hu, Yuan; Jin, Yu

An array of ultracold polar molecules trapped in an external electric field is regarded as a promising carrier of quantum information. Under the action of this field, molecules are compelled to undergo pendular oscillations by the Stark effect. Particular attention has been paid to the influence of intrinsic decoherence on the model of linear polar molecular pendular states, thereby we evaluate the tripartite entanglement with negativity, as well as fidelity of bipartite quantum systems for input and output signals using electric dipole moments of polar molecules as qubits. According to this study, we consider three typical initial states for bothmore » systems, respectively, and investigate the temporal evolution with variable values of the external field intensity, the intrinsic decoherence factor, and the dipole-dipole interaction. Thus, we demonstrate the sound selection of these three main parameters to obtain the best entanglement degree and fidelity.« less

Program of Fundamental-Interaction Research for the Ultracold-Neutron Source at the the WWR-M Reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serebrov, A. P.

2018-03-01

The use of ultracold neutrons opens unique possibilities for studying fundamental interactions in particles physics. Searches for the neutron electric dipole moment are aimed at testing models of CP violation. A precise measurement of the neutron lifetime is of paramount importance for cosmology and astrophysics. Considerable advances in these realms can be made with the aid of a new ultracold-neutron (UCN) supersource presently under construction at Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. With this source, it would be possible to obtain an UCN density approximately 100 times as high as that at currently the best UCN source at the high-flux reactor of the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France). To date, the design and basic elements of the source have been prepared, tests of a full-scale source model have been performed, and the research program has been developed. It is planned to improve accuracy in measuring the neutron electric dipole moment by one order of magnitude to a level of 10-27 to 10-28 e cm. This is of crucial importance for particle physics. The accuracy in measuring the neutron lifetime can also be improved by one order of magnitude. Finally, experiments that would seek neutron-antineutron oscillations by employing ultracold neutrons will become possible upon reaching an UCN density of 103 to 104 cm-3. The current status of the source and the proposed research program are discussed.

Stable spin domains in a nondegenerate ultracold gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graham, S. D.; Niroomand, D.; Ragan, R. J.; McGuirk, J. M.

2018-05-01

We study the stability of two-domain spin structures in an ultracold gas of magnetically trapped 87Rb atoms above quantum degeneracy. Adding a small effective magnetic field gradient stabilizes the domains via coherent collective spin rotation effects, despite negligibly perturbing the potential energy relative to the thermal energy. We demonstrate that domain stabilization is accomplished through decoupling the dynamics of longitudinal magnetization, which remains in time-independent domains, from transverse magnetization, which undergoes a purely transverse spin wave trapped within the domain wall. We explore the effect of temperature and density on the steady-state domains, and compare our results to a hydrodynamic solution to a quantum Boltzmann equation.

A vacuum gauge based on an ultracold gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makhalov, V. B.; Turlapov, A. V.

2017-06-01

We report the design and application of a primary vacuum gauge based on an ultracold gas of atoms in an optical dipole trap. The pressure is calculated from the confinement time for atoms in the trap. The relationship between pressure and confinement time is established from the first principles owing to elimination of all channels introducing losses, except for knocking out an atom from the trap due to collisions with a residual gas particle. The method requires the knowledge of the gas chemical composition in the vacuum chamber, and, in the absence of this information, the systematic error is less than that of the ionisation sensor.

Stochastic and equilibrium pictures of the ultracold Fano-Feshbach-resonance molecular conversion rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamakoshi, Tomotake; Watanabe, Shinichi; Zhang, Chen; Greene, Chris H.

2013-05-01

The ultracold molecular conversion rate occurring in an adiabatic ramp through a Fano-Feshbach resonance is studied and compared in two statistical models. One model, the so-called stochastic phase-space sampling (SPSS) [Hodby , Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.94.120402 94, 120402 (2005)] evaluates the overlap of two atomic distributions in phase space by sampling atomic pairs according to a phase-space criterion. The other model, the chemical equilibrium theory (ChET) [Watabe and Nikuni, Phys. Rev. APLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.77.013616 77, 013616 (2008)] considers atomic and molecular distributions in the limit of the chemical and thermal equilibrium. The present study applies SPSS and ChET to a prototypical system of K+K→ K2 in all the symmetry combinations, namely Fermi-Fermi, Bose-Bose, and Bose-Fermi cases. To examine implications of the phase-space criterion for SPSS, the behavior of molecular conversion is analyzed using four distinct geometrical constraints. Our comparison of the results of SPSS with those of ChET shows that while they appear similar in most situations, the two models give rise to rather dissimilar behaviors when the presence of a Bose-Einstein condensate strongly affects the molecule formation.

Microwave ac Zeeman force for ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fancher, C. T.; Pyle, A. J.; Rotunno, A. P.; Aubin, S.

2018-04-01

We measure the ac Zeeman force on an ultracold gas of 87Rb due to a microwave magnetic field targeted to the 6.8 GHz hyperfine splitting of these atoms. An atom chip produces a microwave near field with a strong amplitude gradient, and we observe a force over three times the strength of gravity. Our measurements are consistent with a simple two-level theory for the ac Zeeman effect and demonstrate its resonant, bipolar, and spin-dependent nature. We observe that the dressed-atom eigenstates gradually mix over time and have mapped out this behavior as a function of magnetic field and detuning. We demonstrate the practical spin selectivity of the force by pushing or pulling a specific spin state while leaving other spin states unmoved.

Investigation of the RbCa molecule: Experiment and theory.

PubMed

Pototschnig, Johann V; Krois, Günter; Lackner, Florian; Ernst, Wolfgang E

2015-04-01

We present a thorough theoretical and experimental study of the electronic structure of RbCa. The mixed alkali-alkaline earth molecule RbCa was formed on superfluid helium nanodroplets. Excited states of the molecule in the range of 13 000-23 000 cm -1 were recorded by resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy. The experiment is accompanied by high level ab initio calculations of ground and excited state properties, utilizing a multireference configuration interaction method based on multiconfigurational self consistent field calculations. With this approach the potential energy curves and permanent electric dipole moments of 24 electronic states were calculated. In addition we computed the transition dipole moments for transitions from the ground into excited states. The combination of experiment and theory allowed the assignment of features in the recorded spectrum to the excited [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] states, where the experiment allowed to benchmark the calculation. This is the first experimental work giving insight into the previously unknown RbCa molecule, which offers great prospects in ultracold molecular physics due to its magnetic and electronic dipole moment in the [Formula: see text] ground state.

Pulse length of ultracold electron bunches extracted from a laser cooled gas

PubMed Central

Franssen, J. G. H.; Frankort, T. L. I.; Vredenbregt, E. J. D.; Luiten, O. J.

2017-01-01

We present measurements of the pulse length of ultracold electron bunches generated by near-threshold two-photon photoionization of a laser-cooled gas. The pulse length has been measured using a resonant 3 GHz deflecting cavity in TM110 mode. We have measured the pulse length in three ionization regimes. The first is direct two-photon photoionization using only a 480 nm femtosecond laser pulse, which results in short (∼15 ps) but hot (∼104 K) electron bunches. The second regime is just-above-threshold femtosecond photoionization employing the combination of a continuous-wave 780 nm excitation laser and a tunable 480 nm femtosecond ionization laser which results in both ultracold (∼10 K) and ultrafast (∼25 ps) electron bunches. These pulses typically contain ∼103 electrons and have a root-mean-square normalized transverse beam emittance of 1.5 ± 0.1 nm rad. The measured pulse lengths are limited by the energy spread associated with the longitudinal size of the ionization volume, as expected. The third regime is just-below-threshold ionization which produces Rydberg states which slowly ionize on microsecond time scales. PMID:28396879

Spectroscopy of Cold LiCa Molecules Formed on Helium Nanodroplets

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

We report on the formation of mixed alkali–alkaline earth molecules (LiCa) on helium nanodroplets and present a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the ground and excited states of LiCa. Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy were used for the experimental investigation of LiCa from 15000 to 25500 cm–1. The 42Σ+ and 32Π states show a vibrational structure accompanied by distinct phonon wings, which allows us to determine molecular parameters as well as to study the interaction of the molecule with the helium droplet. Higher excited states (42Π, 52Σ+, 52Π, and 62Σ+) are not vibrationally resolved and vibronic transitions start to overlap. The experimental spectrum is well reproduced by high-level ab initio calculations. By using a multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach, we calculated the 19 lowest lying potential energy curves (PECs) of the LiCa molecule. On the basis of these calculations, we could identify previously unobserved transitions. Our results demonstrate that the helium droplet isolation approach is a powerful method for the characterization of tailor-made alkali–alkaline earth molecules. In this way, important contributions can be made to the search for optimal pathways toward the creation of ultracold alkali–alkaline earth ground state molecules from the corresponding atomic species. Furthermore, a test for PECs calculated by ab initio methods is provided. PMID:24028555

Emergence of kinetic behavior in streaming ultracold neutral plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McQuillen, P.; Castro, J.; Bradshaw, S. J.

2015-04-15

We create streaming ultracold neutral plasmas by tailoring the photoionizing laser beam that creates the plasma. By varying the electron temperature, we control the relative velocity of the streaming populations, and, in conjunction with variation of the plasma density, this controls the ion collisionality of the colliding streams. Laser-induced fluorescence is used to map the spatially resolved density and velocity distribution function for the ions. We identify the lack of local thermal equilibrium and distinct populations of interpenetrating, counter-streaming ions as signatures of kinetic behavior. Experimental data are compared with results from a one-dimensional, two-fluid numerical simulation.

Ultracold Realization of AntiFerromagenteic Order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, Uttam

2011-03-01

We investigate numerically the experimental feasibility of observing the antiferromagnetic (AF) order in the bosonic mixtures of rubidium (87 Rb) and potassium (41 K) in a two-dimensional optical lattice with external trapping potential. Within the mean-field approximation we have found the ground states which, for a specific range of parameters such as inter-species interactions and lattice height, interpolate from phase separation to the AF order. For the moderate lattice heights the coexistence of the Mott and AF phase is possible for rubidium atoms while the potassium atoms remain superfluid with overlapped AF phase. In our view there has not been any study on AF order in two-component systems when one component remains in the superfluid phase while the other is in the Mott phase. Therefore, this observation may provide a novel regime for studying quantum magnetism in ultracold systems. This work was supported by the EU Contract EU STREP NAMEQUAM.

Measurement of Ultracold Neutrons Produced by Using Doppler-shifted Bragg Reflection at a Pulsed-neutron Source

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Brun, T. O.; Carpenter, J. M.; Krohn, V. E.; Ringo, G. R.; Cronin, J. W.; Dombeck, T. W.; Lynn, J. W.; Werner, S. A.

1979-01-01

Ultracold neutrons (UCN) have been produced at the Argonne pulsed-neutron source by the Doppler shift of 400-m/s neutrons Bragg reflected from a moving crystal. The peak density of UCN produced at the crystal exceeds 0.1 n/cm{sup 3}.

Spontaneous evolution of rydberg atoms into an ultracold plasma

PubMed

Robinson; Tolra; Noel; Gallagher; Pillet

2000-11-20

We have observed the spontaneous evolution of a dense sample of Rydberg atoms into an ultracold plasma, in spite of the fact that each of the atoms may initially be bound by up to 100 cm(-1). When the atoms are initially bound by 70 cm(-1), this evolution occurs when most of the atoms are translationally cold, <1 mK, but a small fraction, approximately 1%, is at room temperature. Ionizing collisions between hot and cold Rydberg atoms and blackbody photoionization produce an essentially stationary cloud of cold ions, which traps electrons produced later. The trapped electrons rapidly collisionally ionize the remaining cold Rydberg atoms to form a cold plasma.

Progress towards a rapidly rotating ultracold Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Ming-Guang; van de Graaff, Michael; Cornell, Eric; Jin, Deborah

2015-05-01

We are designing an experiment with the goal of creating a rapidly rotating ultracold Fermi gas, which is promising system in which to study quantum Hall physics. We propose to use selective evaporation of a gas that has been initialized with a modest rotation rate to increase the angular momentum per particle in order to reach rapid rotation. We have performed simulations of this evaporation process for a model optical trap potential. Achieving rapid rotation will require a very smooth, very harmonic, and dynamically variable optical trap. We plan to use a setup consisting of two acousto-optical modulators to ``paint'' an optical dipole trapping potential that can be made smooth, radially symmetric, and harmonic. This project is supported by NSF, NIST, NASA.

Kinetic Energy Oscillations during Disorder Induced Heating in an Ultracold Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langin, Thomas; McQuillen, Patrick; Strickler, Trevor; Pohl, Thomas; Killian, Thomas

2015-05-01

Ultracold neutral plasmas of strontium are generated by photoionizing laser-cooled atoms at temperature TMOT ~ 10 mK and density n ~1016 m-3 in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). After photoionization, the ions heat to ~ 1 K by a mechanism known as Disorder Induced Heating (DIH). During DIH kinetic energy oscillations (KEO) occur at a frequency ~ 2ωpi , where ωpi is the plasma frequency, indicating coupling to collective modes of the plasma. Electron screening also comes into play by changing the interaction from a Coulomb to a Yukawa interaction. Although DIH has been previously studied, improved measurements combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow us to probe new aspects. We demonstrate a measurement of the damping of the KEO due to electron screening which agrees with the MD simulations. We show that the MD simulations can be used to fit experimental DIH curves for plasma density n, resulting in very accurate density measurements. Finally, we discuss how ion temperature measurements are affected by the non-thermal distribution of the ions during the early stages of DIH. This work was supported by the United States National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy (PHY-0714603), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550- 12-1-0267), the Shell Foundation, and the Department of Defense (NDSEG Fellowship)

The Coldest Place in the Universe: Probing the Ultra-cold Outflow and Dusty Disk in the Boomerang Nebula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahai, R.; Vlemmings, W. H. T.; Nyman, L.-Å.

2017-06-01

Our Cycle 0 ALMA observations confirmed that the Boomerang Nebula is the coldest known object in the universe, with a massive high-speed outflow that has cooled significantly below the cosmic background temperature. Our new CO 1-0 data reveal heretofore unseen distant regions of this ultra-cold outflow, out to ≳120,000 au. We find that in the ultra-cold outflow, the mass-loss rate (\\dot{M}) increases with radius, similar to its expansion velocity (V)—taking V\\propto r, we find \\dot{M}\\propto {r}0.9{--2.2}. The mass in the ultra-cold outflow is ≳ 3.3 M ⊙, and the Boomerang’s main-sequence progenitor mass is ≳ 4 M ⊙. Our high angular resolution (˜ 0\\buildrel{\\prime\\prime}\\over{.} 3) CO J = 3-2 map shows the inner bipolar nebula’s precise, highly collimated shape, and a dense central waist of size (FWHM) ˜1740 au × 275 au. The molecular gas and the dust as seen in scattered light via optical Hubble Space Telescope imaging show a detailed correspondence. The waist shows a compact core in thermal dust emission at 0.87-3.3 mm, which harbors (4{--}7)× {10}-4 M ⊙ of very large (˜millimeter-to-centimeter sized), cold (˜ 20{--}30 K) grains. The central waist (assuming its outer regions to be expanding) and fast bipolar outflow have expansion ages of ≲ 1925 {years} and ≤slant 1050 {years}: the “jet-lag” (I.e., torus age minus the fast-outflow age) in the Boomerang supports models in which the primary star interacts directly with a binary companion. We argue that this interaction resulted in a common-envelope configuration, while the Boomerang’s primary was an RGB or early-AGB star, with the companion finally merging into the primary’s core, and ejecting the primary’s envelope that now forms the ultra-cold outflow.

Localization in momentum space of ultracold atoms in incommensurate lattices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larcher, M.; Dalfovo, F.; Modugno, M.

2011-01-15

We characterize the disorder-induced localization in momentum space for ultracold atoms in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices, according to the dual Aubry-Andre model. For low disorder the system is localized in momentum space, and the momentum distribution exhibits time-periodic oscillations of the relative intensity of its components. The behavior of these oscillations is explained by means of a simple three-mode approximation. We predict their frequency and visibility by using typical parameters of feasible experiments. Above the transition the system diffuses in momentum space, and the oscillations vanish when averaged over different realizations, offering a clear signature of the transition.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Eric Cornell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cornell, Eric

2008-08-30

Eric Cornell presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Kurt Gibble

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gibble, Kurt

2008-08-30

Kurt Gibble presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Jay Keasling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keasling, Jay

2008-08-30

Jay Keasling presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Enrgy Science: A Talk by Carl Wieman

ScienceCinema

Wieman, Carl

2017-12-09

Carl Wieman presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Eric Cornell

ScienceCinema

Cornell, Eric

2018-02-05

Eric Cornell presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Enrgy Science: A Talk by Carl Wieman

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wieman, Carl

Carl Wieman presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Jay Keasling

ScienceCinema

Keasling, Jay

2018-02-14

Jay Keasling presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: A Talk from Kurt Gibble

ScienceCinema

Gibble, Kurt

2018-02-05

Kurt Gibble presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Magnetic-field gradiometer based on ultracold collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wasak, Tomasz; Jachymski, Krzysztof; Calarco, Tommaso; Negretti, Antonio

2018-05-01

We present a detailed analysis of the usefulness of ultracold atomic collisions for sensing the strength of an external magnetic field as well as its spatial gradient. The core idea of the sensor, which we recently proposed in Jachymski et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 013401 (2018), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.013401], is to probe the transmission of the atoms through a set of quasi-one-dimensional waveguides that contain an impurity. Magnetic-field-dependent interactions between the incoming atoms and the impurity naturally lead to narrow resonances that can act as sensitive field probes since they strongly affect the transmission. We illustrate our findings with concrete examples of experimental relevance, demonstrating that for large atom fluences N a sensitivity of the order of 1 nT/√{N } for the field strength and 100 nT/(mm √{N }) for the gradient can be reached with our scheme.

Ultracold collisions between spin-orbit-coupled dipoles: General formalism and universality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jia; Hougaard, Christiaan R.; Mulkerin, Brendan C.; Liu, Xia-Ji

2018-04-01

A theoretical study of the low-energy scattering properties of two aligned identical bosonic and fermionic dipoles in the presence of isotropic spin-orbit coupling is presented. A general treatment of particles with arbitrary (pseudo)spin is given in the framework of multichannel scattering. At ultracold temperatures and away from shape resonances or closed-channel dominated resonances, the cross section can be well described within the Born approximation to within corrections due to the s -wave scattering. We compare our findings with numerical calculations and find excellent agreement.

Nuclear-spin-independent short-range three-body physics in ultracold atoms.

PubMed

Gross, Noam; Shotan, Zav; Kokkelmans, Servaas; Khaykovich, Lev

2010-09-03

We investigate three-body recombination loss across a Feshbach resonance in a gas of ultracold 7Li atoms prepared in the absolute ground state and perform a comparison with previously reported results of a different nuclear-spin state [N. Gross, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 163202 (2009)]. We extend the previously reported universality in three-body recombination loss across a Feshbach resonance to the absolute ground state. We show that the positions and widths of recombination minima and Efimov resonances are identical for both states which indicates that the short-range physics is nuclear-spin independent.

Quantum measurement-induced antiferromagnetic order and density modulations in ultracold Fermi gases in optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzucchi, Gabriel; Caballero-Benitez, Santiago F.; Mekhov, Igor B.

2016-08-01

Ultracold atomic systems offer a unique tool for understanding behavior of matter in the quantum degenerate regime, promising studies of a vast range of phenomena covering many disciplines from condensed matter to quantum information and particle physics. Coupling these systems to quantized light fields opens further possibilities of observing delicate effects typical of quantum optics in the context of strongly correlated systems. Measurement backaction is one of the most funda- mental manifestations of quantum mechanics and it is at the core of many famous quantum optics experiments. Here we show that quantum backaction of weak measurement can be used for tailoring long-range correlations of ultracold fermions, realizing quantum states with spatial modulations of the density and magnetization, thus overcoming usual requirement for a strong interatomic interactions. We propose detection schemes for implementing antiferromagnetic states and density waves. We demonstrate that such long-range correlations cannot be realized with local addressing, and they are a consequence of the competition between global but spatially structured backaction of weak quantum measurement and unitary dynamics of fermions.

Bose and Fermi Gases of Ultracold Ytterbium in a Triangular Optical Lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thobe, Alexander; Doerscher, Soeren; Hundt, Bastian; Kochanke, Andre; Becker, Christoph; Sengstock, Klaus

2013-05-01

Quantum gases of alkaline-earth like atoms such as Calcium, Strontium and Ytterbium (Yb) open up exciting new possibilities for the study of many body physics in optical lattices, ranging from SU(N) symmetric spin Hamiltonians to the Kondo Lattice Model. Here, we present experimental studies of ultracold bosonic and fermionic Yb quantum gases. Unlike other experiments studying ultracold alkaline earth-like atoms, we have implemented a 2D-MOT instead of a Zeeman slower as a source of cold atoms. From the 2D-MOT, operating on the broad 1S0 -->1P1 transtition, the atoms are directly loaded into the 3D-MOT operating on a narrow intercombination line. The atoms are then evaporatively cooled to quantum degeneracy in a crossed optical dipole trap. With this setup we routinely produce BECs and degenerate Fermi gases of different Yb isotopes. Moreover, we present first results on spectroscopy of an interacting fermi gas on the ultranarrow 1S0 -->3P0 clock transition in a magic wavelength optical lattice. In future experiments, this spectroscopy will serve as a versatile tool for interaction sensing and selective addressing of atoms in a wavelength tunable, state dependent, triangular optical lattice, which we are currently implementing. This work is supported by DFG within SFB 925 and GrK 1355, as well as EU FETOpen (iSense).

The Laser Cooling and Magneto-Optical Trapping of the YO Molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeo, Mark

Laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping of neutral atoms has revolutionized the field of atomic physics by providing an elegant and efficient method to produce cold dense samples of ultracold atoms. Molecules, with their strong anisotropic dipolar interaction promises to unlock even richer phenomenon. However, due to their additional vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom, laser cooling techniques have only been extended to a small set of diatomic molecules. In this thesis, we demonstrate the first magneto-optical trapping of a diatomic molecule using a quasi-cycling transition and an oscillating quadrupole magnetic field. The transverse temperature of a cryogenically produced YO beam was reduced from 25 mK to 10 mK via doppler cooling and further reduced to 2 mK with the addition of magneto-optical trapping forces. The optical cycling in YO is complicated by the presence of an intermediate electronic state, as decays through this state lead to optical pumping into dark rotational states. Thus, we also demonstrate the mixing of rotational states in the ground electronic state using microwave radiation. This technique greatly enhances optical cycling, leading to a factor of 4 increase in the YO beam fluorescence and is used in conjunction with a frequency modulated and chirped continuous wave laser to longitudinally slow the YO beam. We generate YO molecules below 10 m/s that are directly loadable into a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap. This mixing technique provides an alternative to maintaining rotational closure and should extend laser cooling to a larger set of molecules.

Experimental Observation of One-Dimensional Superradiance Lattices in Ultracold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liangchao; Wang, Pengjun; Meng, Zengming; Huang, Lianghui; Cai, Han; Wang, Da-Wei; Zhu, Shi-Yao; Zhang, Jing

2018-05-01

We measure the superradiant emission in a one-dimensional (1D) superradiance lattice (SL) in ultracold atoms. Resonantly excited to a superradiant state, the atoms are further coupled to other collectively excited states, which form a 1D SL. The directional emission of one of the superradiant excited states in the 1D SL is measured. The emission spectra depend on the band structure, which can be controlled by the frequency and intensity of the coupling laser fields. This work provides a platform for investigating the collective Lamb shift of resonantly excited superradiant states in Bose-Einstein condensates and paves the way for realizing higher dimensional superradiance lattices.

SO(3) "Nuclear Physics" with ultracold Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rico, E.; Dalmonte, M.; Zoller, P.; Banerjee, D.; Bögli, M.; Stebler, P.; Wiese, U.-J.

2018-06-01

An ab initio calculation of nuclear physics from Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the fundamental SU(3) gauge theory of the strong interaction, remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we discuss the emergence of key elements of nuclear physics using an SO(3) lattice gauge theory as a toy model for QCD. We show that this model is accessible to state-of-the-art quantum simulation experiments with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. First, we demonstrate that our model shares characteristic many-body features with QCD, such as the spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry, its restoration at finite baryon density, as well as the existence of few-body bound states. Then we show that in the one-dimensional case, the dynamics in the gauge invariant sector can be encoded as a spin S = 3/2 Heisenberg model, i.e., as quantum magnetism, which has a natural realization with bosonic mixtures in optical lattices, and thus sheds light on the connection between non-Abelian gauge theories and quantum magnetism.

Charge transfer in ultracold gases via Feshbach resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gacesa, Marko; Côté, Robin

2017-06-01

We investigate the prospects of using magnetic Feshbach resonance to control charge exchange in ultracold collisions of heteroisotopic combinations of atoms and ions of the same element. The proposed treatment, readily applicable to alkali or alkaline-earth metals, is illustrated on cold collisions of +9Be and 10Be. Feshbach resonances are characterized by quantum scattering calculations in a coupled-channel formalism that includes non-Born-Oppenheimer terms originating from the nuclear kinetic operator. Near a resonance predicted at 322 G, we find the charge exchange rate coefficient to rise from practically zero to values greater than 10-12cm3 /s. Our results suggest controllable charge exchange processes between different isotopes of suitable atom-ion pairs, with potential applications to quantum systems engineered to study charge diffusion in trapped cold atom-ion mixtures and emulate many-body physics.

Ultracold bosons in a one-dimensional optical lattice chain: Newton's cradle and Bose enhancement effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ji-Guo; Yang, Shi-Jie

2017-05-01

We study a model to realize the long-distance correlated tunneling of ultracold bosons in a one-dimensional optical lattice chain. The model reveals the behavior of a quantum Newton's cradle, which is the perfect transfer between two macroscopic quantum states. Due to the Bose enhancement effect, we find that the resonantly tunneling through a Mott domain is greatly enhanced.

Conjugate gradient minimisation approach to generating holographic traps for ultracold atoms.

PubMed

Harte, Tiffany; Bruce, Graham D; Keeling, Jonathan; Cassettari, Donatella

2014-11-03

Direct minimisation of a cost function can in principle provide a versatile and highly controllable route to computational hologram generation. Here we show that the careful design of cost functions, combined with numerically efficient conjugate gradient minimisation, establishes a practical method for the generation of holograms for a wide range of target light distributions. This results in a guided optimisation process, with a crucial advantage illustrated by the ability to circumvent optical vortex formation during hologram calculation. We demonstrate the implementation of the conjugate gradient method for both discrete and continuous intensity distributions and discuss its applicability to optical trapping of ultracold atoms.

A prestorage method to measure neutron transmission of ultracold neutron guides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blau, B.; Daum, M.; Fertl, M.; Geltenbort, P.; Göltl, L.; Henneck, R.; Kirch, K.; Knecht, A.; Lauss, B.; Schmidt-Wellenburg, P.; Zsigmond, G.

2016-01-01

There are worldwide efforts to search for physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Precision experiments using ultracold neutrons (UCN) require very high intensities of UCN. Efficient transport of UCN from the production volume to the experiment is therefore of great importance. We have developed a method using prestored UCN in order to quantify UCN transmission in tubular guides. This method simulates the final installation at the Paul Scherrer Institute's UCN source where neutrons are stored in an intermediate storage vessel serving three experimental ports. This method allowed us to qualify UCN guides for their intended use and compare their properties.

Losses and depolarization of ultracold neutrons on neutron guide and storage materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondar, V.; Chesnevskaya, S.; Daum, M.; Franke, B.; Geltenbort, P.; Göltl, L.; Gutsmiedl, E.; Karch, J.; Kasprzak, M.; Kessler, G.; Kirch, K.; Koch, H.-C.; Kraft, A.; Lauer, T.; Lauss, B.; Pierre, E.; Pignol, G.; Reggiani, D.; Schmidt-Wellenburg, P.; Sobolev, Yu.; Zechlau, T.; Zsigmond, G.

2017-09-01

At Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) and Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), we have measured the losses and depolarization probabilities of ultracold neutrons on various materials: (i) nickel-molybdenum alloys with weight percentages of 82/18, 85/15, 88/12, 91/9, and 94/6 and natural nickel Ni100, (ii) nickel-vanadium NiV93/7, (iii) copper, and (iv) deuterated polystyrene (dPS). For the different samples, storage-time constants up to ˜460 s were obtained at room temperature. The corresponding loss parameters for ultracold neutrons, η , varied between 1.0 ×10-4 and 2.2 ×10-4 . All η values are in agreement with theory except for dPS, where anomalous losses at room temperature were established with four standard deviations. The depolarization probabilities per wall collision β measured with unprecedented sensitivity varied between 0.7 ×10-6 and 9.0 ×10-6 . Our depolarization result for copper differs from other experiments by 4.4 and 15.8 standard deviations. The β values of the paramagnetic NiMo alloys over molybdenum content show an increase of β with increasing Mo content. This is in disagreement with expectations from literature. Finally, ferromagnetic behavior of NiMo alloys at room temperature was found for molybdenum contents of 6.5 at.% or less and paramagnetic behavior for more than 8.7 at.%. This may contribute to solving an ambiguity in literature.

[Biophysics of single molecules].

PubMed

Serdiuk, I N; Deriusheva, E I

2011-01-01

The modern methods of research of biological molecules whose application led to the development of a new field of science, biophysics of single molecules, are reviewed. The measurement of the characteristics of single molecules enables one to reveal their individual features, and it is just for this reason that much more information can be obtained from one molecule than from the entire ensample of molecules. The high sensitivity of the methods considered in detail makes it possible to come close to the solution of the basic problem of practical importance, namely, the determination of the nucleotide sequence of a single DNA molecule.

Theoretical investigation of the laser cooling of a LiBe molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Yang; Yang, Chuan-Lu; Wang, Mei-Shan; Ma, Xiao-Guang; Liu, Wen-Wang

2015-09-01

An optical scheme to create the simplest heteronuclear metal ultracold LiBe molecule is proposed based on ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. The potential energy curves, dipole moments, and transition dipole moments of 1 +2Σ , 2 +2Σ , 1 2Π , and 2 2Π states are calculated using the multireference configuration interaction and large basis sets. The analytical functions deduced from the obtained curves are used to determine the rovibrational energy levels, the Franck-Condon factors, and the Einstein coefficients of the states through solving the Schrödinger equation of nuclear movement. The spectroscopic parameters are deduced with the obtained rovibrational energy levels. The Franck-Condon factors (f00:0.998 , f11:0.986 , f22:0.920 ) for the 2 +2Σ(v =0 ) ↔1 +2Σ(v'=0 ) transition are highly diagonally distributed, and the calculated radiative lifetime (74.87 ns) of the 2 +2Σ state is found to be short enough for rapid laser cooling. The results demonstrate that LiBe could be a very promising candidate for laser cooling and a three-cycle laser cooling scheme for the molecule has been proposed.

DNA-encoded libraries - an efficient small molecule discovery technology for the biomedical sciences.

PubMed

Kunig, Verena; Potowski, Marco; Gohla, Anne; Brunschweiger, Andreas

2018-06-27

DNA-encoded compound libraries are a highly attractive technology for the discovery of small molecule protein ligands. These compound collections consist of small molecules covalently connected to individual DNA sequences carrying readable information about the compound structure. DNA-tagging allows for efficient synthesis, handling and interrogation of vast numbers of chemically synthesized, drug-like compounds. They are screened on proteins by an efficient, generic assay based on Darwinian principles of selection. To date, selection of DNA-encoded libraries allowed for the identification of numerous bioactive compounds. Some of these compounds uncovered hitherto unknown allosteric binding sites on target proteins; several compounds proved their value as chemical biology probes unraveling complex biology; and the first examples of clinical candidates that trace their ancestry to a DNA-encoded library were reported. Thus, DNA-encoded libraries proved their value for the biomedical sciences as a generic technology for the identification of bioactive drug-like molecules numerous times. However, large scale experiments showed that even the selection of billions of compounds failed to deliver bioactive compounds for the majority of proteins in an unbiased panel of target proteins. This raises the question of compound library design.

Long-range interactions between polar bialkali ground-state molecules in arbitrary vibrational levels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vexiau, R.; Lepers, M., E-mail: maxence.lepers@u-psud.fr; Aymar, M.

2015-06-07

We have calculated the isotropic C{sub 6} coefficients characterizing the long-range van der Waals interaction between two identical heteronuclear alkali-metal diatomic molecules in the same arbitrary vibrational level of their ground electronic state X{sup 1}Σ{sup +}. We consider the ten species made up of {sup 7}Li, {sup 23}Na, {sup 39}K, {sup 87}Rb, and {sup 133}Cs. Following our previous work [Lepers et al., Phys. Rev. A 88, 032709 (2013)], we use the sum-over-state formula inherent to the second-order perturbation theory, composed of the contributions from the transitions within the ground state levels, from the transition between ground-state and excited state levels,more » and from a crossed term. These calculations involve a combination of experimental and quantum-chemical data for potential energy curves and transition dipole moments. We also investigate the case where the two molecules are in different vibrational levels and we show that the Moelwyn-Hughes approximation is valid provided that it is applied for each of the three contributions to the sum-over-state formula. Our results are particularly relevant in the context of inelastic and reactive collisions between ultracold bialkali molecules in deeply bound or in Feshbach levels.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kleinert, J.; Haimberger, C.; Zabawa, P. J.

We describe the realization of a dc electric-field trap for ultracold polar molecules, the thin-wire electrostatic trap (TWIST). The thin wires that form the electrodes of the TWIST allow us to superimpose the trap onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In our experiment, ultracold polar NaCs molecules in their electronic ground state are created in the MOT via photoassociation, achieving a continuous accumulation in the TWIST of molecules in low-field seeking states. Initial measurements show that the TWIST trap lifetime is limited only by the background pressure in the chamber.

Evidence of Antiblockade in an Ultracold Rydberg Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amthor, Thomas; Giese, Christian; Hofmann, Christoph S.; Weidemüller, Matthias

2010-01-01

We present the experimental observation of the antiblockade in an ultracold Rydberg gas recently proposed by Ates et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 023002 (2007)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.98.023002]. Our approach allows the control of the pair distribution in the gas and is based on a strong coupling of one transition in an atomic three-level system, while introducing specific detunings of the other transition. When the coupling energy matches the interaction energy of the Rydberg long-range interactions, the otherwise blocked excitation of close pairs becomes possible. A time-resolved spectroscopic measurement of the Penning ionization signal is used to identify slight variations in the Rydberg pair distribution of a random arrangement of atoms. A model based on a pair interaction Hamiltonian is presented which well reproduces our experimental observations and allows one to deduce the distribution of nearest-neighbor distances.

Compact Laser System for Field Deployable Ultracold Atom Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pino, Juan; Luey, Ben; Anderson, Mike

2013-05-01

As ultracold atom sensors begin to see their way to the field, there is a growing need for small, accurate, and robust laser systems to cool and manipulate atoms for sensing applications such as magnetometers, gravimeters, atomic clocks and inertial sensing. In this poster we present a laser system for Rb, roughly the size of a paperback novel, capable of generating and controlling light sufficient for the most complicated of cold atom sensors. The system includes >100dB of non-mechanical, optical shuttering, the ability to create short, microsecond pulses, a Demux stage to port light onto different optical paths, and an atomically referenced, frequency agile laser source. We will present data to support the system, its Size Weight and Power (SWaP) requirements, as well as laser stability and performance. funded under DARPA

Improved Noninterferometric Test of Collapse Models Using Ultracold Cantilevers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinante, A.; Mezzena, R.; Falferi, P.; Carlesso, M.; Bassi, A.

2017-09-01

Spontaneous collapse models predict that a weak force noise acts on any mechanical system, as a consequence of the collapse of the wave function. Significant upper limits on the collapse rate have been recently inferred from precision mechanical experiments, such as ultracold cantilevers and the space mission LISA Pathfinder. Here, we report new results from an experiment based on a high-Q cantilever cooled to millikelvin temperatures, which is potentially able to improve the current bounds on the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model by 1 order of magnitude. High accuracy measurements of the cantilever thermal fluctuations reveal a nonthermal force noise of unknown origin. This excess noise is compatible with the CSL heating predicted by Adler. Several physical mechanisms able to explain the observed noise have been ruled out.

Dipole-dipole interactions in a hot atomic vapor and in an ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sautenkov, V. A.; Saakyan, S. A.; Bronin, S. Ya; Klyarfeld, A. B.; Zelener, B. B.; Zelener, B. V.

2018-01-01

In our paper ideal and non-ideal gas media of neutral atoms are analyzed. The first we discuss a dipole broadening of atomic transitions in excited dilute and dense metal vapors. Then the theoretical studies of the dipole-dipole interactions in dense ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms are considered. Possible future experiments on a base of our experimental arrangement are suggested.

Lattice-Assisted Spectroscopy: A Generalized Scanning Tunneling Microscope for Ultracold Atoms.

PubMed

Kantian, A; Schollwöck, U; Giamarchi, T

2015-10-16

We propose a scheme to measure the frequency-resolved local particle and hole spectra of any optical lattice-confined system of correlated ultracold atoms that offers single-site addressing and imaging, which is now an experimental reality. Combining perturbation theory and time-dependent density matrix renormalization group simulations, we quantitatively test and validate this approach of lattice-assisted spectroscopy on several one-dimensional example systems, such as the superfluid and Mott insulator, with and without a parabolic trap, and finally on edge states of the bosonic Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. We highlight extensions of our basic scheme to obtain an even wider variety of interesting and important frequency resolved spectra.

Photoassociation of cold (RbCs)2 tetramers in the ground electronic state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gacesa, Marko; Côté, Robin

2017-04-01

We theoretically investigate prospects for photoassociative formation of cold (RbCs)2 tetramers from a pair of ultracold RbCs molecules. The long-range region of the potential energy surface (PES) of the lowest electronic state of (RbCs)2 can be affected by orienting both RbCs molecules by an external electric field. In fact, we find a long-range barrier that supports long-range shelf states for relative angles between the dimers' internuclear axes smaller than about 20°. We show that these shelf states can be populated by spontaneous decay from the first excited electronic state which can be efficiently populated by photoassociation from the scattering continuum at ultracold temperatures. The vibrationally excited ground-state tetramer molecules formed this way have sufficiently long lifetimes to allow experimental detection. Moreover, for the relative angles between the dimers close to 20°, the proposed approach may result in production of deeply bound tetramers. Partially supported by the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the NASA Ames Research Center, administered by USRA and the MURI US Army Research Office Grant No. W911NF-14-1-0378 (MG), and by the PIF program of the National Science Foundation Grant No. PHY-141556.

Spectroscopy of LiCa and RbSr Molecules on Helium Nanodroplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lackner, Florian; Krois, Gunter; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2013-06-01

We report on the investigation of mixed alkali metal (Ak) - alkaline earth metal (Ake) molecules on the surface of helium nanodroplets (He_{N}). These molecules have recently attracted considerable attention as candidates for the formation of ultracold molecules with a magnetic and an electronic dipole moment. In our experiments, LiCa and RbSr molecules are formed in a sequential pick-up process in their X^{2}Σ^{+} ground state and cool down rapidly to the droplet temperature of 0.38 K. Excitation spectra of LiCa and RbSr were recorded by using resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. On the helium droplet, vibronic transitions in Ak-Ake molecules are broadened and show a characteristic asymmetric peak form, which is caused by the interaction between the molecule and the superfluid He_{N} environment. For the lower electronic transitions in LiCa and RbSr progressions of vibrational bands excited from the X^{2}Σ^{+} (ν'' = 0) state are observed. The LiCa spectra can be compared to molecular beam experiments, which enables the assignment of three band systems near 15260 cm^{-1}, 19300 cm^{-1} and 22120 cm^{-1} as ^{2}Σ^{+}, ^{2}Π_{Ω} and ^{2}Π band, respectively. In the RbSr excitation spectrum we observe a vibrationally resolved band system near 14020 cm^{-1}. Upon electronic excitation, a fraction of the molecules desorb from the droplet surface and dispersed fluorescence spectra allow to study the X^{2}Σ^{+} ground state and excited states of free Ak-Ake molecules. H. Hara, Y. Takasu, Y. Yamaoka, J.M. Doyle, Y. Takahashi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 205304 (2011) C. Callegari and W. E. Ernst, Helium Droplets as Nanocryostats for Molecular Spectroscopy - from the Vacuum Ultraviolet to the Microwave Regime, in: Handbook of High-Resolution Spectroscopy, eds. M. Quack and F. Merkt, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, (2011) L. M. Russon, G. K. Rothschopf, M. D. Morse, A. I

Direct observation of λ-DNA molecule reversal movement within microfluidic channels under electric field with single molecule imaging technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fengyun, Yang; Kaige, Wang; Dan, Sun; Wei, Zhao; Hai-qing, Wang; Xin, He; Gui-ren, Wang; Jin-tao, Bai

2016-07-01

The electrodynamic characteristics of single DNA molecules moving within micro-/nano-fluidic channels are important in the design of biomedical chips and bimolecular sensors. In this study, the dynamic properties of λ-DNA molecules transferring along the microchannels driven by the external electrickinetic force were systemically investigated with the single molecule fluorescence imaging technique. The experimental results indicated that the velocity of DNA molecules was strictly dependent on the value of the applied electric field and the diameter of the channel. The larger the external electric field, the larger the velocity, and the more significant deformation of DNA molecules. More meaningfully, it was found that the moving directions of DNA molecules had two completely different directions: (i) along the direction of the external electric field, when the electric field intensity was smaller than a certain threshold value; (ii) opposite to the direction of the external electric field, when the electric field intensity was greater than the threshold electric field intensity. The reversal movement of DNA molecules was mainly determined by the competition between the electrophoresis force and the influence of electro-osmosis flow. These new findings will theoretically guide the practical application of fluidic channel sensors and lab-on-chips for precisely manipulating single DNA molecules. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61378083), the International Cooperation Foundation of the National Science and Technology Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2011DFA12220), the Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91123030), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China (Grant Nos. 2010JS110 and 2013SZS03-Z01).

Geometric phase effects in ultracold collisions of H/D with rotationally excited HD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kendrick, Brian K.; Croft, James F. E.; Hazra, Jisha; Balakrishnan, N.

2017-04-01

Quantum reactive scattering calculations for the H/D + HD(v = 4 , j = 1 , 2) -> H/D + HD(v', j') and H + H2(v = 4 , j = 1 , 2) -> H + H2(v', j') exchange reactions are presented for the ground electronic state of H3. A numerically exact three-dimensional time-independent scattering method based on hyperspherical coordinates is used to compute rotationally resolved reaction cross sections and non-thermal rate coefficients for collision energies between 1 μK and 100 K . The geometric (Berry) phase associated with the D3h conical intersection in H3 is included using a U(1) vector (gauge) potential approach. It is shown that the geometric phase leads to a significant (up to three orders of magnitude) enhancement or suppression of the ultracold reaction rate coefficients depending upon whether the interference between the reaction pathways encircling the conical intersection is constructive or destructive. The nature of the interference is governed by a newly discovered mechanism which leads to an effective quantization of the ultracold scattering phase shifts. Interesting behavior due to rotational excitation of the HD and H2 is observed which might be exploited by experimentalists to control the reaction outcome. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-1505557 (N.B.) and ARO MURI Grant No. W911NF-12-1-0476 (N.B.), and DOE LDRD Grant No. 20170221ER (B.K.).

First measurement of the neutron beta asymmetry with ultracold neutrons.

PubMed

Pattie, R W; Anaya, J; Back, H O; Boissevain, J G; Bowles, T J; Broussard, L J; Carr, R; Clark, D J; Currie, S; Du, S; Filippone, B W; Geltenbort, P; García, A; Hawari, A; Hickerson, K P; Hill, R; Hino, M; Hoedl, S A; Hogan, G E; Holley, A T; Ito, T M; Kawai, T; Kirch, K; Kitagaki, S; Lamoreaux, S K; Liu, C-Y; Liu, J; Makela, M; Mammei, R R; Martin, J W; Melconian, D; Meier, N; Mendenhall, M P; Morris, C L; Mortensen, R; Pichlmaier, A; Pitt, M L; Plaster, B; Ramsey, J C; Rios, R; Sabourov, K; Sallaska, A L; Saunders, A; Schmid, R; Seestrom, S; Servicky, C; Sjue, S K L; Smith, D; Sondheim, W E; Tatar, E; Teasdale, W; Terai, C; Tipton, B; Utsuro, M; Vogelaar, R B; Wehring, B W; Xu, Y P; Young, A R; Yuan, J

2009-01-09

We report the first measurement of an angular correlation parameter in neutron beta decay using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). We utilize UCN with energies below about 200 neV, which we guide and store for approximately 30 s in a Cu decay volume. The interaction of the neutron magnetic dipole moment with a static 7 T field external to the decay volume provides a 420 neV potential energy barrier to the spin state parallel to the field, polarizing the UCN before they pass through an adiabatic fast passage spin flipper and enter a decay volume, situated within a 1 T field in a 2x2pi solenoidal spectrometer. We determine a value for the beta-asymmetry parameter A_{0}=-0.1138+/-0.0046+/-0.0021.

The MCUCN simulation code for ultracold neutron physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zsigmond, G.

2018-02-01

Ultracold neutrons (UCN) have very low kinetic energies 0-300 neV, thereby can be stored in specific material or magnetic confinements for many hundreds of seconds. This makes them a very useful tool in probing fundamental symmetries of nature (for instance charge-parity violation by neutron electric dipole moment experiments) and contributing important parameters for the Big Bang nucleosynthesis (neutron lifetime measurements). Improved precision experiments are in construction at new and planned UCN sources around the world. MC simulations play an important role in the optimization of such systems with a large number of parameters, but also in the estimation of systematic effects, in benchmarking of analysis codes, or as part of the analysis. The MCUCN code written at PSI has been extensively used for the optimization of the UCN source optics and in the optimization and analysis of (test) experiments within the nEDM project based at PSI. In this paper we present the main features of MCUCN and interesting benchmark and application examples.

An approach to spin-resolved molecular gas microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Covey, Jacob P.; De Marco, Luigi; Acevedo, Óscar L.; Rey, Ana Maria; Ye, Jun

2018-04-01

Ultracold polar molecules are an ideal platform for studying many-body physics with long-range dipolar interactions. Experiments in this field have progressed enormously, and several groups are pursuing advanced apparatus for manipulation of molecules with electric fields as well as single-atom-resolved in situ detection. Such detection has become ubiquitous for atoms in optical lattices and tweezer arrays, but has yet to be demonstrated for ultracold polar molecules. Here we present a proposal for the implementation of site-resolved microscopy for polar molecules, and specifically discuss a technique for spin-resolved molecular detection. We use numerical simulation of spin dynamics of lattice-confined polar molecules to show how such a scheme would be of utility in a spin-diffusion experiment.

Multichannel modeling and two-photon coherent transfer paths in NaK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulze, T. A.; Temelkov, I. I.; Gempel, M. W.; Hartmann, T.; Knöckel, H.; Ospelkaus, S.; Tiemann, E.

2013-08-01

We explore possible pathways for the creation of ultracold polar NaK molecules in their absolute electronic and rovibrational ground state starting from ultracold Feshbach molecules. In particular, we present a multichannel analysis of the electronic ground and K(4p)+Na(3s) excited-state manifold of NaK, analyze the spin character of both the Feshbach molecular state and the electronically excited intermediate states and discuss possible coherent two-photon transfer paths from Feshbach molecules to rovibronic ground-state molecules. The theoretical study is complemented by the demonstration of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage from the X1Σ+(v=0) state to the a3Σ+ manifold on a molecular beam experiment.

Molecule by molecule, the physics and chemistry of life: SMB 2007.

PubMed

Block, Steven M; Larson, Matthew H; Greenleaf, William J; Herbert, Kristina M; Guydosh, Nicholas R; Anthony, Peter C

2007-04-01

Interdisciplinary work in the life sciences at the boundaries of biology, chemistry and physics is making enormous strides. This progress was showcased at the recent Single Molecule Biophysics conference.

Making a molecular gas in the quantum regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Kang-Kuen

2017-04-01

Ultracold molecules are exciting systems for a large range of scientific explorations including studies of novel phases of matter and precision measurement. In this talk, I will present a brief story of the first quantum gas of molecules, KRb, created under my PhD advisor, Deborah Jin, in 2008. A complete surprise was finding ultracold chemistry in such a system through measurements of reactant losses. In particular, long-range physics that determines KRb reactant collision rates, including van der Waals interactions, quantum statistics, and dipolar interactions, were studied extensively. However, the short-range behavior of these chemical reactions remains unknown. A legacy of her work is carried out in my lab at Harvard, where we are integrating physical chemistry tools with cold atom techniques to study ultracold chemistry with KRb molecules. In particular, we aim to elucidate the four-center reaction 2 KRb ->K2 + Rb2 by detecting the reaction products through ionization - both identify the product species and mapping out their complete quantum states.

Veselago lensing with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice.

PubMed

Leder, Martin; Grossert, Christopher; Weitz, Martin

2014-01-01

Veselago pointed out that electromagnetic wave theory allows for materials with a negative index of refraction, in which most known optical phenomena would be reversed. A slab of such a material can focus light by negative refraction, an imaging technique strikingly different from conventional positive refractive index optics, where curved surfaces bend the rays to form an image of an object. Here we demonstrate Veselago lensing for matter waves, using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. A relativistic, that is, photon-like, dispersion relation for rubidium atoms is realized with a bichromatic optical lattice potential. We rely on a Raman π-pulse technique to transfer atoms between two different branches of the dispersion relation, resulting in a focusing that is completely analogous to the effect described by Veselago for light waves. Future prospects of the demonstrated effects include novel sub-de Broglie wavelength imaging applications.

Rotational Effects of Nanoparticles for Cooling down Ultracold Neutrons

PubMed Central

Tu, Xiaoqing; Sun, Guangai; Gong, Jian; Liu, Lijuan; Ren, Yong; Gao, Penglin; Wang, Wenzhao; Yan, H.

2017-01-01

Due to quantum coherence, nanoparticles have very large cross sections when scattering with very cold or Ultracold Neutrons (UCN). By calculating the scattering cross section quantum mechanically at first, then treating the nanoparticles as classical objects when including the rotational effects, we can derive the associated energy transfer. We find that rotational effects could play an important role in slowing down UCN. In consequence, the slowing down efficiency can be improved by as much as ~40%. Since thermalization of neutrons with the moderator requires typically hundreds of collisions between them, a ~40% increase of the efficiency per collision could have a significant effect. Other possible applications, such as neutrons scattering with nano shells and magnetic particles,and reducing the systematics induced by the geometric phase effect using nanoparticles in the neutron Electric Dipole Moment (nEDM), are also discussed in this paper. PMID:28294116

High-precision multiband spectroscopy of ultracold fermions in a nonseparable optical lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fläschner, Nick; Tarnowski, Matthias; Rem, Benno S.; Vogel, Dominik; Sengstock, Klaus; Weitenberg, Christof

2018-05-01

Spectroscopic tools are fundamental for the understanding of complex quantum systems. Here, we demonstrate high-precision multiband spectroscopy in a graphenelike lattice using ultracold fermionic atoms. From the measured band structure, we characterize the underlying lattice potential with a relative error of 1.2 ×10-3 . Such a precise characterization of complex lattice potentials is an important step towards precision measurements of quantum many-body systems. Furthermore, we explain the excitation strengths into different bands with a model and experimentally study their dependency on the symmetry of the perturbation operator. This insight suggests the excitation strengths as a suitable observable for interaction effects on the eigenstates.

Molecule by molecule, the physics and chemistry of life: SMB 2007

PubMed Central

Block, Steven M; Larson, Matthew H; Greenleaf, William J; Herbert, Kristina M; Guydosh, Nicholas R; Anthony, Peter C

2007-01-01

Interdisciplinary work in the life sciences at the boundaries of biology, chemistry and physics is making enormous strides. This progress was showcased at the recent Single Molecule Biophysics conference. PMID:17372599

Ultracold Anions for High-Precision Antihydrogen Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerchiari, G.; Kellerbauer, A.; Safronova, M. S.; Safronova, U. I.; Yzombard, P.

2018-03-01

Experiments with antihydrogen (H ¯) for a study of matter-antimatter symmetry and antimatter gravity require ultracold H ¯ to reach ultimate precision. A promising path towards antiatoms much colder than a few kelvin involves the precooling of antiprotons by laser-cooled anions. Because of the weak binding of the valence electron in anions—dominated by polarization and correlation effects—only few candidate systems with suitable transitions exist. We report on a combination of experimental and theoretical studies to fully determine the relevant binding energies, transition rates, and branching ratios of the most promising candidate La- . Using combined transverse and collinear laser spectroscopy, we determined the resonant frequency of the laser cooling transition to be ν =96.592 713 (91 ) THz and its transition rate to be A =4.90 (50 )×104 s-1 . Using a novel high-precision theoretical treatment of La- we calculated yet unmeasured energy levels, transition rates, branching ratios, and lifetimes to complement experimental information on the laser cooling cycle of La- . The new data establish the suitability of La- for laser cooling and show that the cooling transition is significantly stronger than suggested by a previous theoretical study.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Enrgy Science: A Talk from Leo Holberg and Allen Mills

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Holberg, Leo; Mills, Allen

2008-08-30

Leo Holberg and Allen Mills present a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Enrgy Science: A Talk from Leo Holberg and Allen Mills

ScienceCinema

Holberg, Leo; Mills, Allen

2018-05-07

Leo Holberg and Allen Mills present a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium honoring Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Measurement of the Neutron Beta Decay Lifetime using Magnetically Trapped Ultracold Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamek, Evan Robert

The neutron lifetime is an important parameter in the Standard Model of particle physics, with influences on the electroweak interaction and on Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Measurements of this quantity in cold beam experiments and in experiments using ultracold neutrons (UCN) disagree; this discrepancy may indicate that these measurements possess unaccounted-for systematic errors. The UCNtau experiment at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCe) utilizes an asymmetrical magneto-gravitational storage volume with an in-situ vanadium detector. This setup is designed to either avoid or control many of the weaknesses that reduce systematic precision in other UCN lifetime experiments. Controlling for the many measurable errors requires detailed calculation and simulation, aided, for example, by the Geant4 Monte Carlo particle transport toolkit, which has been used to create a high fidelity model of the UCNtau experiment for modeling UCN transport, storage, and detection. Through the course of running the experiment, improvements in knowledge of particle measurement have led to improvements to the transport and to the detectors used in various parts of the experiment. With the experimental setup optimized to account for the subtleties of the measurement, the 2014-2015 beam period at LANSCe generated 85 measurement runs from which we could calculate the storage lifetime. Careful analysis of the effects of background on the vanadium detector assembly allowed for elimination of undesired signal and allowed for the extraction of a preliminary value for the neutron lifetime and the determination of areas to improve for the following run cycle.

Ab Initio Study of Chemical Reactions of Cold SrF and CaF Molecules with Alkali-Metal and Alkaline-Earth-Metal Atoms: The Implications for Sympathetic Cooling.

PubMed

Kosicki, Maciej Bartosz; Kędziera, Dariusz; Żuchowski, Piotr Szymon

2017-06-01

We investigate the energetics of the atom exchange reaction in the SrF + alkali-metal atom and CaF + alkali-metal atom systems. Such reactions are possible only for collisions of SrF and CaF with the lithium atoms, while they are energetically forbidden for other alkali-metal atoms. Specifically, we focus on SrF interacting with Li, Rb, and Sr atoms and use ab initio methods to demonstrate that the SrF + Li and SrF + Sr reactions are barrierless. We present potential energy surfaces for the interaction of the SrF molecule with the Li, Rb, and Sr atoms in their energetically lowest-lying electronic spin states. The obtained potential energy surfaces are deep and exhibit profound interaction anisotropies. We predict that the collisions of SrF molecules in the rotational or Zeeman excited states most likely have a strong inelastic character. We discuss the prospects for the sympathetic cooling of SrF and CaF molecules using ultracold alkali-metal atoms.

Geometric phase effects in the ultracold D + HD $$ \\rightarrow $$ D + HD and D + HD $$\\leftrightarrow $$ H + D 2 reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kendrick, Brian Kent; Hazra, Jisha; Balakrishnan, Naduvaluth

The results of accurate quantum reactive scattering calculations for the D + HD(v = 4, j = 0)more » $$\\to $$ D + HD($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$), D + HD(v = 4, j = 0) $$\\to $$ H + D2($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$) and H + D2(v = 4, j = 0) $$\\to $$ D + HD($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$) reactions are presented for collision energies between $$1\\,\\mu {\\rm{K}}$$ and $$100\\,{\\rm{K}}$$. The ab initio BKMP2 PES for the ground electronic state of H3 is used and all values of total angular momentum between $J=0-4$ are included. The general vector potential approach is used to include the geometric phase. The rotationally resolved, vibrationally resolved, and total reaction rate coefficients are reported as a function of collision energy. Rotationally resolved differential cross sections are also reported as a function of collision energy and scattering angle. Large geometric phase effects appear in the ultracold reaction rate coefficients which result in a significant enhancement or suppression of the rate coefficient (up to 3 orders of magnitude) relative to calculations which ignore the geometric phase. The results are interpreted using a new quantum interference mechanism which is unique to ultracold collisions. Significant effects of the geometric phase also appear in the rotationally resolved differential cross sections which lead to a very different oscillatory structure in both energy and scattering angle. Several shape resonances occur in the 1–$$10\\,{\\rm{K}}$$ energy range and the geometric phase is shown to significantly alter the predicted resonance spectrum. The geometric phase effects and ultracold rate coefficients depend sensitively on the nuclear spin. Furthermore, experimentalists may be able to control the reaction by the selection of a particular nuclear spin state.« less

Geometric phase effects in the ultracold D + HD $$ \\rightarrow $$ D + HD and D + HD $$\\leftrightarrow $$ H + D 2 reactions

DOE PAGES

Kendrick, Brian Kent; Hazra, Jisha; Balakrishnan, Naduvaluth

2016-12-15

The results of accurate quantum reactive scattering calculations for the D + HD(v = 4, j = 0)more » $$\\to $$ D + HD($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$), D + HD(v = 4, j = 0) $$\\to $$ H + D2($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$) and H + D2(v = 4, j = 0) $$\\to $$ D + HD($$v^{\\prime} $$, $$j^{\\prime} $$) reactions are presented for collision energies between $$1\\,\\mu {\\rm{K}}$$ and $$100\\,{\\rm{K}}$$. The ab initio BKMP2 PES for the ground electronic state of H3 is used and all values of total angular momentum between $J=0-4$ are included. The general vector potential approach is used to include the geometric phase. The rotationally resolved, vibrationally resolved, and total reaction rate coefficients are reported as a function of collision energy. Rotationally resolved differential cross sections are also reported as a function of collision energy and scattering angle. Large geometric phase effects appear in the ultracold reaction rate coefficients which result in a significant enhancement or suppression of the rate coefficient (up to 3 orders of magnitude) relative to calculations which ignore the geometric phase. The results are interpreted using a new quantum interference mechanism which is unique to ultracold collisions. Significant effects of the geometric phase also appear in the rotationally resolved differential cross sections which lead to a very different oscillatory structure in both energy and scattering angle. Several shape resonances occur in the 1–$$10\\,{\\rm{K}}$$ energy range and the geometric phase is shown to significantly alter the predicted resonance spectrum. The geometric phase effects and ultracold rate coefficients depend sensitively on the nuclear spin. Furthermore, experimentalists may be able to control the reaction by the selection of a particular nuclear spin state.« less

Atoms and Molecules. Physical Science in Action[TM]. Schlessinger Science Library. [Videotape].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

2000

There are more than 20 million known substances in the universe, and they are all made of the same basic ingredients--atoms and molecules. In this fun and engaging program, kids will learn about the three main subatomic particles--protons, neutrons and electrons--as well as the forces that keep atoms and molecules together. They'll discover how…

Closed-channel contribution in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas with an orbital Feshbach resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mondal, S.; Inotani, D.; Ohashi, Y.

2018-03-01

We theoretically investigate strong-coupling properties of an ultracold Fermi gas with an orbital Feshbach resonance (OFR). Including tunable pairing interaction associated with an OFR within the framework of the strong-coupling theory developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink (NSR), we examine the occupation of the closed channel. We show that, although the importance of the closed channel is characteristic of the system with an OFR, the occupation number of the closed channel is found to actually be very small at the superfluid phase transition temperature T c, in the whole BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensation) crossover region, when we use the scattering parameters for an ultracold 173Yb Fermi gas. The occupation of the closed channel increases with increasing the temperature above T c, which is more remarkable for a stronger pairing interaction. We also present a prescription to remove effects of an experimentally inaccessible deep bound state from the NSR formalism, which we meet when we theoretically deal with a 173Yb Fermi gas with an OFR.

Organic synthesis: the art and science of replicating the molecules of living nature and creating others like them in the laboratory.

PubMed

Nicolaou, K C

2014-03-08

Synthetic organic chemists have the power to replicate some of the most intriguing molecules of living nature in the laboratory and apply their developed synthetic strategies and technologies to construct variations of them. Such molecules facilitate biology and medicine, as they often find uses as biological tools and drug candidates for clinical development. In addition, by employing sophisticated catalytic reactions and appropriately designed synthetic processes, they can synthesize not only the molecules of nature and their analogues, but also myriad other organic molecules for potential applications in many areas of science, technology and everyday life. After a short historical introduction, this article focuses on recent advances in the field of organic synthesis with demonstrative examples of total synthesis of complex bioactive molecules, natural or designed, from the author's laboratories, and their impact on chemistry, biology and medicine.

Organic synthesis: the art and science of replicating the molecules of living nature and creating others like them in the laboratory

PubMed Central

Nicolaou, K. C.

2014-01-01

Synthetic organic chemists have the power to replicate some of the most intriguing molecules of living nature in the laboratory and apply their developed synthetic strategies and technologies to construct variations of them. Such molecules facilitate biology and medicine, as they often find uses as biological tools and drug candidates for clinical development. In addition, by employing sophisticated catalytic reactions and appropriately designed synthetic processes, they can synthesize not only the molecules of nature and their analogues, but also myriad other organic molecules for potential applications in many areas of science, technology and everyday life. After a short historical introduction, this article focuses on recent advances in the field of organic synthesis with demonstrative examples of total synthesis of complex bioactive molecules, natural or designed, from the author’s laboratories, and their impact on chemistry, biology and medicine. PMID:24611027

Interatomic interaction effects on second-order momentum correlations and Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of double-well-trapped ultracold fermionic atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandt, Benedikt B.; Yannouleas, Constantine; Landman, Uzi

2018-05-01

Identification and understanding of the evolution of interference patterns in two-particle momentum correlations as a function of the strength of interatomic interactions are important in explorations of the nature of quantum states of trapped particles. Together with the analysis of two-particle spatial correlations, they offer the prospect of uncovering fundamental symmetries and structure of correlated many-body states, as well as opening vistas into potential control and utilization of correlated quantum states as quantum-information resources. With the use of the second-order density matrix constructed via exact diagonalization of the microscopic Hamiltonian, and an analytic Hubbard-type model, we explore here the systematic evolution of characteristic interference patterns in the two-body momentum and spatial correlation maps of two entangled ultracold fermionic atoms in a double well, for the entire attractive- and repulsive-interaction range. We uncover quantum-statistics-governed bunching and antibunching, as well as interaction-dependent interference patterns, in the ground and excited states, and interpret our results in light of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference physics, widely exploited in photon indistinguishability testing and quantum-information science.

Direct weak localization signature with ultracold atoms: the CBS revival

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Josse, Vincent

2016-05-01

Ultracold atomic systems in presence of disorder have attracted a lot of interest over the past decade, in particular to study the physics of Anderson localization (AL) in a renewed perspective. Landmark experiments have been demonstrated, in 1D and 3D geometries. However many challenges remain and new ideas have emerged, as for instance the search for original signatures of Anderson localization in momentum space. Here I will describe our progresses along that line where a weak localization effect has been directly observed, i.e. the Coherent Backscattering (CBS) phenomenon. In particular I will report on the recent observation of suppression and revival of CBS when a controlled dephasing kick is applied to the system. This observation demonstrates a novel and general method, introduced by T. Micklitz and coworkers, to study probe phase coherence in disordered systems by manipulating time reversal symmetry.

Thermal effects in light scattering from ultracold bosons in an optical lattice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lakomy, Kazimierz; Idziaszek, Zbigniew; Trippenbach, Marek

2009-10-15

We study the scattering of a weak and far-detuned light from a system of ultracold bosons in one-dimensional and three-dimensional optical lattices. We show the connection between angular distributions of the scattered light and statistical properties of a Bose gas in a periodic potential. The angular patterns are determined by the Fourier transform of the second-order correlation function, and thus they can be used to retrieve information on particle number fluctuations and correlations. We consider superfluid and Mott-insulator phases of the Bose gas in a lattice and we analyze in detail how the scattering depends on the system dimensionality, temperature,more » and atom-atom interactions.« less

Tunable spin-orbit coupling for ultracold atoms in two-dimensional optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grusdt, Fabian; Li, Tracy; Bloch, Immanuel; Demler, Eugene

2017-06-01

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is at the heart of many exotic band structures and can give rise to many-body states with topological order. Here we present a general scheme based on a combination of microwave driving and lattice shaking for the realization of two-dimensional SOC with ultracold atoms in systems with inversion symmetry. We show that the strengths of Rashba and Dresselhaus SOC can be independently tuned in a spin-dependent square lattice. More generally, our method can be used to open gaps between different spin states without breaking time-reversal symmetry. We demonstrate that this allows for the realization of topological insulators with nontrivial spin textures closely related to the Kane-Mele model.

De Haas-van Alphen effect of a two-dimensional ultracold atomic gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farias, B.; Furtado, C.

2016-01-01

In this paper, we show how the ultracold atom analogue of the two-dimensional de Haas-van Alphen effect in electronic condensed matter systems can be induced by optical fields in a neutral atomic system. The interaction between the suitable spatially varying laser fields and tripod-type trapped atoms generates a synthetic magnetic field which leads the particles to organize themselves in Landau levels. Initially, with the atomic gas in a regime of lowest Landau level, we display the oscillatory behaviour of the atomic energy and its derivative with respect to the effective magnetic field (B) as a function of 1/B. Furthermore, we estimate the area of the Fermi circle of the two-dimensional atomic gas.

Particle statistics and lossy dynamics of ultracold atoms in optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yago Malo, J.; van Nieuwenburg, E. P. L.; Fischer, M. H.; Daley, A. J.

2018-05-01

Experimental control over ultracold quantum gases has made it possible to investigate low-dimensional systems of both bosonic and fermionic atoms. In closed one-dimensional systems there are many similarities in the dynamics of local quantities for spinless fermions and strongly interacting "hard-core" bosons, which on a lattice can be formalized via a Jordan-Wigner transformation. In this study, we analyze the similarities and differences for spinless fermions and hard-core bosons on a lattice in the presence of particle loss. The removal of a single fermion causes differences in local quantities compared with the bosonic case because of the different particle exchange symmetry in the two cases. We identify deterministic and probabilistic signatures of these dynamics in terms of local particle density, which could be measured in ongoing experiments with quantum gas microscopes.

Analytical solutions for the dynamics of two trapped interacting ultracold atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Idziaszek, Zbigniew; Calarco, Tommaso; CNR-INFM BEC Center, I-38050 Povo

2006-08-15

We discuss exact solutions of the Schroedinger equation for the system of two ultracold atoms confined in an axially symmetric harmonic potential. We investigate different geometries of the trapping potential, in particular we study the properties of eigenenergies and eigenfunctions for quasi-one-dimensional and quasi-two-dimensional traps. We show that the quasi-one-dimensional and the quasi-two-dimensional regimes for two atoms can be already realized in the traps with moderately large (or small) ratios of the trapping frequencies in the axial and the transverse directions. Finally, we apply our theory to Feshbach resonances for trapped atoms. Introducing in our description an energy-dependent scattering lengthmore » we calculate analytically the eigenenergies for two trapped atoms in the presence of a Feshbach resonance.« less

Continued Analysis of the NIST Neutron Lifetime Measurement Using Ultracold Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huffer, Craig; Huffman, P. R.; Schelhammer, K. W.; Dewey, M. S.; Huber, M. G.; Hughes, P. P.; Mumm, H. P.; Thompson, A. K.; Coakley, K.; Yue, A. T.; O'Shaughnessy, C. M.; Yang, L.

2013-10-01

The neutron lifetime is an important parameter for constraining the Standard Model and providing input for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The current disagreement in the most recent generation of lifetime experiments suggests unknown or underestimated systematics and motivates the need for alternative measurement methods as well as additional investigations into potential systematics. Our measurement was performed using magnetically trapped Ultracold Neutrons in a 3.1 T Ioffe type trap configuration. The decay rate of the neutron population is recorded in real time by monitoring visible light resulting from beta decay. Data collected in late 2010 and early 2011 is being analyzed and systematic effects are being investigated. An overview of our current work on the analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, and systematic effects will be provided. This work was supported by the NSF and NIST.

Ultracold Anions for High-Precision Antihydrogen Experiments.

PubMed

Cerchiari, G; Kellerbauer, A; Safronova, M S; Safronova, U I; Yzombard, P

2018-03-30

Experiments with antihydrogen (H[over ¯]) for a study of matter-antimatter symmetry and antimatter gravity require ultracold H[over ¯] to reach ultimate precision. A promising path towards antiatoms much colder than a few kelvin involves the precooling of antiprotons by laser-cooled anions. Because of the weak binding of the valence electron in anions-dominated by polarization and correlation effects-only few candidate systems with suitable transitions exist. We report on a combination of experimental and theoretical studies to fully determine the relevant binding energies, transition rates, and branching ratios of the most promising candidate La^{-}. Using combined transverse and collinear laser spectroscopy, we determined the resonant frequency of the laser cooling transition to be ν=96.592 713(91)  THz and its transition rate to be A=4.90(50)×10^{4}  s^{-1}. Using a novel high-precision theoretical treatment of La^{-} we calculated yet unmeasured energy levels, transition rates, branching ratios, and lifetimes to complement experimental information on the laser cooling cycle of La^{-}. The new data establish the suitability of La^{-} for laser cooling and show that the cooling transition is significantly stronger than suggested by a previous theoretical study.

Control system high-precision laser to obtain the ensemble of ultracold ions Th3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Florentsev, V. V.; Zhdamirov, V. Yu; Rodko, I. I.; Borodulya, N. A.; Biryukov, A. P.

2018-01-01

One of key problems of nuclear standard frequency development is preparation assembly of ultracold thorium ions in Pauli trap. In this case semiconductive frequency-stabilized lasers with external resonator on frequencies 690 nm, 984 nm, and 1088 nm are used for excitation of corresponding electronic dipole and quadrupole cooling transitions for Th3+ ions. In the paper the results of development and creation of unified laser module, which is able to be used as base for full-featured system designed for laser cooling of Th3+ ions, are presented. The module is able to fine-tune necessary wavelength with accuracy ±5 nm.

Focus on strongly correlated quantum fluids: from ultracold quantum gases to QCD plasmas Focus on strongly correlated quantum fluids: from ultracold quantum gases to QCD plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adams, Allan; Carr, Lincoln D.; Schaefer, Thomas; Steinberg, Peter; Thomas, John E.

2013-04-01

The last few years have witnessed a dramatic convergence of three distinct lines of research concerned with different kinds of extreme quantum matter. Two of these involve new quantum fluids that can be studied in the laboratory, ultracold quantum gases and quantum chromodynamics (QCD) plasmas. Even though these systems involve vastly different energy scales, the physical properties of the two quantum fluids are remarkably similar. The third line of research is based on the discovery of a new theoretical tool for investigating the properties of extreme quantum matter, holographic dualties. The main goal of this focus issue is to foster communication and understanding between these three fields. We proceed to describe each in more detail. Ultracold quantum gases offer a new paradigm for the study of nonperturbative quantum many-body physics. With widely tunable interaction strength, spin composition, and temperature, using different hyperfine states one can model spin-1/2 fermions, spin-3/2 fermions, and many other spin structures of bosons, fermions, and mixtures thereof. Such systems have produced a revolution in the study of strongly interacting Fermi systems, for example in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) to Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) crossover region, where a close collaboration between experimentalists and theorists—typical in this field—enabled ground-breaking studies in an area spanning several decades. Half-way through this crossover, when the scattering length characterizing low-energy collisions diverges, one obtains a unitary quantum gas, which is universal and scale invariant. The unitary gas has close parallels in the hydrodynamics of QCD plasmas, where the ratio of viscosity to entropy density is extremely low and comparable to the minimum viscosity conjecture, an important prediction of AdS/CFT (see below). Exciting developments in the thermodynamic and transport properties of strongly interacting Fermi gases are of broad

High-fidelity cluster state generation for ultracold atoms in an optical lattice.

PubMed

Inaba, Kensuke; Tokunaga, Yuuki; Tamaki, Kiyoshi; Igeta, Kazuhiro; Yamashita, Makoto

2014-03-21

We propose a method for generating high-fidelity multipartite spin entanglement of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice in a short operation time with a scalable manner, which is suitable for measurement-based quantum computation. To perform the desired operations based on the perturbative spin-spin interactions, we propose to actively utilize the extra degrees of freedom (DOFs) usually neglected in the perturbative treatment but included in the Hubbard Hamiltonian of atoms, such as, (pseudo-)charge and orbital DOFs. Our method simultaneously achieves high fidelity, short operation time, and scalability by overcoming the following fundamental problem: enhancing the interaction strength for shortening the operation time breaks the perturbative condition of the interaction and inevitably induces unwanted correlations among the spin and extra DOFs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kleinert, J.; Haimberger, C.; Zabawa, P. J.

We present a detailed description on how to build a thin wire electrostatic trap (TWIST) for ultracold polar molecules. It is the first design of an electrostatic trap that can be superimposed directly onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). We can thus continuously produce ultracold polar molecules via photoassociation from a two species MOT and instantaneously trap them in the TWIST without the need for complex transfer schemes. Despite the spatial overlap of the TWIST and the MOT, the two traps can be operated and optimized completely independently due to the complementary nature of the utilized trapping mechanisms.

Relative Sizes of Organic Molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

This computer graphic depicts the relative complexity of crystallizing large proteins in order to study their structures through x-ray crystallography. Insulin is a vital protein whose structure has several subtle points that scientists are still trying to determine. Large molecules such as insuline are complex with structures that are comparatively difficult to understand. For comparison, a sugar molecule (which many people have grown as hard crystals in science glass) and a water molecule are shown. These images were produced with the Macmolecule program. Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Ultracold few fermionic atoms in needle-shaped double wells: spin chains and resonating spin clusters from microscopic Hamiltonians emulated via antiferromagnetic Heisenberg and t-J models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yannouleas, Constantine; Brandt, Benedikt B.; Landman, Uzi

2016-07-01

Advances with trapped ultracold atoms intensified interest in simulating complex physical phenomena, including quantum magnetism and transitions from itinerant to non-itinerant behavior. Here we show formation of antiferromagnetic ground states of few ultracold fermionic atoms in single and double well (DW) traps, through microscopic Hamiltonian exact diagonalization for two DW arrangements: (i) two linearly oriented one-dimensional, 1D, wells, and (ii) two coupled parallel wells, forming a trap of two-dimensional, 2D, nature. The spectra and spin-resolved conditional probabilities reveal for both cases, under strong repulsion, atomic spatial localization at extemporaneously created sites, forming quantum molecular magnetic structures with non-itinerant character. These findings usher future theoretical and experimental explorations into the highly correlated behavior of ultracold strongly repelling fermionic atoms in higher dimensions, beyond the fermionization physics that is strictly applicable only in the 1D case. The results for four atoms are well described with finite Heisenberg spin-chain and cluster models. The numerical simulations of three fermionic atoms in symmetric DWs reveal the emergent appearance of coupled resonating 2D Heisenberg clusters, whose emulation requires the use of a t-J-like model, akin to that used in investigations of high T c superconductivity. The highly entangled states discovered in the microscopic and model calculations of controllably detuned, asymmetric, DWs suggest three-cold-atom DW quantum computing qubits.

Simple model for molecular scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, Nirav; Ticknor, Christopher; Hazzard, Kaden

2017-04-01

The collisions of ultracold molecules are qualitatively different from the collisions of ultracold atoms due to the high density of bimolecular resonances near the collision energy. We present results from a simple N-channel scattering model with square-well channel potentials and constant channel couplings (inside the well) designed to reproduce essential features of chaotic molecular scattering. The potential depths and channel splittings are tuned to reproduce the appropriate density of states for the short-range bimolecular collision complex (BCC), which affords a direct comparison of the resulting level-spacing distribution to that expected from random matrix theory (RMT), namely the so-called Wigner surmise. The density of states also sets the scale for the rate of dissociation from the BCC to free molecules, as approximated by transition state theory (TST). Our model affords a semi-analytic solution for the scattering amplitude in the open channel, and a determinantal equation for the eigenenergies of the short-ranged BCC. It is likely the simplest finite-ranged scattering model that can be compared to expectations from the approximations of RMT, and TST. The validity of these approximations has implications for the many-channel Hubbard model recently developed. This research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. NSF PHY-1125915.

Dissipative preparation of squeezed states with ultracold atomic gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Gentaro; Caballar, Roland Cristopher F.; Diehl, Sebastian; Mäkelä, Harri; Oberthaler, Markus

2014-05-01

We present a dissipative quantum state preparation scheme for the creation of phase- and number-squeezed states. It utilizes ultracold atoms in a double-well configuration immersed in a background BEC acting as a dissipative quantum reservoir. We derive a master equation starting from microscopic physics, and show that squeezing develops on a time scale proportional to 1 / N , where N is the number of particles in the double well. This scaling, caused by bosonic enhancement, allows us to make the time scale for the creation of squeezed states very short. Effects of the dephasing which limits the lifetime of the squeezed states can be avoided by stroboscopically switching the driving off and on. We show that this approach leads to robust stationary squeezed states. We also provide the necessary ingredients for a potential experimental implementation. NRF (No. 2012R1A1A2008028), MPS, Korea MEST, FWF (No. F4006-N16), Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Academy of Finland (No. 251748).

Progress Towards Laser Cooling of an Ultracold Neutral Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langin, Thomas; Gorman, Grant; Chen, Zhitao; Chow, Kyle; Killian, Thomas

2017-04-01

We report on progress towards laser-cooling of the ion component of an ultracold neutral plasma (UNP) consisting of 88Sr+. The goal of the experiment is to increase the value of the ion Coulomb Coupling Parameter, Γi, which is the ratio of the average nearest neighbor Coulomb interaction energy to the ion kinetic energy. Currently, Γi is limited to 3 in most UNP systems. We have developed a new photoionization pathway for plasma creation that starts with atoms in a magnetic trap. This allows us to create much larger plasmas (upwards of 109 atoms with a width of 4 mm). This greatly reduces the plasma expansion rate, giving more time for laser cooling. We have also installed lasers for optically pumping atoms out of dark states that are populated during laser cooling. We will discuss these new systems, along with the results of our first attempts at laser-cooling. Supported by NSF and DoE (PHY-0714603), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-12-1-0267), and the Shell Foundation.

Mighty Molecule Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Tom; Rushton, Greg; Bencomo, Marie

2008-01-01

As part of the SMATHematics Project: The Wonder of Science, The Power of Mathematics--a collaborative partnership between Kennesaw State University and two local school districts, fifth graders had the opportunity to puzzle out chemical formulas of propane, methanol, and other important molecules. In addition, they explored properties that…

Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime with Ultra-cold Neutrons Stored in a Magneto-gravitational Trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezhov, V. F.; Andreev, A. Z.; Ban, G.; Bazarov, B. A.; Geltenbort, P.; Glushkov, A. G.; Knyazkov, V. A.; Kovrizhnykh, N. A.; Krygin, G. B.; Naviliat-Cuncic, O.; Ryabov, V. L.

2018-05-01

We report a measurement of the neutron lifetime using ultra-cold neutrons stored in a magneto-gravitational trap made of permanent magnets. Neutrons surviving in the trap after fixed storage times have been counted and the trap losses have continuously been monitored during storage by detecting neutrons leaking from the trap. The value of the neutron lifetime resulting from this measurement is τ n = (878.3 ± 1.6stat ± 1.0syst) s. A unique feature of this experiment is the monitoring of leaking neutrons providing a robust control of the main systematic loss.

Heating of trapped ultracold atoms by collapse dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laloë, Franck; Mullin, William J.; Pearle, Philip

2014-11-01

The continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) theory alters the Schrödinger equation. It describes wave-function collapse as a dynamical process instead of an ill-defined postulate, thereby providing macroscopic uniqueness and solving the so-called measurement problem of standard quantum theory. CSL contains a parameter λ giving the collapse rate of an isolated nucleon in a superposition of two spatially separated states and, more generally, characterizing the collapse time for any physical situation. CSL is experimentally testable, since it predicts some behavior different from that predicted by standard quantum theory. One example is the narrowing of wave functions, which results in energy imparted to particles. Here we consider energy given to trapped ultracold atoms. Since these are the coldest samples under experimental investigation, it is worth inquiring how they are affected by the CSL heating mechanism. We examine the CSL heating of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in contact with its thermal cloud. Of course, other mechanisms also provide heat and also particle loss. From varied data on optically trapped cesium BECs, we present an energy audit for known heating and loss mechanisms. The result provides an upper limit on CSL heating and thereby an upper limit on the parameter λ . We obtain λ ≲1 (±1 ) ×10-7 s-1.

Mapped grid methods for long-range molecules and cold collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willner, K.; Dulieu, O.; Masnou-Seeuws, F.

2004-01-01

The paper discusses ways of improving the accuracy of numerical calculations for vibrational levels of diatomic molecules close to the dissociation limit or for ultracold collisions, in the framework of a grid representation. In order to avoid the implementation of very large grids, Kokoouline et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 110, 9865 (1999)] have proposed a mapping procedure through introduction of an adaptive coordinate x subjected to the variation of the local de Broglie wavelength as a function of the internuclear distance R. Some unphysical levels ("ghosts") then appear in the vibrational series computed via a mapped Fourier grid representation. In the present work the choice of the basis set is reexamined, and two alternative expansions are discussed: Sine functions and Hardy functions. It is shown that use of a basis set with fixed nodes at both grid ends is efficient to eliminate "ghost" solutions. It is further shown that the Hamiltonian matrix in the sine basis can be calculated very accurately by using an auxiliary basis of cosine functions, overcoming the problems arising from numerical calculation of the Jacobian J(x) of the R→x coordinate transformation.

Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics, and Energy Science: Remarks from Steve Chu at the Scientific Symposium Held in his Honor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chu, Steve

2008-08-30

Steve Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize, presents a talk at Frontiers in Laser Cooling, Single-Molecule Biophysics and Energy Science, a scientific symposium in his honor. The symposium was held August 30, 2008 in Berkeley.

Momentum distribution functions in ensembles: the inequivalence of microcannonical and canonical ensembles in a finite ultracold system.

PubMed

Wang, Pei; Xianlong, Gao; Li, Haibin

2013-08-01

It is demonstrated in many thermodynamic textbooks that the equivalence of the different ensembles is achieved in the thermodynamic limit. In this present work we discuss the inequivalence of microcanonical and canonical ensembles in a finite ultracold system at low energies. We calculate the microcanonical momentum distribution function (MDF) in a system of identical fermions (bosons). We find that the microcanonical MDF deviates from the canonical one, which is the Fermi-Dirac (Bose-Einstein) function, in a finite system at low energies where the single-particle density of states and its inverse are finite.

Strong-Coupling Effects and Shear Viscosity in an Ultracold Fermi Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kagamihara, D.; Ohashi, Y.

2017-06-01

We theoretically investigate the shear viscosity η , as well as the entropy density s, in the normal state of an ultracold Fermi gas. Including pairing fluctuations within the framework of a T-matrix approximation, we calculate these quantities in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)-Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover region. We also evaluate η / s, to compare it with the lower bound of this ratio, conjectured by Kovtun, Son, and Starinets (KSS bound). In the weak-coupling BCS side, we show that the shear viscosity η is remarkably suppressed near the superfluid phase transition temperature Tc, due to the so-called pseudogap phenomenon. In the strong-coupling BEC side, we find that, within the neglect of the vertex corrections, one cannot correctly describe η . We also show that η / s decreases with increasing the interaction strength, to become very close to the KSS bound, \\hbar /4π kB, on the BEC side.

Superstatistical Energy Distributions of an Ion in an Ultracold Buffer Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouse, I.; Willitsch, S.

2017-04-01

An ion in a radio frequency ion trap interacting with a buffer gas of ultracold neutral atoms is a driven dynamical system which has been found to develop a nonthermal energy distribution with a power law tail. The exact analytical form of this distribution is unknown, but has often been represented empirically by q -exponential (Tsallis) functions. Based on the concepts of superstatistics, we introduce a framework for the statistical mechanics of an ion trapped in an rf field subject to collisions with a buffer gas. We derive analytic ion secular energy distributions from first principles both neglecting and including the effects of the thermal energy of the buffer gas. For a buffer gas with a finite temperature, we prove that Tsallis statistics emerges from the combination of a constant heating term and multiplicative energy fluctuations. We show that the resulting distributions essentially depend on experimentally controllable parameters paving the way for an accurate control of the statistical properties of ion-atom hybrid systems.

Fast, High-Precision Optical Polarization Synthesizer for Ultracold-Atom Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robens, Carsten; Brakhane, Stefan; Alt, Wolfgang; Meschede, Dieter; Zopes, Jonathan; Alberti, Andrea

2018-03-01

We present a technique for the precision synthesis of arbitrary polarization states of light with a high modulation bandwidth. Our approach consists of superimposing two laser light fields with the same wavelength, but with opposite circular polarizations, where the phase and the amplitude of each light field are individually controlled. We find that the polarization-synthesized beam reaches a degree of polarization of 99.99%, which is mainly limited by static spatial variations of the polarization state over the beam profile. We also find that the depolarization caused by temporal fluctuations of the polarization state is about 2 orders of magnitude smaller. In a recent work, Robens et al. [Low-Entropy States of Neutral Atoms in Polarization-Synthesized Optical Lattices, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 065302 (2017), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.065302] demonstrated an application of the polarization synthesizer to create two independently controllable optical lattices which trap atoms depending on their internal spin state. We use ultracold atoms in polarization-synthesized optical lattices to give an independent, in situ demonstration of the performance of the polarization synthesizer.

Internet Databases of the Properties, Enzymatic Reactions, and Metabolism of Small Molecules-Search Options and Applications in Food Science.

PubMed

Minkiewicz, Piotr; Darewicz, Małgorzata; Iwaniak, Anna; Bucholska, Justyna; Starowicz, Piotr; Czyrko, Emilia

2016-12-06

Internet databases of small molecules, their enzymatic reactions, and metabolism have emerged as useful tools in food science. Database searching is also introduced as part of chemistry or enzymology courses for food technology students. Such resources support the search for information about single compounds and facilitate the introduction of secondary analyses of large datasets. Information can be retrieved from databases by searching for the compound name or structure, annotating with the help of chemical codes or drawn using molecule editing software. Data mining options may be enhanced by navigating through a network of links and cross-links between databases. Exemplary databases reviewed in this article belong to two classes: tools concerning small molecules (including general and specialized databases annotating food components) and tools annotating enzymes and metabolism. Some problems associated with database application are also discussed. Data summarized in computer databases may be used for calculation of daily intake of bioactive compounds, prediction of metabolism of food components, and their biological activity as well as for prediction of interactions between food component and drugs.

Challenges for single molecule electronic devices with nanographene and organic molecules. Do single molecules offer potential as elements of electronic devices in the next generation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enoki, Toshiaki; Kiguchi, Manabu

2018-03-01

Interest in utilizing organic molecules to fabricate electronic materials has existed ever since organic (molecular) semiconductors were first discovered in the 1950s. Since then, scientists have devoted serious effort to the creation of various molecule-based electronic systems, such as molecular metals and molecular superconductors. Single-molecule electronics and the associated basic science have emerged over the past two decades and provided hope for the development of highly integrated molecule-based electronic devices in the future (after the Si-based technology era has ended). Here, nanographenes (nano-sized graphene) with atomically precise structures are among the most promising molecules that can be utilized for electronic/spintronic devices. To manipulate single small molecules for an electronic device, a single molecular junction has been developed. It is a powerful tool that allows even small molecules to be utilized. External electric, magnetic, chemical, and mechanical perturbations can change the physical and chemical properties of molecules in a way that is different from bulk materials. Therefore, the various functionalities of molecules, along with changes induced by external perturbations, allows us to create electronic devices that we cannot create using current top-down Si-based technology. Future challenges that involve the incorporation of condensed matter physics, quantum chemistry calculations, organic synthetic chemistry, and electronic device engineering are expected to open a new era in single-molecule device electronic technology.

Advancing Biological Understanding and Therapeutics Discovery with Small Molecule Probes

PubMed Central

Schreiber, Stuart L.; Kotz, Joanne D.; Li, Min; Aubé, Jeffrey; Austin, Christopher P.; Reed, John C.; Rosen, Hugh; White, E. Lucile; Sklar, Larry A.; Lindsley, Craig W.; Alexander, Benjamin R.; Bittker, Joshua A.; Clemons, Paul A.; de Souza, Andrea; Foley, Michael A.; Palmer, Michelle; Shamji, Alykhan F.; Wawer, Mathias J.; McManus, Owen; Wu, Meng; Zou, Beiyan; Yu, Haibo; Golden, Jennifer E.; Schoenen, Frank J.; Simeonov, Anton; Jadhav, Ajit; Jackson, Michael R.; Pinkerton, Anthony B.; Chung, Thomas D.Y.; Griffin, Patrick R.; Cravatt, Benjamin F.; Hodder, Peter S.; Roush, William R.; Roberts, Edward; Chung, Dong-Hoon; Jonsson, Colleen B.; Noah, James W.; Severson, William E.; Ananthan, Subramaniam; Edwards, Bruce; Oprea, Tudor I.; Conn, P. Jeffrey; Hopkins, Corey R.; Wood, Michael R.; Stauffer, Shaun R.; Emmitte, Kyle A.

2015-01-01

Small-molecule probes can illuminate biological processes and aid in the assessment of emerging therapeutic targets by perturbing biological systems in a manner distinct from other experimental approaches. Despite the tremendous promise of chemical tools for investigating biology and disease, small-molecule probes were unavailable for most targets and pathways as recently as a decade ago. In 2005, the U.S. National Institutes of Health launched the decade-long Molecular Libraries Program with the intent of innovating in and broadening access to small-molecule science. This Perspective describes how novel small-molecule probes identified through the program are enabling the exploration of biological pathways and therapeutic hypotheses not otherwise testable. These experiences illustrate how small-molecule probes can help bridge the chasm between biological research and the development of medicines, but also highlight the need to innovate the science of therapeutic discovery. PMID:26046436

Forbidden 2P–nP and 2P–nF transitions in the energy spectrum of ultracold Rydberg lithium-7 atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zelener, B. B., E-mail: bobozel@mail.ru; Saakyan, S. A.; Sautenkov, V. A.

2016-04-15

Forbidden 2P–nP and 2P–nF transitions in the ranges of the principal quantum number n = 42–114 and n = 38–48 have been detected in the optical spectra of ultracold highly excited lithium-7 atoms. The presence of forbidden transitions is due to induced external electric fields. The quantum defects and ionization energy obtained in various experiments and predicted theoretically have been discussed.

Luminorefrigeration: vibrational cooling of NaCs.

PubMed

Wakim, A; Zabawa, P; Haruza, M; Bigelow, N P

2012-07-02

We demonstrate the use of optical pumping of kinetically ultracold NaCs to cool an initial vibrational distribution of electronic ground state molecules X(1)Σ(+)(v ≥ 4) into the vibrational ground state X(1)Σ(+)(v=0). Our approach is based on the use of simple, commercially available multimode diode lasers selected to optically pump population into X(1)Σ(+)(v=0). We investigate the impact of the cooling process on the rotational state distribution of the vibrational ground state, and observe that an initial distribution, J(initial)=0-2 is only moderately affected resulting in J(final)=0-4. This method provides an inexpensive approach to creation of vibrational ground state ultracold polar molecules.

Trapping ultracold gases near cryogenic materials with rapid reconfigurability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Naides, Matthew A.; Turner, Richard W.; Lai, Ruby A.

We demonstrate an atom chip trapping system that allows the placement and high-resolution imaging of ultracold atoms within microns from any ≲100 μm-thin, UHV-compatible material, while also allowing sample exchange with minimal experimental downtime. The sample is not connected to the atom chip, allowing rapid exchange without perturbing the atom chip or laser cooling apparatus. Exchange of the sample and retrapping of atoms has been performed within a week turnaround, limited only by chamber baking. Moreover, the decoupling of sample and atom chip provides the ability to independently tune the sample temperature and its position with respect to the trapped ultracoldmore » gas, which itself may remain in the focus of a high-resolution imaging system. As a first demonstration of this system, we have confined a 700-nK cloud of 8 × 10{sup 4} {sup 87}Rb atoms within 100 μm of a gold-mirrored 100-μm-thick silicon substrate. The substrate was cooled to 35 K without use of a heat shield, while the atom chip, 120 μm away, remained at room temperature. Atoms may be imaged and retrapped every 16 s, allowing rapid data collection.« less

The Amazing Molecule Race: A WebQuest for 8th Grade Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soehl, Diana; Moats, S. J.; Langston, G. I.

2009-01-01

Did you ever wonder if life exists beyond Earth? The molecules that helped make up you and your friends are the same floating in outer space! The Race is ON to discover as many molecules in space as possible and to find the most important molecules for life: amino acids, DNA and RNA! As aspiring astronomers and astrobiologists, you will explore how these molecules are detected on Earth and in space. The `Search for Life’ is a pretty big task considering the size of the Universe. By learning how to find evidence of life forming molecules you will be able to provide conclusions that will shape policy regarding space missions, funding and technology development during your lifetime.

Sign Changes in the Electric Dipole Moment of Excited States in Rubidium-Alkaline Earth Diatomic Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pototschnig, Johann V.; Lackner, Florian; Hauser, Andreas W.; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2015-06-01

In a recent series of combined experimental and theoretical studies we investigated the ground state and several excited states of the Rb-alkaline earth molecules RbSr and RbCa. The group of alkali-alkaline earth (AK-AKE) molecules has drawn attention for applications in ultracold molecular physics and the measurement of fundamental constants due to their large permanent electric and magnetic dipole moments in the ground state. These properties should allow for an easy manipulation of the molecules and simulations of spin models in optical lattices. In our studies we found that the permanent electric dipole moment points in different directions for certain electronically excited states, and changes the sign in some cases as a function of bond length. We summarize our results, give possible causes for the measured trends in terms of molecular orbital theory and extrapolate the tendencies to other combinations of AK and AKE - elements. F. Lackner, G. Krois, T. Buchsteiner, J. V. Pototschnig, and W. E. Ernst, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 113, 153001; G. Krois, F. Lackner, J. V. Pototschnig, T. Buchsteiner, and W. E. Ernst, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 22373; J. V. Pototschnig, G. Krois, F. Lackner, and W. E. Ernst, J. Chem. Phys., 2014, 141, 234309 J. V. Pototschnig, G. Krois, F. Lackner, and W. E. Ernst, J. Mol. Spectrosc., in Press (2015), doi:10.1016/j.jms.2015.01.006 M. Kajita, G. Gopakumar, M. Abe, and M. Hada, J. Mol. Spectrosc., 2014, 300, 99-107 A. Micheli, G. K. Brennen, and P. Zoller, Nature Physics, 2006, 2, 341-347

Formation and dissociation of dust molecules in dusty plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Jia; Feng, Fan; Liu, Fucheng; Dong, Lifang; He, Yafeng

2016-09-01

Dust molecules are observed in a dusty plasma experiment. By using measurements with high spatial resolution, the formation and dissociation of the dust molecules are studied. The ion cloud in the wake of an upper dust grain attracts the lower dust grain nearby. When the interparticle distance between the upper dust grain and the lower one is less than a critical value, the two dust grains would form a dust molecule. The upper dust grain always leads the lower one as they travel. When the interparticle distance between them is larger than the critical value, the dust molecule would dissociate. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11205044 and 11405042), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China (Grant Nos. A2011201006 and A2012201015), the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hebei Province, China (Grant No. Y2012009), the Program for Young Principal Investigators of Hebei Province, China, and the Midwest Universities Comprehensive Strength Promotion Project, China.

Interaction quenched ultracold few-boson ensembles in periodically driven lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mistakidis, Simeon; Schmelcher, Peter; Theory Group of Fundamental Processes in Quantum Physics Team

2017-04-01

The out-of-equilibrium dynamics of interaction quenched finite ultracold bosonic ensembles in periodically driven one-dimensional optical lattices is investigated. It is shown that periodic driving enforces the bosons in the outer wells of the finite lattice to exhibit out-of-phase dipole-like modes, while in the central well the atomic cloud experiences a local breathing mode. The dynamical behavior is investigated with varying driving frequency, revealing a resonant-like behavior of the intra-well dynamics. An interaction quench in the periodically driven lattice gives rise to admixtures of different excitations in the outer wells, an enhanced breathing in the center and an amplification of the tunneling dynamics. We observe then multiple resonances between the inter- and intra-well dynamics at different quench amplitudes, with the position of the resonances being tunable via the driving frequency. Our results pave the way for future investigations on the use of combined driving protocols in order to excite different inter- and intra-well modes and to subsequently control them. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the framework of the SFB 925 ``Light induced dynamics and control of correlated quantum systems''.

Cylindrical and spherical Akhmediev breather and freak waves in ultracold neutral plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Tantawy, S. A.; El-Awady, E. I.

2018-01-01

The properties of cylindrical and spherical ion-acoustic breathers Akhmediev breather and freak waves in strongly coupled ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs), whose constituents are inertial strongly coupled ions and weakly coupled Maxwellian electrons, are investigated numerically. Using the derivative expansion method, the basic set of fluid equations is reduced to a nonplanar (cylindrical and spherical)/modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation (mNLSE). The analytical solutions of the mNLSE were not possible until now, so their numerical solutions are obtained using the finite difference scheme with the help of the Dirichlet boundary conditions. Moreover, the criteria for the existence and propagation of breathers are discussed in detail. The geometrical effects due to the cylindrical and spherical geometries on the breather profile are studied numerically. It is found that the propagation of the ion-acoustic breathers in one-dimensional planar and nonplanar geometries is very different. Finally, our results may help to manipulate matter breathers experimentally in UNPs.

Observation of topological states in an optical Raman lattice with ultracold fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Bo; He, Chengdong; Zhang, Long; Poon, Ting Fung Jeffrey; Hajiyev, Elnur; Ren, Zejian; Seo, Bojeong; Zhang, Shanchao; Liu, Xiong-Jun; Jo, Gyu-Boong

2017-04-01

The spin-orbit coupling with cold atoms, especially in optical lattices, provides a versatile platform to investigate the intriguing topological matters. In this talk, we will present the realization of one-dimensional spin-dependent lattice dressed by the periodic Raman field. Ultracold 173Yb fermions loaded into an optical Raman lattice reveal non-trivial spin textures due to the band topology, by which we measured topological invariants and determined a topological phase transition. In addition, we explored the non-equilibrium quench dynamics between the topological and the trivial states by suddenly changing the band topology of the optical Raman lattice. The optical Raman lattice demonstrated here opens a new avenue to study the spin-orbit coupling physics and furthermore to realize novel quantum matters such as symmetry-protected topological states. Funded by Croucher Foundation and Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong (Project ECS26300014, GRF16300215, GRF16311516, and Croucher Innovation Grants); MOST (Grant No. 2016YFA0301604) and NSFC (No. 11574008).

Holographic method for site-resolved detection of a 2D array of ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, Daniel Kai; Deissler, Benjamin; Limmer, Wolfgang; Hecker Denschlag, Johannes

2016-08-01

We propose a novel approach to site-resolved detection of a 2D gas of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. A near-resonant laser beam is coherently scattered by the atomic array, and after passing a lens its interference pattern is holographically recorded by superimposing it with a reference laser beam on a CCD chip. Fourier transformation of the recorded intensity pattern reconstructs the atomic distribution in the lattice with single-site resolution. The holographic detection method requires only about two hundred scattered photons per atom in order to achieve a high reconstruction fidelity of 99.9 %. Therefore, additional cooling during detection might not be necessary even for light atomic elements such as lithium. Furthermore, first investigations suggest that small aberrations of the lens can be post-corrected in imaging processing.

Faraday spectroscopy of ultracold atoms guided in hollow core optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatemi, Fredrik; Pechkis, Joseph

2013-05-01

We have performed spatially and temporally resolved magnetometry using Faraday spectroscopy of ultracold rubidium atoms confined in hollow core optical fibers. We first guide 105 Rb atoms into a 3-cm-long, 100-micron-core hollow fiber using blue-detuned hollow waveguide modes. Inside the fiber, the atoms are exposed to an optical pumping pulse, and the Larmor precession is monitored by the polarization rotation of a probe laser beam detuned by 50 GHz. The intense guide beams can perturb the detected Larmor precession frequencies, but we show that by confining the atoms to the intensity null of higher order blue-detuned hollow modes, these perturbations are reduced by over 95% compared to red-detuned guides. By adjusting the guide beam detuning and polarization, the deleterious effects of both photon scattering and frequency shifts can be suppressed such that multiple magnetic field measurements with sensitivity of 30 nT per sampling pulse can be obtained throughout the length of the fiber in a single loading cycle. Work supported by ONR and DARPA.

Realization of the manipulation of ultracold atoms with a reconfigurable nanomagnetic system of domain walls.

PubMed

West, Adam D; Weatherill, Kevin J; Hayward, Thomas J; Fry, Paul W; Schrefl, Thomas; Gibbs, Mike R J; Adams, Charles S; Allwood, Dan A; Hughes, Ifan G

2012-08-08

Planar magnetic nanowires have been vital to the development of spintronic technology. They provide an unparalleled combination of magnetic reconfigurability, controllability, and scalability, which has helped to realize such applications as racetrack memory and novel logic gates. Microfabricated atom optics benefit from all of these properties, and we present the first demonstration of the amalgamation of spintronic technology with ultracold atoms. A magnetic interaction is exhibited through the reflection of a cloud of (87)Rb atoms at a temperature of 10 μK, from a 2 mm × 2 mm array of nanomagnetic domain walls. In turn, the incident atoms approach the array at heights of the order of 100 nm and are thus used to probe magnetic fields at this distance.

Assessing secondary science students' knowledge of molecule movement, concentration gradients, and equilibrium through multiple contexts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raven, Sara

2015-09-01

Background: Studies have shown that students' knowledge of osmosis and diffusion and the concepts associated with these processes is often inaccurate. This is important to address, as these concepts not only provide the foundation for more advanced topics in biology and chemistry, but are also threaded throughout both state and national science standards. Purpose: In this study, designed to determine the completeness and accuracy of three specific students' knowledge of molecule movement, concentration gradients, and equilibrium, I sought to address the following question: Using multiple evaluative methods, how can students' knowledge of molecule movement, concentration gradients, and equilibrium be characterized? Sample: This study focuses on data gathered from three students - Emma, Henry, and Riley - all of whom were gifted/honors ninth-grade biology students at a suburban high school in the southeast United States. Design and Methods: Using various qualitative data analysis techniques, I analyzed multiple sources of data from the three students, including multiple-choice test results, written free-response answers, think-aloud interview responses, and student drawings. Results: Results of the analysis showed that students maintained misconceptions about molecule movement, concentration gradients, and equilibrium. The conceptual knowledge students demonstrated differed depending on the assessment method, with the most distinct differences appearing on the multiple-choice versus the free-response questions, and in verbal versus written formats. Conclusions: Multiple levels of assessment may be required to obtain an accurate picture of content knowledge, as free-response and illustrative tasks made it difficult for students to conceal any misconceptions. Using a variety of assessment methods within a section of the curriculum can arguably help to provide a deeper understanding of student knowledge and learning, as well as illuminate misconceptions that may have

Organic synthesis toward small-molecule probes and drugs

PubMed Central

Schreiber, Stuart L.

2011-01-01

“Organic synthesis” is a compound-creating activity often focused on biologically active small molecules. This special issue of PNAS explores innovations and trends in the field that are enabling the synthesis of new types of small-molecule probes and drugs. This perspective article frames the research described in the special issue but also explores how these modern capabilities can both foster a new and more extensive view of basic research in the academy and promote the linkage of life-science research to the discovery of novel types of small-molecule therapeutics [Schreiber SL (2009) Chem Bio Chem 10:26–29]. This new view of basic research aims to bridge the chasm between basic scientific discoveries in life sciences and new drugs that treat the root cause of human disease—recently referred to as the “valley of death” for drug discovery. This perspective article describes new roles that modern organic chemistry will need to play in overcoming this challenge. PMID:21464328

Structural and dynamical properties of recombining ultracold neutral plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Sanat Kumar; Shaffer, Nathaniel R.; Baalrud, Scott D.

2017-10-01

An ultracold plasma (UCP) is an evolving collection of free charges and bound charges (Rydberg atoms). Over time, bound species concentration increases due to recombination. We present the structural and dynamical properties of an evolving UCP using classical molecular dynamics simulation. Coulomb collapse is avoided using a repulsive core with the attractive Coulomb potential. The repulsive core size controls the concentration of bound states, as it determines the depth of the potential well between opposite charges. We vary the repulsive core size to emulate the quasi-static state of plasma at different time during the evolution. Binary, chain and ring-like bound states are observed in the simulation carried out at different coupling strengths and repulsive core size. The effect of bound states can be seen as molecular peaks in the radial distribution function (RDF). The thermodynamic properties associated with the free charges can be analyzed from RDF by separating free from bound states. These bound states also change the dynamical properties of the plasma. The electron velocity auto-correlation displays oscillations due to the orbital motion in bound states. These bound states act like a neutral species, damping electron plasmon modes and broadening the ion acoustic mode. This work is supported by AFOSR Grant Number FA9550-16-1-0221. It used computational resources by XSEDE, which is supported by NSF Grant Number ACI-1053575.

Dark soliton pair of ultracold Fermi gases for a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation model.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Zhou, Yu; Zhou, Shuyu; Zhang, Yongsheng

2016-07-01

We present the theoretical investigation of dark soliton pair solutions for one-dimensional as well as three-dimensional generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GGPE) which models the ultracold Fermi gas during Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-Bose-Einstein condensates crossover. Without introducing any integrability constraint and via the self-similar approach, the three-dimensional solution of GGPE is derived based on the one-dimensional dark soliton pair solution, which is obtained through a modified F-expansion method combined with a coupled modulus-phase transformation technique. We discovered the oscillatory behavior of the dark soliton pair from the theoretical results obtained for the three-dimensional case. The calculated period agrees very well with the corresponding reported experimental result [Weller et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 130401 (2008)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.101.130401], demonstrating the applicability of the theoretical treatment presented in this work.

Position-sensitive detection of ultracold neutrons with an imaging camera and its implications to spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Wei, Wanchun; Broussard, Leah J.; Hoffbauer, Mark Arles; ...

2016-05-16

Position-sensitive detection of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) is demonstrated using an imaging charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. A spatial resolution less than 15μm has been achieved, which is equivalent to a UCN energy resolution below 2 pico-electron-volts through the relation δE=m 0gδx. Here, the symbols δE, δx, m 0 and g are the energy resolution, the spatial resolution, the neutron rest mass and the gravitational acceleration, respectively. A multilayer surface convertor described previously is used to capture UCNs and then emits visible light for CCD imaging. Particle identification and noise rejection are discussed through the use of light intensity profile analysis. Asmore » a result, this method allows different types of UCN spectroscopy and other applications.« less

Position-sensitive detection of ultracold neutrons with an imaging camera and its implications to spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wei, Wanchun; Broussard, Leah J.; Hoffbauer, Mark Arles

Position-sensitive detection of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) is demonstrated using an imaging charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. A spatial resolution less than 15μm has been achieved, which is equivalent to a UCN energy resolution below 2 pico-electron-volts through the relation δE=m 0gδx. Here, the symbols δE, δx, m 0 and g are the energy resolution, the spatial resolution, the neutron rest mass and the gravitational acceleration, respectively. A multilayer surface convertor described previously is used to capture UCNs and then emits visible light for CCD imaging. Particle identification and noise rejection are discussed through the use of light intensity profile analysis. Asmore » a result, this method allows different types of UCN spectroscopy and other applications.« less

Observation of cooperative Mie scattering from an ultracold atomic cloud

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bender, H.; Stehle, C.; Slama, S.

Scattering of light at a distribution of scatterers is an intrinsically cooperative process, which means that the scattering rate and the angular distribution of the scattered light are essentially governed by bulk properties of the distribution, such as its size, shape, and density, although local disorder and density fluctuations may have an important impact on the cooperativity. Via measurements of the radiation pressure force exerted by a far-detuned laser beam on a very small and dense cloud of ultracold atoms, we are able to identify the respective roles of superradiant acceleration of the scattering rate and of Mie scattering inmore » the cooperative process. They lead, respectively, to a suppression or an enhancement of the radiation pressure force. We observe a maximum in the radiation pressure force as a function of the phase shift induced in the incident laser beam by the cloud's refractive index. The maximum marks the borderline of the validity of the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans approximation from a regime, where Mie scattering is more complex. Our observations thus help to clarify the intricate relationship between Rayleigh scattering of light at a coarse-grained ensemble of individual scatterers and Mie scattering at the bulk density distribution.« less

Studying topology and dynamical phase transitions with ultracold quantum gases in optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengstock, Klaus

Topological properties lie at the heart of many fascinating phenomena in solid-state systems such as quantum Hall systems or Chern insulators. The topology of the bands can be captured by the distribution of Berry curvature, which describes the geometry of the eigenstates across the Brillouin zone. Using fermionic ultracold atoms in a hexagonal optical lattice, we engineered the Berry curvature of the Bloch bands using resonant driving and show a full momentum-resolved state tomography from which we obtain the Berry curvature and Chern number. Furthermore, we study the time-evolution of the many-body wavefunction after a sudden quench of the lattce parameters and observe the appearance, movement, and annihilation of vortices in reciprocal space. We identify their number as a dynamical topological order parameter, which suddenly changes its value at critical times. Our measurements constitute the first observation of a so called dynamical topological phase transition`, which we show to be a fruitful concept for the understanding of quantum dynamics far from equilibrium

Observation of two-orbital spin-exchange interactions with ultracold SU(N)-symmetric fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scazza, F.; Hofrichter, C.; Höfer, M.; de Groot, P. C.; Bloch, I.; Fölling, S.

2014-10-01

Spin-exchanging interactions govern the properties of strongly correlated electron systems such as many magnetic materials. When orbital degrees of freedom are present, spin exchange between different orbitals often dominates, leading to the Kondo effect, heavy fermion behaviour or magnetic ordering. Ultracold ytterbium or alkaline-earth ensembles have attracted much recent interest as model systems for these effects, with two (meta-) stable electronic configurations representing independent orbitals. We report the observation of spin-exchanging contact interactions in a two-orbital SU(N)-symmetric quantum gas realized with fermionic 173Yb. We find strong inter-orbital spin exchange by spectroscopic characterization of all interaction channels and demonstrate SU(N = 6) symmetry within our measurement precision. The spin-exchange process is also directly observed through the dynamic equilibration of spin imbalances between ensembles in separate orbitals. The realization of an SU(N)-symmetric two-orbital Hubbard Hamiltonian opens the route to quantum simulations with extended symmetries and with orbital magnetic interactions, such as the Kondo lattice model.

Positron-Electron Annihilation Process in (2,2)-Difluoropropane Molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yang; Ma, Xiao-Guang; Zhu, Ying-Hao

2016-04-01

The positron-electron annihilation process in (2,2)-difluoropropane molecule and the corresponding gamma-ray spectra are studied by quantum chemistry method. The positrophilic electrons in (2,2)-difluoropropane molecule are found for the first time. The theoretical predictions show that the outermost 2s electrons of fluoride atoms play an important role in positron-electron annihilation process of (2,2)-difiuoropropane. In the present scheme, the correlation coefficient between the theoretical gamma-ray spectra and the experiments can be 99%. The present study gives an alternative annihilation model for positron-electron pair in larger molecules. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11347011 and the Natural Science Foundation Project of Shandong Province under Grant No. ZR2011AM010 and 2014 Technology Innovation Fund of Ludong University under Grant Nos. 1d151007 and ld15l016

Ultracold Atoms in a Square Lattice with Spin-Orbit Coupling: Charge Order, Superfluidity, and Topological Signatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberg, Peter; Shi, Hao; Zhang, Shiwei

2017-12-01

We present an ab initio, numerically exact study of attractive fermions in square lattices with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. The ground state of this system is a supersolid, with coexisting charge and superfluid order. The superfluid is composed of both singlet and triplet pairs induced by spin-orbit coupling. We perform large-scale calculations using the auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo method to provide the first full, quantitative description of the charge, spin, and pairing properties of the system. In addition to characterizing the exotic physics, our results will serve as essential high-accuracy benchmarks for the intense theoretical and especially experimental efforts in ultracold atoms to realize and understand an expanding variety of quantum Hall and topological superconductor systems.

Control dynamics of interaction quenched ultracold bosons in periodically driven lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mistakidis, Simeon; Schmelcher, Peter; Group of Fundamental Processes in Quantum Physics Team

2016-05-01

The out-of-equilibrium dynamics of ultracold bosons following an interaction quench upon a periodically driven optical lattice is investigated. It is shown that an interaction quench triggers the inter-well tunneling dynamics, while for the intra-well dynamics breathing and cradle-like processes can be generated. In particular, the occurrence of a resonance between the cradle and tunneling modes is revealed. On the other hand, the employed periodic driving enforces the bosons in the mirror wells to oscillate out-of-phase and to exhibit a dipole mode, while in the central well the cloud experiences a breathing mode. The dynamical behaviour of the system is investigated with respect to the driving frequency revealing a resonant behaviour of the intra-well dynamics. To drive the system in a highly non-equilibrium state an interaction quench upon the driving is performed giving rise to admixtures of excitations in the outer wells, an enhanced breathing in the center and an amplification of the tunneling dynamics. As a result of the quench the system experiences multiple resonances between the inter- and intra-well dynamics at different quench amplitudes. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 925 ``Light induced dynamics and control of correlated quantum systems''.

Experimental apparatus for overlapping a ground-state cooled ion with ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meir, Ziv; Sikorsky, Tomas; Ben-shlomi, Ruti; Akerman, Nitzan; Pinkas, Meirav; Dallal, Yehonatan; Ozeri, Roee

2018-03-01

Experimental realizations of charged ions and neutral atoms in overlapping traps are gaining increasing interest due to their wide research application ranging from chemistry at the quantum level to quantum simulations of solid state systems. In this paper, we describe our experimental system in which we overlap a single ground-state cooled ion trapped in a linear Paul trap with a cloud of ultracold atoms such that both constituents are in the ?K regime. Excess micromotion (EMM) currently limits atom-ion interaction energy to the mK energy scale and above. We demonstrate spectroscopy methods and compensation techniques which characterize and reduce the ion's parasitic EMM energy to the ?K regime even for ion crystals of several ions. We further give a substantial review on the non-equilibrium dynamics which governs atom-ion systems. The non-equilibrium dynamics is manifested by a power law distribution of the ion's energy. We also give an overview on the coherent and non-coherent thermometry tools which can be used to characterize the ion's energy distribution after single to many atom-ion collisions.

Response Functions for the Two-Dimensional Ultracold Fermi Gas: Dynamical BCS Theory and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitali, Ettore; Shi, Hao; Qin, Mingpu; Zhang, Shiwei

2017-12-01

Response functions are central objects in physics. They provide crucial information about the behavior of physical systems, and they can be directly compared with scattering experiments involving particles such as neutrons or photons. Calculations of such functions starting from the many-body Hamiltonian of a physical system are challenging and extremely valuable. In this paper, we focus on the two-dimensional (2D) ultracold Fermi atomic gas which has been realized experimentally. We present an application of the dynamical BCS theory to obtain response functions for different regimes of interaction strengths in the 2D gas with zero-range attractive interaction. We also discuss auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFQMC) methods for the calculation of imaginary time correlations in these dilute Fermi gas systems. Illustrative results are given and comparisons are made between AFQMC and dynamical BCS theory results to assess the accuracy of the latter.

Celebrating 50 years of the laser (Scientific session of the general meeting of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 13 December 2010)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2011-08-01

A scientific session of the general meeting of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the creation of lasers was held in the Conference Hall of the Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS, on 13 December 2010. The agenda of the session announced on the website www.gpad.ac.ru of the RAS Physical Sciences Division listed the following reports: (1) Matveev V A, Bagaev S N Opening speech; (2) Bratman V L, Litvak A G, Suvorov E V (Institute of Applied Physics, RAS, Nizhny Novgorod) "Mastering the terahertz domain: sources and applications"; (3) Balykin V I (Institute of Spectroscopy, RAS, Troitsk, Moscow region) "Ultracold atoms and atom optics"; (4) Ledentsov N N (Ioffe Physical Technical Institute, RAS, St. Petersburg) "New-generation surface-emitting lasers as the key element of the computer communication era"; (5) Krasil'nik Z F (Institute for the Physics of Microstructures, RAS, Nizhny Novgorod) "Lasers for silicon optoelectronics"; (6) Shalagin A M (Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Siberian Branch, RAS, Novosibirsk) "High-power diode-pumped alkali metal vapor lasers"; (7) Kul'chin Yu N (Institute for Automation and Control Processes, Far Eastern Branch, RAS, Vladivostok) "Photonics of self-organizing biomineral nanostructures"; (8) Kolachevsky N N (Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS, Moscow) "Laser cooling of rare-earth atoms and precision measurements". The papers written on the basis of reports 2-4, 7, and 8 are published below.Because the paper based on report 6 was received by the Editors late, it will be published in the October issue of Physics-Uspekhi together with the material related to the Scientific Session of the Physical Sciences Division, RAS, of 22 December 2010. • Mastering the terahertz domain: sources and applications, V L Bratman, A G Litvak, E V Suvorov Physics-Uspekhi, 2011, Volume 54, Number 8, Pages 837-844 • Ultracold atoms and atomic optics, V I Balykin Physics

Simulations Of Laser Cooling In An Ultracold Neutral Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langin, Thomas; Strickler, Trevor; Pohl, Thomas; Vrinceanu, Daniel; Killian, Thomas

2016-05-01

Ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) generated by photoionization of laser-cooled, magneto-optically trapped neutral gases, are useful systems for studying strongly coupled plasmas. Coupling is parameterized by Γi, the ratio of the average nearest neighbor Coulomb interaction energy to the ion kinetic energy. For typical UNPs, Γi is currently limited to ~ 3 . For alkaline earth ions, higher Γi can be achieved by laser-cooling. Using Molecular Dynamics and a quantum trajectories approach, we have simulated laser-cooling of Sr+ ions interacting through a Yukawa potential. The simulations include re-pumping from two long-lived D-states, and are conducted at experimentally achievable parameters (density n = 2 e+14 m-3, size σ0 = 4 mm, Te = 19 K). Laser-cooling is shown to both reduce the temperature by a factor of 2 over relevant timescales (tens of μ s) and slow the electron thermal-pressure driven radial expansion of the UNP. We also discuss the unique aspects of laser-cooling in a highly collisional system; in particular, the effect of collisions on dark state formation due to the coupling of the P3/2 state to both the S1/2 (via the cooling transition) and the D5/2 (via a re-pump transition) states. Supported by NSF and DoE, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the NDSEG Program, and NIH NCRR S10RR02950, an IBM SUR Award in partnership with CISCO, Qlogic and Adaptive Computing.

Nanodevices for Single Molecule Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craighead, H. G.; Stavis, S. M.; Samiee, K. T.

During the last two decades, biotechnology research has resulted in progress in fields as diverse as the life sciences, agriculture and healthcare. While existing technology enables the analysis of a variety of biological systems, new tools are needed for increasing the efficiency of current methods, and for developing new ones altogether. Interest has grown in single molecule analysis for these reasons.

Geometric phase effects in the ultracold H + H 2 reaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kendrick, Brian Kent; Hazra, Jisha; Balakrishnan, N.

2016-10-27

The H 3 system has served as a prototype for geometric phase (GP) effects in bimolecular chemical reactions for over three decades. Despite a large number of theoretical and experimental efforts, no conclusive evidence of GP effects in the integral cross section or reaction rate has been presented until recently. Here we report a more detailed account of GP effects in the H + H 2(v = 4, j = 0) → H + H 2(v', j') (para-para) reaction rate coefficients for temperatures between 1 μK (8.6 × 10 –11 eV) and 100 K (8.6 × 10 –3 eV). Themore » GP effect is found to persist in both vibrationally resolved and total rate coefficients for collision energies up to about 10 K. The GP effect also appears in rotationally resolved differential cross sections leading to a very different oscillatory structure in both energy and scattering angle. It is shown to suppress a prominent shape resonance near 1 K and enhance a shape resonance near 8 K, providing new experimentally verifiable signatures of the GP effect in the fundamental hydrogen exchange reaction. As a result, the GP effect in the D + D 2 and T + T 2 reactions is also examined in the ultracold limit and its sensitivity to the potential energy surface is explored.« less

Observation of Gravitationally Induced Vertical Striation of Polarized Ultracold Neutrons by Spin-Echo Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afach, S.; Ayres, N. J.; Ban, G.; Bison, G.; Bodek, K.; Chowdhuri, Z.; Daum, M.; Fertl, M.; Franke, B.; Griffith, W. C.; Grujić, Z. D.; Harris, P. G.; Heil, W.; Hélaine, V.; Kasprzak, M.; Kermaidic, Y.; Kirch, K.; Knowles, P.; Koch, H.-C.; Komposch, S.; Kozela, A.; Krempel, J.; Lauss, B.; Lefort, T.; Lemière, Y.; Mtchedlishvili, A.; Musgrave, M.; Naviliat-Cuncic, O.; Pendlebury, J. M.; Piegsa, F. M.; Pignol, G.; Plonka-Spehr, C.; Prashanth, P. N.; Quéméner, G.; Rawlik, M.; Rebreyend, D.; Ries, D.; Roccia, S.; Rozpedzik, D.; Schmidt-Wellenburg, P.; Severijns, N.; Thorne, J. A.; Weis, A.; Wursten, E.; Wyszynski, G.; Zejma, J.; Zenner, J.; Zsigmond, G.

2015-10-01

We describe a spin-echo method for ultracold neutrons (UCNs) confined in a precession chamber and exposed to a |B0|=1 μ T magnetic field. We have demonstrated that the analysis of UCN spin-echo resonance signals in combination with knowledge of the ambient magnetic field provides an excellent method by which to reconstruct the energy spectrum of a confined ensemble of neutrons. The method takes advantage of the relative dephasing of spins arising from a gravitationally induced striation of stored UCNs of different energies, and also permits an improved determination of the vertical magnetic-field gradient with an exceptional accuracy of 1.1 pT /cm . This novel combination of a well-known nuclear resonance method and gravitationally induced vertical striation is unique in the realm of nuclear and particle physics and should prove to be invaluable for the assessment of systematic effects in precision experiments such as searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron or the measurement of the neutron lifetime.

Evolution from Rydberg gas to ultracold plasma in a supersonic atomic beam of Xe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, J.; Sadeghi, H.; Schulz-Weiling, M.; Grant, E. R.

2014-08-01

A Rydberg gas of xenon, entrained in a supersonic atomic beam, evolves slowly to form an ultracold plasma. In the early stages of this evolution, when the free-electron density is low, Rydberg atoms undergo long-range \\ell -mixing collisions, yielding states of high orbital angular momentum. The development of high-\\ell states promotes dipole-dipole interactions that help to drive Penning ionization. The electron density increases until it reaches the threshold for avalanche. Ninety μs after the production of a Rydberg gas with the initial state, {{n}_{0}}{{\\ell }_{0}}=42d, a 432 V cm-1 electrostatic pulse fails to separate charge in the excited volume, an effect which is ascribed to screening by free electrons. Photoexcitation cross sections, observed rates of \\ell -mixing, and a coupled-rate-equation model simulating the onset of the electron-impact avalanche point consistently to an initial Rydberg gas density of 5\\times {{10}^{8}}\\;c{{m}^{-3}}.

Excited Negative Ions and Molecules and Negative Ion Production

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

theoretically to have negative electron affinities, analogous to the rare gases. Then, Froese Fischer et al.I found theoretically that Ca- exists...AD-A247 017 Final Report - January 1992 EXCITED NEGATIVE IONS AND MOLECULES AND NEGATIVE ION PRODUCTION OTIC James R. Peterson, Senior Staff...Vice President 92-05594Physical Sciences Division1111111111II fuii 1111 ii 92 3 ’ Final Report . January 1992 EXCITED NEGATIVE IONS AND MOLECULES AND

Quasi-One-Dimensional Ultracold Fermi Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Revelle, Melissa C.

Ultracold atoms have become an essential tool in studying condensed matter phenomena. The advantage of atomic physics experiments is that they provide an easily tunable system. This experiment uses the lowest two ground state hyperfine levels of fermionic lithium. Having two different states creates a pseudo-spin- 1/2 system and allows us to emulate electronic systems, such as superconductors and crystal lattices. In our experiment, we can control the ratio between these two states resulting in either a spin-balanced or a spin-imbalanced gas. Imposing an imbalance is analogous to applying a magnetic field to a superconductor which causes the electrons in the material to align to the field (thus breaking the electron pairs which cause superconductivity). This motivates us to understand the phases created when a spin-imbalance is created and the effect of changing the atomic interactions. In a 3D system, we find where superfluidity is suppressed throughout the BEC to BCS crossover. Using phase separation as a guide, we probe the dimensional crossover between 1D and 3D. The phase separation in 1D is inverted from that in 3D, which provides a unique characteristic to distinguish between the dimensions. By varying the tunneling between tubes and the atomic interactions in a 2D optical lattice, we control whether the system is 1D, 3D, or in between. Using the properties of a 3D gas as a guide, we directly observe when the gas has crossed over from being dominated by 1D-like behavior to 3D. In this way, we have found a universal value for the dimensional crossover. The 1D-3D crossover paves the way to search for the exotic FFLO (Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov) superconductor. While most superconductors do not coexist with magnetism, the FFLO phase requires large magnetic fields to support its pairing mechanism. Additionally, this phase is more likely to be found in lower dimensional systems. However, at low dimensions, the effect of temperature fluctuations on the phase

Single Molecules as Optical Probes for Structure and Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orrit, Michel

Single molecules and single nanoparticles are convenient links between the nanoscale world and the laboratory. We discuss the limits for their optical detection by three different methods: fluorescence, direct absorption, and photothermal detection. We briefly review some recent illustrations of qualitatively new information gathered from single-molecule signals: intermittency of the fluorescence intensity, acoustic vibrations of nanoparticles (1-100 GHz) or of extended defects in molecular crystals (0.1-1 MHz), and dynamical heterogeneity in glass-forming molecular liquids. We conclude with an outlook of future uses of single-molecule methods in physical chemistry, soft matter, and material science.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Croft, J. F. E.; Makrides, C.; Li, M.

A fundamental question in the study of chemical reactions is how reactions proceed at a collision energy close to absolute zero. This question is no longer hypothetical: quantum degenerate gases of atoms and molecules can now be created at temperatures lower than a few tens of nanokelvin. Here we consider the benchmark ultracold reaction between, the most-celebrated ultracold molecule, KRb and K. We map out an accurate ab initio ground-state potential energy surface of the K 2Rb complex in full dimensionality and report numerically-exact quantum-mechanical reaction dynamics. The distribution of rotationally resolved rates is shown to be Poissonian. An analysismore » of the hyperspherical adiabatic potential curves explains this statistical character revealing a chaotic distribution for the short-range collision complex that plays a key role in governing the reaction outcome.« less

Cooling without contact in bilayer dipolar Fermi gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanatar, Bilal; Renklioglu, Basak; Oktel, M. Ozgur

2016-05-01

We consider two parallel layers of dipolar ultracold Fermi gases at different temperatures and calculate the heat transfer between them. The effective interactions describing screening and correlation effects between the dipoles in a single layer are modelled within the Euler-Lagrange Fermi-hypernetted chain approximation. The random-phase approximation is employed for the interactions across the layers. We investigate the amount of transferred power between the layers as a function of the temperature difference. Energy transfer proceeds via the long-range dipole-dipole interactions. A simple thermal model is developed to investigate the feasibility of using the contactless sympathetic cooling of the ultracold polar atoms/molecules. Our calculations indicate that dipolar heat transfer is effective for typical polar molecule experiments and may be utilized as a cooling process. Supported by TUBA and TUBITAK (112T974).

Tunable Superfluidity and Quantum Magnetism with Ultracold Polar Molecules

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-08

generalization of the t-J model that we refer to as the anisotropic t-J-V-W model. Dipole-dipole interactions that give rise to this model are orders...controlled by the ratio between the Rabi frequency and the detuning of a þ-polarized microwave field acting on the j0i j1i tran- sition [27]. In 40K87Rb...field coupling jm0i and jm1i and performing an adiabatic passage from an easily accessible state to the desired ground state by tuning the Rabi

Energy of Atoms and Molecules, Science (Experimental): 5316.05.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buffaloe, Jacquelin F.

This third unit in chemistry is considered for any chemistry student and particularly the college-bound student. An understanding of the material included should enable the student to understand better the concepts in the Dynamic Nature of Atoms and Molecules which are essential for Organic Chemistry, the Chemistry of Carbon and Its Compounds and…

Observation of Dipolar Spin-Exchange Interactions with Polar Molecules in a Lattice

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

extend beyond nearest neighbours. This allows coherent spin dynamics to persist even for gases with relatively high entropy and low lattice filling...dynamics to persist even for gases with relatively high entropy and low lat- tice filling. While measured effects of dipolar interactions in ultracold...limits superexchange to nearest-neighbor interactions and requires extremely low temperature and entropy . In contrast, long-range dipolar

Atoms and Molecules Interacting with Light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Straten, Peter; Metcalf, Harold

2016-02-01

; 15. The periodic system of the elements; Appendix 15. A paramagnetism; Appendix 15.B. The color of gold; 16. Molecules; Appendix 16.A. Morse potential; 17. Binding in the hydrogen molecule; Appendix 17.A. Confocal elliptical coordinates; Appendix 17.B. One-electron two-center integrals; Appendix 17.C. Electron-electron interaction in molecular hydrogen; 18. Ultra-cold chemistry; Part III. Applications: 19. Optical forces and laser cooling; 20. Confinement of neutral atoms; 21. Bose-Einstein condensation; Appendix 21.A. Distribution functions; Appendix 21.B. Density of states; 22. Cold molecules; 23. Three level systems; Appendix 23.A. General Case for _1 , _2; 24. Fundamental physics; Part IV. Appendices: Appendix A. Notation and definitions; Appendix B. Units and notation; Appendix C. Angular momentum in quantum mechanics; Appendix D. Transition strengths; References; Index.

Small Talk: Children's Everyday `Molecule' Ideas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakab, Cheryl

2013-08-01

This paper reports on 6-11-year-old children's `sayings and doings' (Harré 2002) as they explore molecule artefacts in dialectical-interactive teaching interviews (Fleer, Cultural Studies of Science Education 3:781-786, 2008; Hedegaard et al. 2008). This sociocultural study was designed to explore children's everyday awareness of and meaning-making with cultural molecular artefacts. Our everyday world is populated with an ever increasing range of molecular or nanoworld words, symbols, images, and games. What do children today say about these artefacts that are used to represent molecular world entities? What are the material and social resources that can influence a child's everyday and developing scientific ideas about `molecules'? How do children interact with these cognitive tools when given expert assistance? What meaning-making is afforded when children are socially and materially assisted in using molecular tools in early chemical and nanoworld thinking? Tool-dependent discursive studies show that provision of cultural artefacts can assist and direct developmental thinking across many domains of science (Schoultz et al., Human Development 44:103-118, 2001; Siegal 2008). Young children's use of molecular artefacts as cognitive tools has not received much attention to date (Jakab 2009a, b). This study shows 6-11-year-old children expressing everyday ideas of molecular artefacts and raising their own questions about the artefacts. They are seen beginning to domesticate (Erneling 2010) the words, symbols, and images to their own purposes when given the opportunity to interact with such artefacts in supported activity. Discursive analysis supports the notion that using `molecules' as cultural tools can help young children to begin `putting on molecular spectacles' (Kind 2004). Playing with an interactive game (ICT) is shown to be particularly helpful in assisting children's early meaning-making with representations of molecules, atoms, and their chemical symbols.

Probing topology by "heating": Quantized circular dichroism in ultracold atoms.

PubMed

Tran, Duc Thanh; Dauphin, Alexandre; Grushin, Adolfo G; Zoller, Peter; Goldman, Nathan

2017-08-01

We reveal an intriguing manifestation of topology, which appears in the depletion rate of topological states of matter in response to an external drive. This phenomenon is presented by analyzing the response of a generic two-dimensional (2D) Chern insulator subjected to a circular time-periodic perturbation. Because of the system's chiral nature, the depletion rate is shown to depend on the orientation of the circular shake; taking the difference between the rates obtained from two opposite orientations of the drive, and integrating over a proper drive-frequency range, provides a direct measure of the topological Chern number (ν) of the populated band: This "differential integrated rate" is directly related to the strength of the driving field through the quantized coefficient η 0 = ν/ ℏ 2 , where h = 2π ℏ is Planck's constant. Contrary to the integer quantum Hall effect, this quantized response is found to be nonlinear with respect to the strength of the driving field, and it explicitly involves interband transitions. We investigate the possibility of probing this phenomenon in ultracold gases and highlight the crucial role played by edge states in this effect. We extend our results to 3D lattices, establishing a link between depletion rates and the nonlinear photogalvanic effect predicted for Weyl semimetals. The quantized circular dichroism revealed in this work designates depletion rate measurements as a universal probe for topological order in quantum matter.

Single molecule data under scrutiny. Comment on "Extracting physics of life at the molecular level: A review of single-molecule data analyses" by W. Colomb & S.K. Sarkar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wohland, Thorsten

2015-06-01

Single Molecule Detection and Spectroscopy have grown from their first beginnings into mainstream, mature research areas that are widely applied in the biological sciences. However, despite the advances in technology and the application of many single molecule techniques even in in vivo settings, the data analysis of single molecule experiments is complicated by noise, systematic errors, and complex underlying processes that are only incompletely understood. Colomb and Sarkar provide in this issue an overview of single molecule experiments and the accompanying problems in data analysis, which have to be overcome for a proper interpretation of the experiments [1].

Photoexcitation circular dichroism in chiral molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beaulieu, S.; Comby, A.; Descamps, D.; Fabre, B.; Garcia, G. A.; Géneaux, R.; Harvey, A. G.; Légaré, F.; Mašín, Z.; Nahon, L.; Ordonez, A. F.; Petit, S.; Pons, B.; Mairesse, Y.; Smirnova, O.; Blanchet, V.

2018-05-01

Chiral effects appear in a wide variety of natural phenomena and are of fundamental importance in science, from particle physics to metamaterials. The standard technique of chiral discrimination—photoabsorption circular dichroism—relies on the magnetic properties of a chiral medium and yields an extremely weak chiral response. Here, we propose and demonstrate an orders of magnitude more sensitive type of circular dichroism in neutral molecules: photoexcitation circular dichroism. This technique does not rely on weak magnetic effects, but takes advantage of the coherent helical motion of bound electrons excited by ultrashort circularly polarized light. It results in an ultrafast chiral response and the efficient excitation of a macroscopic chiral density in an initially isotropic ensemble of randomly oriented chiral molecules. We probe this excitation using linearly polarized laser pulses, without the aid of further chiral interactions. Our time-resolved study of vibronic chiral dynamics opens a way to the efficient initiation, control and monitoring of chiral chemical change in neutral molecules at the level of electrons.

The optics inside an automated single molecule array analyzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuigan, William; Fournier, David R.; Watson, Gary W.; Walling, Les; Gigante, Bill; Duffy, David C.; Rissin, David M.; Kan, Cheuk W.; Meyer, Raymond E.; Piech, Tomasz; Fishburn, Matthew W.

2014-02-01

Quanterix and Stratec Biomedical have developed an instrument that enables the automated measurement of multiple proteins at concentration ~1000 times lower than existing immunoassays. The instrument is based on Quanterix's proprietary Single Molecule Array technology (Simoa™ ) that facilitates the detection and quantification of biomarkers previously difficult to measure, thus opening up new applications in life science research and in-vitro diagnostics. Simoa is based on trapping individual beads in arrays of femtoliter-sized wells that, when imaged with sufficient resolution, allows for counting of single molecules associated with each bead. When used to capture and detect proteins, this approach is known as digital ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The platform developed is a merger of many science and engineering disciplines. This paper concentrates on the optical technologies that have enabled the development of a fully-automated single molecule analyzer. At the core of the system is a custom, wide field-of-view, fluorescence microscope that images arrays of microwells containing single molecules bound to magnetic beads. A consumable disc containing 24 microstructure arrays was developed previously in collaboration with Sony DADC. The system cadence requirements, array dimensions, and requirement to detect single molecules presented significant optical challenges. Specifically, the wide field-of-view needed to image the entire array resulted in the need for a custom objective lens. Additionally, cost considerations for the system required a custom solution that leveraged the image processing capabilities. This paper will discuss the design considerations and resultant optical architecture that has enabled the development of an automated digital ELISA platform.

Mode-coupling of interaction quenched ultracold bosons in periodically driven lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mistakidis, Simeon; Schmelcher, Peter

2016-05-01

The out-of-equilibrium dynamics of interaction quenched finite ultracold bosonic ensembles in periodically driven one-dimensional optical lattices is investigated. As a first attempt a brief analysis of the dynamics caused exclusively by the periodically driven lattice is presented and the induced low-lying modes are introduced. It is shown that the periodic driving enforces the bosons in the outer wells to exhibit out-of-phase dipole-like modes, while in the central well the cloud experiences a local-breathing mode. The dynamical behavior of the system is investigated with respect to the driving frequency, revealing a resonant-like behavior of the intra-well dynamics. Subsequently, we drive the system to a highly non-equilibrium state by performing an interaction quench upon the periodically driven lattice. This protocol gives rise to admixtures of excitations in the outer wells, an enhanced breathing in the center and an amplification of the tunneling dynamics. As a result (of the quench) the system experiences multiple resonances between the inter- and intra-well dynamics at different quench amplitudes. Finally, our study reveals that the position of the resonances can be adjusted e.g. via the driving frequency or the atom number manifesting their many-body nature. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the framework of the SFB 925 ``Light induced dynamics and control of correlated quantum systems''.

Manipulating, Reacting, and Constructing Single Molecules with a Scanning Tunneling Microscope Tip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hla, S.-W.

The fascinating advances in atom and molecule manipulation with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip allow scientists to fabricate artificial atomic scale structures, to study local quantum phenomena, or to probe physical and chemical properties of single atoms and molecules on surfaces. Recent achievements in individual synthesis of single molecules with the STM tip further open up an entirely new opportunities in nanoscience and technology. The STM manipulation techniques usef ul in the molecular construction are reviewed and prospects for future opportunities of single molecule chemical engineering and their possible implications to nano-scale science and technology are discussed.

Observation of Gravitationally Induced Vertical Striation of Polarized Ultracold Neutrons by Spin-Echo Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Afach, S; Ayres, N J; Ban, G; Bison, G; Bodek, K; Chowdhuri, Z; Daum, M; Fertl, M; Franke, B; Griffith, W C; Grujić, Z D; Harris, P G; Heil, W; Hélaine, V; Kasprzak, M; Kermaidic, Y; Kirch, K; Knowles, P; Koch, H-C; Komposch, S; Kozela, A; Krempel, J; Lauss, B; Lefort, T; Lemière, Y; Mtchedlishvili, A; Musgrave, M; Naviliat-Cuncic, O; Pendlebury, J M; Piegsa, F M; Pignol, G; Plonka-Spehr, C; Prashanth, P N; Quéméner, G; Rawlik, M; Rebreyend, D; Ries, D; Roccia, S; Rozpedzik, D; Schmidt-Wellenburg, P; Severijns, N; Thorne, J A; Weis, A; Wursten, E; Wyszynski, G; Zejma, J; Zenner, J; Zsigmond, G

2015-10-16

We describe a spin-echo method for ultracold neutrons (UCNs) confined in a precession chamber and exposed to a |B0|=1  μT magnetic field. We have demonstrated that the analysis of UCN spin-echo resonance signals in combination with knowledge of the ambient magnetic field provides an excellent method by which to reconstruct the energy spectrum of a confined ensemble of neutrons. The method takes advantage of the relative dephasing of spins arising from a gravitationally induced striation of stored UCNs of different energies, and also permits an improved determination of the vertical magnetic-field gradient with an exceptional accuracy of 1.1  pT/cm. This novel combination of a well-known nuclear resonance method and gravitationally induced vertical striation is unique in the realm of nuclear and particle physics and should prove to be invaluable for the assessment of systematic effects in precision experiments such as searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron or the measurement of the neutron lifetime.

Probing and characterizing the growth of a crystal of ultracold bosons and light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ostermann, S.; Piazza, F.; Ritsch, H.

2017-12-01

The non-linear coupled particle light dynamics of an ultracold gas in the field of two independent counter-propagating laser beams can lead to the dynamical formation of a self-ordered lattice structure as presented in (2016) Phys. Rev. X 6 021026. Here we present new numerical studies on experimentally observable signatures to monitor the growth and properties of such a crystal in real time. While, at least theoretically, optimal non-destructive observation of the growth dynamics and the hallmarks of the crystalline phase can be performed by analyzing scattered light, monitoring the evolution of the particle’s momentum distribution via time-of-flight probing is an experimentally more accessible choice. In this work we show that both approaches allow us to unambiguously distinguish the crystal from independent collective scattering as it occurs in matter wave super-radiance. As a clear crystallization signature, we identify spatial locking between the two emerging standing laser waves, together creating the crystal potential. For sufficiently large systems, the system allows reversible adiabatic ramping into the crystalline phase as an alternative to a quench across the phase transition and growth from fluctuations.

A hydrogen leak-tight, transparent cryogenic sample container for ultracold-neutron transmission measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Döge, Stefan; Hingerl, Jürgen

2018-03-01

The improvement of the number of extractable ultracold neutrons (UCNs) from converters based on solid deuterium (sD2) crystals requires a good understanding of the UCN transport and how the crystal's morphology influences its transparency to the UCNs. Measurements of the UCN transmission through cryogenic liquids and solids of interest, such as hydrogen (H2) and deuterium (D2), require sample containers with thin, highly polished and optically transparent windows and a well defined sample thickness. One of the most difficult sealing problems is that of light gases like hydrogen and helium at low temperatures against high vacuum. Here we report on the design of a sample container with two 1 mm thin amorphous silica windows cold-welded to aluminum clamps using indium wire gaskets, in order to form a simple, reusable, and hydrogen-tight cryogenic seal. The container meets the above-mentioned requirements and withstands up to 2 bar hydrogen gas pressure against isolation vacuum in the range of 10-5 to 10-7 mbar at temperatures down to 4.5 K. Additionally, photographs of the crystallization process are shown and discussed.

Ab initio calculations of the electronic structure of the low-lying states for the ultracold LiYb molecule

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tohme, Samir N.; Korek, Mahmoud, E-mail: mahmoud.korek@bau.edu.lb, E-mail: fkorek@yahoo.com; Awad, Ramadan

Ab initio techniques have been applied to investigate the electronic structure of the LiYb molecule. The potential energy curves have been computed in the Born–Oppenheimer approximation for the ground and 29 low-lying doublet and quartet excited electronic states. Complete active space self-consistent field, multi-reference configuration interaction, and Rayleigh Schrödinger perturbation theory to second order calculations have been utilized to investigate these states. The spectroscopic constants, ω{sub e}, R{sub e}, B{sub e}, …, and the static dipole moment, μ, have been investigated by using the two different techniques of calculation with five different types of basis. The eigenvalues, E{sub v}, themore » rotational constant, B{sub v}, the centrifugal distortion constant, D{sub v}, and the abscissas of the turning points, R{sub min} and R{sub max}, have been calculated by using the canonical functions approach. The comparison between the values of the present work, calculated by different techniques, and those available in the literature for several electronic states shows a very good agreement. Twenty-one new electronic states have been studied here for the first time.« less

Single-molecule spectroscopy for plastic electronics: materials analysis from the bottom-up.

PubMed

Lupton, John M

2010-04-18

pi-conjugated polymers find a range of applications in electronic devices. These materials are generally highly disordered in terms of chain length and chain conformation, besides being influenced by a variety of chemical and physical defects. Although this characteristic can be of benefit in certain device applications, disorder severely complicates materials analysis. Accurate analytical techniques are, however, crucial to optimising synthetic procedures and assessing overall material purity. Fortunately, single-molecule spectroscopic techniques have emerged as an unlikely but uniquely powerful approach to unraveling intrinsic material properties from the bottom up. Building on the success of such techniques in the life sciences, single-molecule spectroscopy is finding increasing applicability in materials science, effectively enabling the dissection of the bulk down to the level of the individual molecular constituent. This article reviews recent progress in single molecule spectroscopy of conjugated polymers as used in organic electronics.

Single-Molecule Spectroscopy and Imaging Over the Decades

PubMed Central

Moerner, W. E.; Shechtman, Yoav; Wang, Quan

2016-01-01

As of 2015, it has been 26 years since the first optical detection and spectroscopy of single molecules in condensed matter. This area of science has expanded far beyond the early low temperature studies in crystals to include single molecules in cells, polymers, and in solution. The early steps relied upon high-resolution spectroscopy of inhomogeneously broadened optical absorption profiles of molecular impurities in solids at low temperatures. Spectral fine structure arising directly from the position-dependent fluctuations of the number of molecules in resonance led to the attainment of the single-molecule limit in 1989 using frequency-modulation laser spectroscopy. In the early 1990's, a variety of fascinating physical effects were observed for individual molecules, including imaging of the light from single molecules as well as observations of spectral diffusion, optical switching and the ability to select different single molecules in the same focal volume simply by tuning the pumping laser frequency. In the room temperature regime, researchers showed that bursts of light from single molecules could be detected in solution, leading to imaging and microscopy by a variety of methods. Studies of single copies of the green fluorescent protein also uncovered surprises, especially the blinking and photoinduced recovery of emitters, which stimulated further development of photoswitchable fluorescent protein labels. All of these early steps provided important fundamentals underpinning the development of super-resolution microscopy based on single-molecule localization and active control of emitting concentration. Current thrust areas include extensions to three-dimensional imaging with high precision, orientational analysis of single molecules, and direct measurements of photodynamics and transport properties for single molecules trapped in solution by suppression of Brownian motion. Without question, a huge variety of studies of single molecules performed by many

Small Talk: Children's Everyday "Molecule" Ideas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jakab, Cheryl

2013-01-01

This paper reports on 6-11-year-old children's "sayings and doings" (Harré 2002) as they explore molecule artefacts in dialectical-interactive teaching interviews (Fleer, "Cultural Studies of Science Education" 3:781-786, 2008; Hedegaard et al. 2008). This sociocultural study was designed to explore children's…

Antibody-Mediated Small Molecule Detection Using Programmable DNA-Switches.

PubMed

Rossetti, Marianna; Ippodrino, Rudy; Marini, Bruna; Palleschi, Giuseppe; Porchetta, Alessandro

2018-06-13

The development of rapid, cost-effective, and single-step methods for the detection of small molecules is crucial for improving the quality and efficiency of many applications ranging from life science to environmental analysis. Unfortunately, current methodologies still require multiple complex, time-consuming washing and incubation steps, which limit their applicability. In this work we present a competitive DNA-based platform that makes use of both programmable DNA-switches and antibodies to detect small target molecules. The strategy exploits both the advantages of proximity-based methods and structure-switching DNA-probes. The platform is modular and versatile and it can potentially be applied for the detection of any small target molecule that can be conjugated to a nucleic acid sequence. Here the rational design of programmable DNA-switches is discussed, and the sensitive, rapid, and single-step detection of different environmentally relevant small target molecules is demonstrated.

Bose-Einstein condensate of rigid rotor molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Evan; Smith, Joseph; Rittenhouse, Seth; Peden, Brandon; Wilson, Ryan

2017-04-01

We study the ground state phases of a quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of dipolar rigid rotor molecules subject to a DC electric field. In the high-field limit, this system acquires the properties of the fully polarized dipolar BEC, which exhibits a roton-maxon excitation spectrum, and has been thoroughly studied in the theoretical literature. In the weak-field limit, however, qualitatively new physics emerges due to the competition between the (weak) applied field and internal electric fields, which are produced by the molecules themselves. We characterize the ground states of this system, and study its unique dielectric properties. We gratefully acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHYS-1516421.

A permanent magnet trap for buffer gas cooled atoms and molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nohlmans, D.; Skoff, S. M.; Hendricks, R. J.; Segal, D. M.; Sauer, B. E.; Hinds, E. A.; Tarbutt, M. R.

2013-05-01

Cold molecules are set to provide a wealth of new science compared to their atomic counterparts. Here we want to present preliminary results for cooling and trapping atoms/molecules in a permanent magnetic trap. By replacing the conventional buffer gas cell with an arrangement of permanent magnets, we will be able to trap a fraction of the molecules right where they are cooled. For this purpose we have designed a quadrupole trap using NdFeB magnets, which has a trap depth of 0.4 K for molecules with a magnetic moment of 1 μB. Cold helium gas is pulsed into the trap region by a solenoid valve and the atoms/molecules are subsequently ablated into this and cooled via elastic collisions, leaving a fraction of them trapped. This new set-up is currently being tested with lithium atoms as they are easier to make. After having optimised the trapping and detection processes, we will use the same trap for YbF molecules.

Laboratory simulation to support the search for organic molecules at the surface of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poch, Olivier; Szopa, Cyril; Coll, Patrice; Jaber, Maguy; Georgelin, Thomas; Lambert, Jean-Francois; Stalport, Fabien

The search for organic carbon at the surface of Mars, as clues of past habitability or remnants of life, is a major science goal of Mars’ exploration. Understanding the chemical evolution of organic molecules under current Martian environmental conditions is essential to support the analyses performed in situ. What molecule can be preserved? What is the timescale of organic evolution at the surface? Here we present results of laboratory investigations dedicated to monitor qualitative and quantitative evolutions of several organic molecules under simulated Martian surface ultraviolet incident light, mean ground temperature and pressure, using the Mars Organic Molecules Irradiation and Evolution setup (1) . For each organic molecule studied, the nature of the evolution products (solid or gaseous) and the kinetic parameters (extrapolated half-life at Mars, quantum yields) were experimentally determined. The results show that when exposed to UV radiation, specific organic molecules lead to the formation of solid residues, probably of macromolecular nature, which could reach long term stability. On the other hand, the study of the evolution of molecules in presence of nontronite, a clay mineral detected at the surface of Mars, highlights a strong protective effect of the clay reducing dissociation rates for some molecules, whereas a possible catalytic effect is tentatively observed for one studied molecule. These results are essential to support the analyses performed in situ during the past, current and future exploration missions. Moreover, the experimentally determined kinetic parameters provide new inputs for numerical modeling of current reservoirs of organic molecules on Mars. (1) O. Poch et al., Planetary and Space Science 85, 188-197, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2013.06.013

Probing topology by “heating”: Quantized circular dichroism in ultracold atoms

PubMed Central

Tran, Duc Thanh; Dauphin, Alexandre; Grushin, Adolfo G.; Zoller, Peter; Goldman, Nathan

2017-01-01

We reveal an intriguing manifestation of topology, which appears in the depletion rate of topological states of matter in response to an external drive. This phenomenon is presented by analyzing the response of a generic two-dimensional (2D) Chern insulator subjected to a circular time-periodic perturbation. Because of the system’s chiral nature, the depletion rate is shown to depend on the orientation of the circular shake; taking the difference between the rates obtained from two opposite orientations of the drive, and integrating over a proper drive-frequency range, provides a direct measure of the topological Chern number (ν) of the populated band: This “differential integrated rate” is directly related to the strength of the driving field through the quantized coefficient η0 = ν/ℏ2, where h = 2π ℏ is Planck’s constant. Contrary to the integer quantum Hall effect, this quantized response is found to be nonlinear with respect to the strength of the driving field, and it explicitly involves interband transitions. We investigate the possibility of probing this phenomenon in ultracold gases and highlight the crucial role played by edge states in this effect. We extend our results to 3D lattices, establishing a link between depletion rates and the nonlinear photogalvanic effect predicted for Weyl semimetals. The quantized circular dichroism revealed in this work designates depletion rate measurements as a universal probe for topological order in quantum matter. PMID:28835930

The Mona Lisa of modern science.

PubMed

Kemp, Martin

2003-01-23

No molecule in the history of science has reached the iconic status of the double helix of DNA. Its image has been imprinted on all aspects of society, from science, art, music, cinema, architecture and advertising. This review of the Mona Lisa of science examines the evolution of its form at the hands of both science and art.

Predicting human olfactory perception from chemical features of odor molecules.

PubMed

Keller, Andreas; Gerkin, Richard C; Guan, Yuanfang; Dhurandhar, Amit; Turu, Gabor; Szalai, Bence; Mainland, Joel D; Ihara, Yusuke; Yu, Chung Wen; Wolfinger, Russ; Vens, Celine; Schietgat, Leander; De Grave, Kurt; Norel, Raquel; Stolovitzky, Gustavo; Cecchi, Guillermo A; Vosshall, Leslie B; Meyer, Pablo

2017-02-24

It is still not possible to predict whether a given molecule will have a perceived odor or what olfactory percept it will produce. We therefore organized the crowd-sourced DREAM Olfaction Prediction Challenge. Using a large olfactory psychophysical data set, teams developed machine-learning algorithms to predict sensory attributes of molecules based on their chemoinformatic features. The resulting models accurately predicted odor intensity and pleasantness and also successfully predicted 8 among 19 rated semantic descriptors ("garlic," "fish," "sweet," "fruit," "burnt," "spices," "flower," and "sour"). Regularized linear models performed nearly as well as random forest-based ones, with a predictive accuracy that closely approaches a key theoretical limit. These models help to predict the perceptual qualities of virtually any molecule with high accuracy and also reverse-engineer the smell of a molecule. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Interaction-induced conducting-non-conducting transition of ultra-cold atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chien, Chih-Chun; Gruss, Daniel; Di Ventra, Massimiliano; Zwolak, Michael

2013-06-01

The study of time-dependent, many-body transport phenomena is increasingly within reach of ultra-cold atom experiments. We show that the introduction of spatially inhomogeneous interactions, e.g., generated by optically controlled collisions, induce negative differential conductance in the transport of atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices. Specifically, we simulate the dynamics of interacting fermionic atoms via a micro-canonical transport formalism within both a mean-field and a higher-order approximation, as well as with a time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG). For weakly repulsive interactions, a quasi-steady-state atomic current develops that is similar to the situation occurring for electronic systems subject to an external voltage bias. At the mean-field level, we find that this atomic current is robust against the details of how the interaction is switched on. Further, a conducting-non-conducting transition exists when the interaction imbalance exceeds some threshold from both our approximate and time-dependent DMRG simulations. This transition is preceded by the atomic equivalent of negative differential conductivity observed in transport across solid-state structures.

Soliton Trains Induced by Adaptive Shaping with Periodic Traps in Four-Level Ultracold Atom Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djouom Tchenkoue, M. L.; Welakuh Mbangheku, D.; Dikandé, Alain M.

2017-06-01

It is well known that an optical trap can be imprinted by a light field in an ultracold-atom system embedded in an optical cavity, and driven by three different coherent fields. Of the three fields coexisting in the optical cavity there is an intense control field that induces a giant Kerr nonlinearity via electromagnetically-induced transparency, and another field that creates a periodic optical grating of strength proportional to the square of the associated Rabi frequency. In this work elliptic-soliton solutions to the nonlinear equation governing the propagation of the probe field are considered, with emphasis on the possible generation of optical soliton trains forming a discrete spectrum with well defined quantum numbers. The problem is treated assuming two distinct types of periodic optical gratings and taking into account the negative and positive signs of detunings (detuning above or below resonance). Results predict that the competition between the self-phase and cross-phase modulation nonlinearities gives rise to a rich family of temporal soliton train modes characterized by distinct quantum numbers.

Spatial shaping for generating arbitrary optical dipole traps for ultracold degenerate gases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Jeffrey G., E-mail: jglee@umd.edu; Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742; Hill, W. T., E-mail: wth@umd.edu

2014-10-15

We present two spatial-shaping approaches – phase and amplitude – for creating two-dimensional optical dipole potentials for ultracold neutral atoms. When combined with an attractive or repulsive Gaussian sheet formed by an astigmatically focused beam, atoms are trapped in three dimensions resulting in planar confinement with an arbitrary network of potentials – a free-space atom chip. The first approach utilizes an adaptation of the generalized phase-contrast technique to convert a phase structure embedded in a beam after traversing a phase mask, to an identical intensity profile in the image plane. Phase masks, and a requisite phase-contrast filter, can be chemicallymore » etched into optical material (e.g., fused silica) or implemented with spatial light modulators; etching provides the highest quality while spatial light modulators enable prototyping and realtime structure modification. This approach was demonstrated on an ensemble of thermal atoms. Amplitude shaping is possible when the potential structure is made as an opaque mask in the path of a dipole trap beam, followed by imaging the shadow onto the plane of the atoms. While much more lossy, this very simple and inexpensive approach can produce dipole potentials suitable for containing degenerate gases. High-quality amplitude masks can be produced with standard photolithography techniques. Amplitude shaping was demonstrated on a Bose-Einstein condensate.« less

From Nanoscale Systems to Ultracold Atoms and Molecules, and Back

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-05

H. Jing, C. Raman, P. Meystre. Optical control of a quantum rotor , Physical Review A, (03 2013): 0. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.87.031601 Huatang Tan...study of proposed interferometric gravitational wave detectors in the 1970s and 1980s (and which resulted to the first direct detection of...gravitational waves originating from the collision of massive blackholes by the LIGO gravitational wave antennas in 2015.) In parallel to these kilometer-size

Zero-mode waveguide nanophotonic structures for single molecule characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crouch, Garrison M.; Han, Donghoon; Bohn, Paul W.

2018-05-01

Single-molecule characterization has become a crucial research tool in the chemical and life sciences, but limitations, such as limited concentration range, inability to control molecular distributions in space, and intrinsic phenomena, such as photobleaching, present significant challenges. Recent developments in non-classical optics and nanophotonics offer promising routes to mitigating these restrictions, such that even low affinity (K D ~ mM) biomolecular interactions can be studied. Here we introduce and review specific nanophotonic devices used to support single molecule studies. Optical nanostructures, such as zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs), are usually fabricated in thin gold or aluminum films and serve to confine the observation volume of optical microspectroscopy to attoliter to zeptoliter volumes. These simple nanostructures allow individual molecules to be isolated for optical and electrochemical analysis, even when the molecules of interest are present at high concentration (µM–mM) in bulk solution. Arrays of ZMWs may be combined with optical probes such as single molecule fluorescence, single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for distributed analysis of large numbers of single-molecule reactions or binding events in parallel. Furthermore, ZMWs may be used as multifunctional devices, for example by combining optical and electrochemical functions in a single discrete architecture to achieve electrochemical ZMWs. In this review, we will describe the optical properties, fabrication, and applications of ZMWs for single-molecule studies, as well as the integration of ZMWs into systems for chemical and biochemical analysis.

Topology, edge states, and zero-energy states of ultracold atoms in one-dimensional optical superlattices with alternating on-site potentials or hopping coefficients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Yan; Wright, Kevin; Kouachi, Said; Chien, Chih-Chun

2018-02-01

One-dimensional superlattices with periodic spatial modulations of onsite potentials or tunneling coefficients can exhibit a variety of properties associated with topology or symmetry. Recent developments of ring-shaped optical lattices allow a systematic study of those properties in superlattices with or without boundaries. While superlattices with additional modulating parameters are shown to have quantized topological invariants in the augmented parameter space, we also found localized or zero-energy states associated with symmetries of the Hamiltonians. Probing those states in ultracold atoms is possible by utilizing recently proposed methods analyzing particle depletion or the local density of states. Moreover, we summarize feasible realizations of configurable optical superlattices using currently available techniques.

Neutron lifetime measurements with a large gravitational trap for ultracold neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serebrov, A. P.; Kolomensky, E. A.; Fomin, A. K.; Krasnoshchekova, I. A.; Vassiljev, A. V.; Prudnikov, D. M.; Shoka, I. V.; Chechkin, A. V.; Chaikovskiy, M. E.; Varlamov, V. E.; Ivanov, S. N.; Pirozhkov, A. N.; Geltenbort, P.; Zimmer, O.; Jenke, T.; Van der Grinten, M.; Tucker, M.

2018-05-01

Neutron lifetime is one of the most important physical constants: it determines parameters of the weak interaction and predictions of primordial nucleosynthesis theory. There remains the unsolved problem of a 3.9σ discrepancy between measurements of this lifetime using neutrons in beams and those with stored ultracold neutrons (UCN). In our experiment we measure the lifetime of neutrons trapped by Earth's gravity in an open-topped vessel. Two configurations of the trap geometry are used to change the mean frequency of UCN collisions with the surfaces; this is achieved by plunging an additional surface into the trap without breaking the vacuum. The trap walls are coated with a hydrogen-less fluorine-containing polymer to reduce losses of UCN. The stability of this coating over multiple thermal cycles between 80 and 300 K was tested. At 80 K, the probability of UCN loss due to collisions with the trap walls is just 1.5% of the probability of β decay. The free neutron lifetime is determined by extrapolation to an infinitely large trap with zero collision frequency. The result of these measurements is τn=881.5 ±0 .7stat ±0 .6syst s which is consistent with the conventional value of 880.2 ± 1.0 s presented by the Particle Data Group. Future prospects for this experiment are in further cooling to 10 K, which will lead to an improved accuracy of measurement. In conclusion we present an analysis of currently available data on various measurements of the neutron lifetime.

Quantum Electric Dipole Lattice - Water Molecules Confined to Nanocavities in Beryl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dressel, Martin; Zhukova, Elena S.; Thomas, Victor G.; Gorshunov, Boris P.

2018-02-01

Water is subject to intense investigations due to its importance in biological matter but keeps many of its secrets. Here, we unveil an even other aspect by confining H2O molecules to nanosize cages. Our THz and infrared spectra of water in the gemstone beryl evidence quantum tunneling of H2O molecules in the crystal lattice. The water molecules are spread out when confined in a nanocage. In combination with low-frequency dielectric measurements, we were also able to show that dipolar coupling among the H2O molecules leads towards a ferroelectric state at low temperatures. Upon cooling, a ferroelectric soft mode shifts through the THz range. Only quantum fluctuations prevent perfect macroscopic order to be fully achieved. Beside the significance to life science and possible application, nanoconfined water may become the prime example of a quantum electric dipolar lattice.

Single molecule sequencing of the M13 virus genome without amplification.

PubMed

Zhao, Luyang; Deng, Liwei; Li, Gailing; Jin, Huan; Cai, Jinsen; Shang, Huan; Li, Yan; Wu, Haomin; Xu, Weibin; Zeng, Lidong; Zhang, Renli; Zhao, Huan; Wu, Ping; Zhou, Zhiliang; Zheng, Jiao; Ezanno, Pierre; Yang, Andrew X; Yan, Qin; Deem, Michael W; He, Jiankui

2017-01-01

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized life sciences research. However, GC bias and costly, time-intensive library preparation make NGS an ill fit for increasing sequencing demands in the clinic. A new class of third-generation sequencing platforms has arrived to meet this need, capable of directly measuring DNA and RNA sequences at the single-molecule level without amplification. Here, we use the new GenoCare single-molecule sequencing platform from Direct Genomics to sequence the genome of the M13 virus. Our platform detects single-molecule fluorescence by total internal reflection microscopy, with sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry. We sequenced the genome of M13 to a depth of 316x, with 100% coverage. We determined a consensus sequence accuracy of 100%. In contrast to GC bias inherent to NGS results, we demonstrated that our single-molecule sequencing method yields minimal GC bias.

H2: the benchmark molecule for ultrafast science and technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Heide; Lefebvre, Catherine; Bandrauk, André D.; Staudte, André; Légaré, François

2018-02-01

This review article focuses on imaging and controlling ultrafast dynamics of the hydrogen molecule and its cation, initiated by ultrashort laser pulses. We discuss the mechanisms underlying these dynamics and theoretical methods to describe them. A broad variety of defining and influencing theoretical and experimental results is presented. We put special emphasis on the required experimental techniques, many of which have been developed in view of imaging the fastest of all nuclear dynamics.

Loading ultracold gases in topological Floquet bands: the fate of current and center-of-mass responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dauphin, Alexandre; Tran, Duc-Thanh; Lewenstein, Maciej; Goldman, Nathan

2017-06-01

Topological band structures can be designed by subjecting lattice systems to time-periodic modulations, as was proposed for irradiated graphene, and recently demonstrated in two-dimensional (2D) ultracold gases and photonic crystals. However, changing the topological nature of Floquet Bloch bands from trivial to non-trivial, by progressively launching the time-modulation, is necessarily accompanied with gap-closing processes: this has important consequences for the loading of particles into a target Floquet band with non-trivial topology, and hence, on the subsequent measurements. In this work, we analyse how such loading sequences can be optimized in view of probing the topology of 2D Floquet bands through transport measurements. In particular, we demonstrate the robustness of center-of-mass responses, as compared to current responses, which present important irregularities due to an interplay between the micro-motion of the drive and inter-band interference effects. The results presented in this work illustrate how probing the center-of-mass displacement of atomic clouds offers a reliable method to detect the topology of Floquet bands, after realistic loading sequences.

The Virtual Museum of Minerals and Molecules: Molecular Visualization in a Virtual Hands-On Museum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barak, Phillip; Nater, Edward A.

2005-01-01

The Virtual Museum of Minerals and Molecules (VMMM) is a web-based resource presenting interactive, 3-D, research-grade molecular models of more than 150 minerals and molecules of interest to chemical, earth, plant, and environmental sciences. User interactivity with the 3-D display allows models to be rotated, zoomed, and specific regions of…

Study of ground state optical transfer for ultracold alkali dimers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Londono, Beatriz; Borsalino, Dimitri; Vexiau, Romain; Mahecha, Jorge; Dulieu, Olivier; Luc-Koenig, Eliane

2013-05-01

Control of molecular states by laser pulses offer promising potential applications. The manipulation of molecules by external fields requires precise knowledge of the molecular structure. Our motivation is to perform a detailed analysis of the spectroscopic properties of alkali dimers, with the aim to determine efficient optical paths to form molecules in the absolute ground state and to determine the optimal parameters of the optical lattices where those molecules are manipulated to avoid losses by collisions. To this end, we use state of the art molecular potentials, R-dependent spin-orbit coupling and transition dipole moment to perform our calculations. R-dependent SO coupling are of crucial importance because the transitions occur at internuclear distances where they are affected by this R-dependence. Efficient schemes to transfer RbCs, KRb and KCs to the absolute ground state as well as the optimal parameters of the optical lattices will be presented. This work was supported in part by ``Triangle de la Physique'' under contract 2008-007T-QCCM (Quantum Control of Cold Molecules).

The quantum computer game: citizen science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damgaard, Sidse; Mølmer, Klaus; Sherson, Jacob

2013-05-01

Progress in the field of quantum computation is hampered by daunting technical challenges. Here we present an alternative approach to solving these by enlisting the aid of computer players around the world. We have previously examined a quantum computation architecture involving ultracold atoms in optical lattices and strongly focused tweezers of light. In The Quantum Computer Game (see http://www.scienceathome.org/), we have encapsulated the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for the problem in a graphical user interface allowing for easy user input. Players can then search the parameter space with real-time graphical feedback in a game context with a global high-score that rewards short gate times and robustness to experimental errors. The game which is still in a demo version has so far been tried by several hundred players. Extensions of the approach to other models such as Gross-Pitaevskii and Bose-Hubbard are currently under development. The game has also been incorporated into science education at high-school and university level as an alternative method for teaching quantum mechanics. Initial quantitative evaluation results are very positive. AU Ideas Center for Community Driven Research, CODER.

Measurement of the Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Cesium Rydberg Atoms by Time-of-Flight Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jingkui; Zhang, Linjie; Zhang, Hao; Zhao, Jianming; Jia, Suotang

2015-09-01

We prepare nS (n = 49) cesium Rydberg atoms by two-photon excitation in a standard magnetooptical trap to obtain the spatial distribution of the Rydberg atoms by measuring the time-of-flight (TOF) spectra in the case of a low Rydberg density. We analyze the time evolution of the ultracold nS Rydberg atoms distribution by changing the delay time of the pulsed ionization field, defined as the duration from the moment of switching off the excitation lasers to the time of switching on the ionization field. TOF spectra of Rydberg atoms are observed as a function of the delay time and initial Rydberg atomic density. The corresponding full widths at half maximum (FWHMs) are obtained by fitting the spectra with a Gaussian profile. The FWHM decreases with increasing delay time at a relatively high Rydberg atom density (>5 × 107/cm3) because of the decreasing Coulomb interaction between released charges during their flight to the detector. The temperature of the cold atoms is deduced from the dependence of the TOF spectra on the delay time under the condition of low Rydberg atom density.

Quantum measurement-induced dynamics of many-body ultracold bosonic and fermionic systems in optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzucchi, Gabriel; Kozlowski, Wojciech; Caballero-Benitez, Santiago F.; Elliott, Thomas J.; Mekhov, Igor B.

2016-02-01

Trapping ultracold atoms in optical lattices enabled numerous breakthroughs uniting several disciplines. Coupling these systems to quantized light leads to a plethora of new phenomena and has opened up a new field of study. Here we introduce an unusual additional source of competition in a many-body strongly correlated system: We prove that quantum backaction of global measurement is able to efficiently compete with intrinsic short-range dynamics of an atomic system. The competition becomes possible due to the ability to change the spatial profile of a global measurement at a microscopic scale comparable to the lattice period without the need of single site addressing. In coherence with a general physical concept, where new competitions typically lead to new phenomena, we demonstrate nontrivial dynamical effects such as large-scale multimode oscillations, long-range entanglement, and correlated tunneling, as well as selective suppression and enhancement of dynamical processes beyond the projective limit of the quantum Zeno effect. We demonstrate both the breakup and protection of strongly interacting fermion pairs by measurement. Such a quantum optical approach introduces into many-body physics novel processes, objects, and methods of quantum engineering, including the design of many-body entangled environments for open systems.

Atoms and Molecules: Do They Have a Place in Primary Science?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Kam-Wah Lucille; Tan, Swee-Ngin

2004-01-01

In primary science, topics such as matter, air, water, and changes of state are generally introduced through hands-on activities using everyday resources. Many children find it difficult to understand basic science concepts such as states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) and everyday phenomena such as evaporating and dissolving. Teachers may…

I.I. Rabi in Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics Prize Talk: Strongly Interacting Fermi Gases of Atoms and Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zwierlein, Martin

2017-04-01

Strongly interacting fermions govern physics at all length scales, from nuclear matter to modern electronic materials and neutron stars. The interplay of the Pauli principle with strong interactions can give rise to exotic properties that we do not understand even at a qualitative level. In recent years, ultracold Fermi gases of atoms have emerged as a new type of strongly interacting fermionic matter that can be created and studied in the laboratory with exquisite control. Feshbach resonances allow for unitarity limited interactions, leading to scale invariance, universal thermodynamics and a superfluid phase transition already at 17 Trapped in optical lattices, fermionic atoms realize the Fermi-Hubbard model, believed to capture the essence of cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Here, a microscope allows for single-atom, single-site resolved detection of density and spin correlations, revealing the Pauli hole as well as anti-ferromagnetic and doublon-hole correlations. Novel states of matter are predicted for fermions interacting via long-range dipolar interactions. As an intriguing candidate we created stable fermionic molecules of NaK at ultralow temperatures featuring large dipole moments and second-long spin coherence times. In some of the above examples the experiment outperformed the most advanced computer simulations of many-fermion systems, giving hope for a new level of understanding of strongly interacting fermions.

Superfluidity and BCS-BEC crossover of ultracold atomic Fermi gases in mixed dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Leifeng; Chen, Qijin

Atomic Fermi gases have been under active investigation in the past decade. Here we study the superfluid and pairing phenomena of a two-component ultracold atomic Fermi gas in the presence of mixed dimensionality, in which one component is confined on a 1D optical lattice whereas the other is free in the 3D continuum. We assume a short-range pairing interaction and determine the superfluid transition temperature Tc and the phase diagram for the entire BCS-BEC crossover, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite momentum pairs. We find that, as the lattice depth increases and the lattice spacing decreases, the behavior of Tc becomes very similar to that of a population imbalance Fermi gas in a simple 3D continuum. There is no superfluidity even at T = 0 below certain threshold of pairing strength in the BCS regime. Nonmonotonic Tc behavior and intermediate temperature superfluidity emerge, and for deep enough lattice, the Tc curve will split into two parts. Implications for experiment will be discussed. References: 1. Q.J. Chen, Ioan Kosztin, B. Janko, and K. Levin, Phys. Rev. B 59, 7083 (1999). 2. Chih-Chun Chien, Qijin Chen, Yan He, and K. Levin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 090402(2006). Work supported by NSF of China and the National Basic Research Program of China.

Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-15

Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other...properties: Age and composition effects. Science 171, 567–571 (1971). 5. Moroz , L. V., Fisenko, A. V., Semjonova, L. F., Pieters, C. M. & Korotaeva

Single molecule sequencing of the M13 virus genome without amplification

PubMed Central

Zhao, Luyang; Deng, Liwei; Li, Gailing; Jin, Huan; Cai, Jinsen; Shang, Huan; Li, Yan; Wu, Haomin; Xu, Weibin; Zeng, Lidong; Zhang, Renli; Zhao, Huan; Wu, Ping; Zhou, Zhiliang; Zheng, Jiao; Ezanno, Pierre; Yang, Andrew X.; Yan, Qin; Deem, Michael W.; He, Jiankui

2017-01-01

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized life sciences research. However, GC bias and costly, time-intensive library preparation make NGS an ill fit for increasing sequencing demands in the clinic. A new class of third-generation sequencing platforms has arrived to meet this need, capable of directly measuring DNA and RNA sequences at the single-molecule level without amplification. Here, we use the new GenoCare single-molecule sequencing platform from Direct Genomics to sequence the genome of the M13 virus. Our platform detects single-molecule fluorescence by total internal reflection microscopy, with sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry. We sequenced the genome of M13 to a depth of 316x, with 100% coverage. We determined a consensus sequence accuracy of 100%. In contrast to GC bias inherent to NGS results, we demonstrated that our single-molecule sequencing method yields minimal GC bias. PMID:29253901

Impact of molecule-based magnetic materials: A critical outlook

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rentschler, Eva; Affronte, Marco; Massobrio, Carlo; Rabu, Pierre; Veciana, Jaume

2009-05-01

A critical outlook of the field of molecular magnetic materials is presented. This article is inspired by an international symposium devoted to the " Design, Characterization and Modelling of Molecule-Based Magnetic Materials (DCM4-II)" that took place at Strasbourg (France), from May 28th to June 1st, within the E-MRS 2007 Spring Meeting (Symposium R) organized by the European Materials Research Society in collaboration with the European Science Foundation. A series of papers linked to this symposium are published in this issue and in the previous issue (Volume 11, Issue 4) of Solid State Sciences.

Dynamics of bound water molecules in fullerenol at different hydration levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yilin; Robey, Steven; Reutt-Robey, Janice

Fullerenols, polyhydroxylated fullerenes, are of great interest as promising materials in medical application because of their high water solubility and biocompatibility. Fullerenols are highly responsive to their environment, for example, they readily undergo hydration under ambient conditions. Understanding the dynamics of water molecules bound to fullerenols, and the interplay between water molecules and fullerenols is important in realizing biological function. Here, broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), was performed on a fullerenol with 44 hydroxyl groups, C60(OH)44, between 300 K and 340 K. At room temperature and under ambient conditions, C60(OH)44 is hydrated, releasing bound water molecules with increasing temperature, as quantified by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. At room temperature, a dielectric band due to collective bulk-like dynamics of the bound water molecules is observed. The relaxation peak of the water molecules shifts to higher frequency with increasing of temperature, reflecting the dynamics of bound water. Upon loss of water molecules, either thermally induced or vacuum induced, the relaxation peak shifts to lower frequency. The stoichiometric relationship between the dielectric properties of the hydrated fullerenol and the interplay between the bound water molecules and C60(OH)44 will be discussed. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Award Number 1310380.

Heat Transfer Through Dipolar Coupling: Sympathetic cooling without contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oktel, Mehmet; Renklioglu, Basak; Tanatar, Bilal

We consider two parallel layers of dipolar ultracold gases at different temperatures and calculate the heat transfer through dipolar coupling. As the simplest model we consider a system in which both of the layers contain two-dimensional spin-polarized Fermi gases. The effective interactions describing the correlation effects and screening between the dipoles are obtained by the Euler-Lagrange Fermi-hypernetted-chain approximation in a single layer. We use the random-phase approximation (RPA) for the interactions across the layers. We find that heat transfer through dipolar coupling becomes efficient when the layer separation is comparable to dipolar interaction length scale. We characterize the heat transfer by calculating the time constant for temperature equilibration between the layers and find that for the typical experimental parameter regime of dipolar molecules this is on the order of milliseconds. We generalize the initial model to Boson-Boson and Fermion-Boson layers and suggest that contactless sympathetic cooling may be used for ultracold dipolar molecules. Supported by TUBITAK 1002-116F030.

A Theoretical Investigation of the Plausibility of Reactions Between Ammonia and Carbonyl Species (Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, and Acetone) in Interstellar Ice Analogs at Ultracold Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Lina; Woon, David E.

2011-01-01

We have reexamined the reaction between formaldehyde and ammonia, which was previously studied by us and other workers in modestly sized cluster calculations. Larger model systems with up to 12H2O were employed, and reactions of two more carbonyl species, acetaldehyde and acetone, were also carried out. Calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-31+G** level with bulk solvent effects treated with a polarizable continuum model; limited MP2/6-31+G** calculations were also performed. We found that while the barrier for the concerted proton relay mechanism described in previous work remains modest, it is still prohibitively high for the reaction to occur under the ultracold conditions that prevail in dense interstellar clouds. However, a new pathway emerged in more realistic clusters that involves at least one barrierless step for two of the carbonyl species considered here: ammonia reacts with formaldehyde and acetaldehyde to form a partial charge transfer species in small clusters (4H2O) and a protonated hydroxyamino intermediate species in large clusters (9H2O, 12H2O); modest barriers that decrease sharply with cluster size are found for the analogous processes for the acetone-NH3 reaction. Furthermore, if a second ammonia replaces one of the water molecules in calculations in the 9H2O clusters, deprotonation can occur to yield the same neutral hydroxyamino species that is formed via the original concerted proton relay mechanism. In at least one position, deprotonation is barrierless when zero-point energy is included. In addition to describing the structures and energetics of the reactions between formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone with ammonia, we report spectroscopic predictions of the observable vibrational features that are expected to be present in ice mixtures of different composition.

Molecules Without Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruth, Anthony; Collins, Laura; Gomes, Kenjiro; Janko, Boldizsar

We present a real-space representation of molecules which results in the normal bonding rules and electronic structure of chemistry without atom-centered coulomb potentials. Using a simple mapping, we can generate atomless molecules from the structure of real molecules. Additionally, molecules without atoms show similar covalent bonding energies and transfer of charge in ionic bonds as real molecules. The atomless molecules contain only the valence and conduction electronic structure of the real molecule. Using the framework of the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) theory of Bader, we prove that the topological features of the valence charge distribution of molecules without atoms are identical to that of real molecules. In particular, the charge basins of atomless molecules show identical location and quantities of representative charge. We compare the accuracy, computational cost, and intuition gained from electronic structure calculations of molecules without atoms with the use of pseudopotentials to represent atomic cores in density functional theory. A. R. acknowledges support from a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship.

Physics with Cold Molecules Using Buffer Gas Cooling: Precision Measurement, Collisions, and Laser Cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutzler, Nicholas R.; Doyle, John M.

2014-06-01

Cryogenic buffer gas cooled beams and cells can be used to study many species, from atoms and polar molecules to biomolecules. We report on recent applications of this technique to improve the limit on the electron electric dipole moment [1], load polar molecules into a magnetic trap through optical pumping [2], perform chirally sensitive microwave spectroscopy on polyatomic molecules [3], progress towards magneto-optical trapping of polar molecules [4], and studies of atom-molecule sticking [5]. [1] The ACME Collaboration: J. Baron et al., Science 343, p. 269 (2014) [2] B. Hemmerling et al., arXiv:1310.2669, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. [3] D. Patterson, M. Schnell, & J. M. Doyle, Nature 497, p. 475 (2013) [4] H. Lu et al., arXiv:1310.3239, to appear in New. J. Phys. [5] J. Piskorski et al., under preparation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zabawa, P.; Wakim, A.; Haruza, M.

We report production of ultracold X {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}(v{sup ''}=0) NaCs molecules via photoassociation. We utilize a combination of spectroscopic techniques to determine formation pathways and label ground-state samples. Efficient free-bound excitation occurs due to coupling between B {sup 1}{Pi} and neighboring electronic states in the Na 3S+Cs 6P complex. An f-wave shape resonance contributes to formation of a rotationally pure sample of X {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}(v{sup ''}=0,J{sup ''}=1) molecules.

Cold molecules: Progress in quantum engineering of chemistry and quantum matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bohn, John L.; Rey, Ana Maria; Ye, Jun

2017-09-01

Cooling atoms to ultralow temperatures has produced a wealth of opportunities in fundamental physics, precision metrology, and quantum science. The more recent application of sophisticated cooling techniques to molecules, which has been more challenging to implement owing to the complexity of molecular structures, has now opened the door to the longstanding goal of precisely controlling molecular internal and external degrees of freedom and the resulting interaction processes. This line of research can leverage fundamental insights into how molecules interact and evolve to enable the control of reaction chemistry and the design and realization of a range of advanced quantum materials.

The Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov state for ultracold fermions in lattice and harmonic potentials: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kinnunen, Jami J.; Baarsma, Jildou E.; Martikainen, Jani-Petri; Törmä, Päivi

2018-04-01

We review the concepts and the present state of theoretical studies of spin-imbalanced superfluidity, in particular the elusive Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state, in the context of ultracold quantum gases. The comprehensive presentation of the theoretical basis for the FFLO state that we provide is useful also for research on the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in other physical systems. We focus on settings that have been predicted to be favourable for the FFLO state, such as optical lattices in various dimensions and spin–orbit coupled systems. These are also the most likely systems for near-future experimental observation of the FFLO state. Theoretical bounds, such as Bloch’s and Luttinger’s theorems, and experimentally important limitations, such as finite-size effects and trapping potentials, are considered. In addition, we provide a comprehensive review of the various ideas presented for the observation of the FFLO state. We conclude our review with an analysis of the open questions related to the FFLO state, such as its stability, superfluid density, collective modes and extending the FFLO superfluid concept to new types of lattice systems.

Surface functionalization of bioactive glasses with natural molecules of biological significance, Part I: Gallic acid as model molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xin; Ferraris, Sara; Prenesti, Enrico; Verné, Enrica

2013-12-01

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, GA) and its derivatives are a group of biomolecules (polyphenols) obtained from plants. They have effects which are potentially beneficial to heath, for example they are antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antibacterial, as recently investigated in many fields such as medicine, food and plant sciences. The main drawbacks of these molecules are both low stability and bioavailability. In this research work the opportunity to graft GA to bioactive glasses is investigated, in order to deliver the undamaged biological molecule into the body, using the biomaterial surfaces as a localized carrier. GA was considered for functionalization since it is a good model molecule for polyphenols and presents several interesting biological activities, like antibacterial, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. Two different silica based bioactive glasses (SCNA and CEL2), with different reactivity, were employed as substrates. UV photometry combined with the Folin&Ciocalteu reagent was adopted to test the concentration of GA in uptake solution after functionalization. This test verified how much GA consumption occurred with surface modification and it was also used on solid samples to test the presence of GA on functionalized glasses. XPS and SEM-EDS techniques were employed to characterize the modification of material surface properties and functional group composition before and after functionalization.

Surface Passivation for Single-molecule Protein Studies

PubMed Central

Chandradoss, Stanley D.; Haagsma, Anna C.; Lee, Young Kwang; Hwang, Jae-Ho; Nam, Jwa-Min; Joo, Chirlmin

2014-01-01

Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy has proven to be instrumental in understanding a wide range of biological phenomena at the nanoscale. Important examples of what this technique can yield to biological sciences are the mechanistic insights on protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. When interactions of proteins are probed at the single-molecule level, the proteins or their substrates are often immobilized on a glass surface, which allows for a long-term observation. This immobilization scheme may introduce unwanted surface artifacts. Therefore, it is essential to passivate the glass surface to make it inert. Surface coating using polyethylene glycol (PEG) stands out for its high performance in preventing proteins from non-specifically interacting with a glass surface. However, the polymer coating procedure is difficult, due to the complication arising from a series of surface treatments and the stringent requirement that a surface needs to be free of any fluorescent molecules at the end of the procedure. Here, we provide a robust protocol with step-by-step instructions. It covers surface cleaning including piranha etching, surface functionalization with amine groups, and finally PEG coating. To obtain a high density of a PEG layer, we introduce a new strategy of treating the surface with PEG molecules over two rounds, which remarkably improves the quality of passivation. We provide representative results as well as practical advice for each critical step so that anyone can achieve the high quality surface passivation. PMID:24797261

High-speed atomic force microscopy for observing protein molecules in dynamic action

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, T.

2017-02-01

Directly observing protein molecules in dynamic action at high spatiotemporal resolution has long been a holy grail for biological science. To materialize this long quested dream, I have been developing high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) since 1993. Tremendous strides were recently accomplished in its high-speed and low-invasive performances. Consequently, various dynamic molecular actions, including bipedal walking of myosin V and rotary propagation of structural changes in F1-ATPase, were successfully captured on video. The visualized dynamic images not only provided irrefutable evidence for speculated actions of the protein molecules but also brought new discoveries inaccessible with other approaches, thus giving great mechanistic insights into how the molecules function. HS-AFM is now transforming "static" structural biology into dynamic structural bioscience.

Time and Space Resolved High Harmonic Imaging of Electron Tunnelling from Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smirnova, O.

2009-05-01

High harmonic generation in intense laser fields carries the promise of combining sub-Angstrom spatial and attosecond temporal resolution of electronic structures and dynamics in molecules, see e.g. [1-3]. High harmonic emission occurs when an electron detached from a molecule by an intense laser field recombines with the parent ion [4]. Similar to Young's double-slit experiment, recombination to several ``lobes'' of the same molecular orbital can produce interference minima and maxima in harmonic intensities [1]. These minima (maxima) carry structural information -- they occur when the de-Broglie wavelength of the recombining electron matches distances between the centers. We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that amplitude minima (maxima) in the harmonic spectra can also have dynamical origin, reflecting multi-electron dynamics in the molecule. We use high harmonic spectra to record this dynamics and reconstruct the position of the hole left in the molecule after ionization. Experimental data are consistent with the hole starting in different places as the ionization dynamics changes from tunnelling to the multi-photon regime. Importantly, hole localization and subsequent attosecond dynamics are induced even in the tunnelling limit. Thus, even ``static'' tunnelling induced by a tip of a tunnelling microscope will generate similar attosecond dynamics in a sample. We anticipate that our approach will become standard in disentangling spatial and temporal information from high harmonic spectra of molecules.[4pt] In collaboration with Serguei Patchkovskii, National Research Council, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada; Yann Mairesse, NRC Canada and CELIA, Universit'e Bordeaux I, UMR 5107 (CNRS, Bordeaux 1, CEA), 351 Cours de la Lib'eration, 33405 Talence Cedex, France; Nirit Dudovich, NRC Canada and Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; David Villeneuve, Paul Corkum, NRC Canada

Molecule nanoweaver

DOEpatents

Gerald, II; Rex, E [Brookfield, IL; Klingler, Robert J [Glenview, IL; Rathke, Jerome W [Homer Glen, IL; Diaz, Rocio [Chicago, IL; Vukovic, Lela [Westchester, IL

2009-03-10

A method, apparatus, and system for constructing uniform macroscopic films with tailored geometric assemblies of molecules on the nanometer scale. The method, apparatus, and system include providing starting molecules of selected character, applying one or more force fields to the molecules to cause them to order and condense with NMR spectra and images being used to monitor progress in creating the desired geometrical assembly and functionality of molecules that comprise the films.

Measurement of spin-flip probabilities for ultracold neutrons interacting with nickel phosphorus coated surfaces

DOE PAGES

Tang, Zhaowen; Adamek, Evan Robert; Brandt, Aaron; ...

2016-04-26

In this paper, we report a measurement of the spin-flip probabilities for ultracold neutrons interacting with surfaces coated with nickel phosphorus. For 50 μm thick nickel phosphorus coated on stainless steel, the spin-flip probability per bounce was found to be β NiP on SS = (3.3 +1.8, -5.6) X 10 -6. For 50 μm thick nickel phosphorus coated on aluminum, the spin-flip probability per bounce was found to be β NiP on Al = (3.6 +2.1, -5.9) X 10 -6. For the copper guide used as reference, the spin flip probability per bounce was found to be β Cu =more » (6.7 + 5.0, -2.5) X 10 -6. The results on the nickel phosphorus-coated surfaces may be interpreted as upper limits, yielding β NiP on SS < 6.2 X 10 -6 (90% C.L.) and β NiP on Al < 7.0 X 10 -6 (90% C.L.) for 50 μm thick nickel phosphorus coated on stainless steel and 50 μm thick nickel phosphorus coated on aluminum, respectively. Finally, nickel phosphorus coated stainless steel or aluminum provides a solution when low-cost, mechanically robust, and non-depolarizing UCN guides with a high Fermi potential are needed.« less

Single Molecule Science for Personalized Nanomedicine: Atomic Force Microscopy of Biopolymer-Protein Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsueh, Carlin

Nanotechnology has a unique and relatively untapped utility in the fields of medicine and dentistry at the level of single-biopolymer and -molecule diagnostics. In recent years atomic force microscopy (AFM) has garnered much interest due to its ability to obtain atomic-resolution of molecular structures and probe biophysical behaviors of biopolymers and proteins in a variety of biologically significant environments. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the nanoscale manipulation and observation of biopolymers to develop an innovative technology for personalized medicine while understanding complex biological systems. These studies described here primarily use AFM to observe biopolymer interactions with proteins and its surroundings with unprecedented resolution, providing a better understanding of these systems and interactions at the nanoscale. Transcriptional profiling, the measure of messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance in a single cell, is a powerful technique that detects "behavior" or "symptoms" at the tissue and cellular level. We have sought to develop an alternative approach, using our expertise in AFM and single molecule nanotechnology, to achieve a cost-effective high throughput method for sensitive detection and profiling of subtle changes in transcript abundance. The technique does not require amplification of the mRNA sample because the AFM provides three-dimensional views of molecules with unprecedented resolution, requires minimal sample preparation, and utilizes a simple tagging chemistry on cDNA molecules. AFM images showed collagen polymers in teeth and of Drebrin-A remodeling of filamentous actin structure and mechanics. AFM was used to image collagen on exposed dentine tubules and confirmed tubule occlusion with a desensitizing prophylaxis paste by Colgate-Palmolive. The AFM also superseded other microscopy tools in resolving F-actin helix remodeling and possible cooperative binding by a neuronal actin binding protein---Drebrin-A, an

From molecule to market access: drug regulatory science as an upcoming discipline.

PubMed

Gispen-de Wied, Christine C; Leufkens, Hubertus G M

2013-11-05

Regulatory science as a discipline has evolved over the past years with the object to boost and promote scientific rationale behind benefit/risk and decision making by regulatory authorities. The European Medicines Agency, EMA, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency, PMDA, highlighted in their distinct ways the importance of regulatory science as a basis of good quality assessment in their strategic plans. The Medicines Evaluation Board, MEB, states: 'regulatory science is the science of developing and validating new standards and tools to evaluate and assess the benefit/risk of medicinal products, facilitating sound and transparent regulatory decision making'. Through analysis of regulatory frameworks itself and their effectiveness, however, regulatory science can also advance knowledge of these systems in general. The comprehensive guidance that is issued to complete an application dossier for regulatory product approval has seldomly been scrutinized for its efficiency. Since it is the task of regulatory authorities to protect and promote public health, it is understood that they take a cautious approach in regulating drugs prior to market access. In general, the authorities are among the first to be blamed if dangerous or useless drugs were allowed to the market. Yet, building a regulatory framework that is not challenged continuously in terms of deliverables for public health and cost-effectiveness, might be counterproductive in the end. Regulatory science and research can help understand how and why regulatory decisions are made, and where renewed discussions may be warranted. The MEB supports regulatory science as an R&D activity to fuel primary regulatory processes on product evaluation and vigilance, but also invests in a 'looking into the mirror' approach. Along the line of the drug life-cycle, publicly available data are reviewed and their regulatory impact highlighted. If made explicit

Synthesis of many different types of organic small molecules using one automated process.

PubMed

Li, Junqi; Ballmer, Steven G; Gillis, Eric P; Fujii, Seiko; Schmidt, Michael J; Palazzolo, Andrea M E; Lehmann, Jonathan W; Morehouse, Greg F; Burke, Martin D

2015-03-13

Small-molecule synthesis usually relies on procedures that are highly customized for each target. A broadly applicable automated process could greatly increase the accessibility of this class of compounds to enable investigations of their practical potential. Here we report the synthesis of 14 distinct classes of small molecules using the same fully automated process. This was achieved by strategically expanding the scope of a building block-based synthesis platform to include even C(sp3)-rich polycyclic natural product frameworks and discovering a catch-and-release chromatographic purification protocol applicable to all of the corresponding intermediates. With thousands of compatible building blocks already commercially available, many small molecules are now accessible with this platform. More broadly, these findings illuminate an actionable roadmap to a more general and automated approach for small-molecule synthesis. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Helicos BioSciences.

PubMed

Milos, Patrice

2008-04-01

Helicos BioSciences Corporation is a life sciences company developing revolutionary new single molecule sequencing technology to provide the path to the US$1000 genome. True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS) will drive advancements in pharmacogenomics that can enable a better understanding of an individual's susceptibility to disease, develop more effective disease diagnoses and differentiate response to disease therapies. During 2007, genome-wide disease-association studies, the encylopedia of DNA elements (ENCODE) and the published genome sequence of two individuals have revealed human genome variation far more extensive than originally believed. These also demonstrated that common variations explain only a fraction of the genetic basis of disease. Therefore, the capability to understand an individual genome is critical in setting the foundation for the next great revolution in healthcare. Helicos is committed to this vision and will provide cost-effective genome sequencing and comprehensive analysis of the transcribed genome that can unlock the era of personalized healthcare.

A Single-Molecule Barcoding System using Nanoslits for DNA Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Kyubong; Schramm, Timothy M.; Schwartz, David C.

Single DNA molecule approaches are playing an increasingly central role in the analytical genomic sciences because single molecule techniques intrinsically provide individualized measurements of selected molecules, free from the constraints of bulk techniques, which blindly average noise and mask the presence of minor analyte components. Accordingly, a principal challenge that must be addressed by all single molecule approaches aimed at genome analysis is how to immobilize and manipulate DNA molecules for measurements that foster construction of large, biologically relevant data sets. For meeting this challenge, this chapter discusses an integrated approach for microfabricated and nanofabricated devices for the manipulation of elongated DNA molecules within nanoscale geometries. Ideally, large DNA coils stretch via nanoconfinement when channel dimensions are within tens of nanometers. Importantly, stretched, often immobilized, DNA molecules spanning hundreds of kilobase pairs are required by all analytical platforms working with large genomic substrates because imaging techniques acquire sequence information from molecules that normally exist in free solution as unrevealing random coils resembling floppy balls of yarn. However, nanoscale devices fabricated with sufficiently small dimensions fostering molecular stretching make these devices impractical because of the requirement of exotic fabrication technologies, costly materials, and poor operational efficiencies. In this chapter, such problems are addressed by discussion of a new approach to DNA presentation and analysis that establishes scaleable nanoconfinement conditions through reduction of ionic strength; stiffening DNA molecules thus enabling their arraying for analysis using easily fabricated devices that can also be mass produced. This new approach to DNA nanoconfinement is complemented by the development of a novel labeling scheme for reliable marking of individual molecules with fluorochrome labels

Single-molecule toroics in Ising-type lanthanide molecular clusters.

PubMed

Ungur, Liviu; Lin, Shuang-Yan; Tang, Jinkui; Chibotaru, Liviu F

2014-01-01

Single-molecule toroics (SMTs) are defined, by analogy with single-molecule magnets, as bistable molecules with a toroidal magnetic state, and seem to be most promising for future applications in quantum computing and information storage and use as multiferroic materials with magnetoelectric effect. As an interdisciplinary research area that spans chemistry, physics and material sciences, synthetic chemists have produced systems suitable for detailed study by physicists and materials scientists, while ab initio calculations have been playing a major role in the detection of toroidal magnetization and the advancement of this field. In this tutorial review, we demonstrate the research developed in the fascinating and challenging field of molecular-based SMTs with particular focus on how recent studies tend to address the issue of toroidal arrangement of the magnetic moment in these systems. Herein, nine typical SMTs are summarized, showing that the assembly of wheel-shaped complexes with the high symmetry of the molecule unit and strong intra-molecular dipolar interactions using strong anisotropy metal ions represents the most promising route toward the design of a toroidal moment. Furthermore, the linkage of such robust toroidal moment units with ferromagnetic type through appropriate bridging ligands enhances the toroidal magnetic moment per unit cell.

Preparation of a pure molecular quantum gas.

PubMed

Herbig, Jens; Kraemer, Tobias; Mark, Michael; Weber, Tino; Chin, Cheng; Nägerl, Hanns-Christoph; Grimm, Rudolf

2003-09-12

An ultracold molecular quantum gas is created by application of a magnetic field sweep across a Feshbach resonance to a Bose-Einstein condensate of cesium atoms. The ability to separate the molecules from the atoms permits direct imaging of the pure molecular sample. Magnetic levitation enables study of the dynamics of the ensemble on extended time scales. We measured ultralow expansion energies in the range of a few nanokelvin for a sample of 3000 molecules. Our observations are consistent with the presence of a macroscopic molecular matter wave.

Meeting report: SMART timing--principles of single molecule techniques course at the University of Michigan 2014.

PubMed

Bartke, Rebecca M; Cameron, Elizabeth L; Cristie-David, Ajitha S; Custer, Thomas C; Denies, Maxwell S; Daher, May; Dhakal, Soma; Ghosh, Soumi; Heinicke, Laurie A; Hoff, J Damon; Hou, Qian; Kahlscheuer, Matthew L; Karslake, Joshua; Krieger, Adam G; Li, Jieming; Li, Xiang; Lund, Paul E; Vo, Nguyen N; Park, Jun; Pitchiaya, Sethuramasundaram; Rai, Victoria; Smith, David J; Suddala, Krishna C; Wang, Jiarui; Widom, Julia R; Walter, Nils G

2015-05-01

Four days after the announcement of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy" based on single molecule detection, the Single Molecule Analysis in Real-Time (SMART) Center at the University of Michigan hosted a "Principles of Single Molecule Techniques 2014" course. Through a combination of plenary lectures and an Open House at the SMART Center, the course took a snapshot of a technology with an especially broad and rapidly expanding range of applications in the biomedical and materials sciences. Highlighting the continued rapid emergence of technical and scientific advances, the course underscored just how brightly the future of the single molecule field shines. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Heat and Molecules. Seychelles Integrated Science. [Teacher and Pupil Booklets]. Unit 10.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brophy, M.; Fryars, M.

Seychelles Integrated Science (SIS), a 3-year laboratory-based science program for students (ages 11-15) in upper primary grades 7, 8, and 9, was developed from an extensive evaluation and modification of previous P7-P9 materials. This P8 SIS unit deals with: (1) changes in temperature which make matter expand and contract (and how this affects…

Symmetry of extremely floppy molecules: Molecular states beyond rotation-vibration separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmiedt, Hanno; Schlemmer, Stephan; Jensen, Per

2015-10-01

Traditionally, molecules are theoretically described as near-static structures rotating in space. Vibrational motion causing small structural deformations induces a perturbative treatment of the rotation-vibration interaction, which fails in highly fluxional molecules, where all vibrational motions have amplitudes comparable in size to the linear dimensions of the molecule. An example is protonated methane (CH 5+ ) [P. Kumar and D. Marx, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8, 573 (2006); Z. Jin et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 1569 (2006); and A. S. Petit et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 118, 7206 (2014)]. For these molecules, customary theory fails to simulate reliably even the low-energy spectrum [T. Oka, Science 347, 1313-1314 (2015) and O. Asvany et al., Science 347, 1346-1349 (2015)]. Within the traditional view of rotation and vibration being near-separable, rotational and vibrational wavefunctions can be symmetry classified separately in the molecular symmetry (MS) group [P. Bunker and P. Jensen, Molecular Symmetry and Spectroscopy, NRC Monograph Publishing Program (NRC Research Press, 2006)]. In this article, we discuss a fundamental group theoretical approach to the problem of determining the symmetries of molecular rotation-vibration states. We will show that all MS groups discussed so far are isomorphic to subgroups of the special orthogonal group in three dimensions SO(3). This leads to a group theoretical foundation of the technique of equivalent rotations [H. Longuet-Higgins, Mol. Phys. 6, 445 (1963)]. The group G240 (the MS group of protonated methane) represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first example of a MS group which is not isomorphic to a subgroup of SO(3) (nor of O(3) or of SU(2)). Because of this, a separate symmetry classification of vibrational and rotational wavefunctions becomes impossible in this MS group, consistent with the fact that a decoupling of vibrational and rotational motion is impossible. We discuss here the consequences of this. In

Talk Show Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Mitzi Ruth

1992-01-01

Proposes having students perform skits in which they play the roles of the science concepts they are trying to understand. Provides the dialog for a skit in which hot and cold gas molecules are interviewed on a talk show to study how these properties affect wind, rain, and other weather phenomena. (MDH)

Three-dimensional imaging of the ultracold plasma formed in a supersonic molecular beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schulz-Weiling, Markus; Grant, Edward

Double-resonant excitation of nitric oxide in a seeded supersonic molecular beam forms a state-selected Rydberg gas that evolves to form an ultracold plasma. This plasma travels with the propagation of the molecular beam in z over a variable distance as great as 600 mm to strike an imaging detector, which records the charge distribution in the dimensions, x and y. The ω{sub 1} + ω{sub 2} laser crossed molecular beam excitation geometry convolutes the axial Gaussian distribution of NO in the molecular beam with the Gaussian intensity distribution of the perpendicularly aligned laser beam to create an ellipsoidal volume of Rydbergmore » gas. Detected images describe the evolution of this initial density as a function of selected Rydberg gas initial principal quantum number, n{sub 0}, ω{sub 1} laser pulse energy (linearly related to Rydberg gas density, ρ{sub 0}) and flight time. Low-density Rydberg gases of lower principal quantum number produce uniformly expanding, ellipsoidal charge-density distributions. Increase either of n{sub 0} or ρ{sub 0} breaks the ellipsoidal symmetry of plasma expansion. The volume bifurcates to form repelling plasma volumes. The velocity of separation depends on n{sub 0} and ρ{sub 0} in a way that scales uniformly with ρ{sub e}, the density of electrons formed in the core of the Rydberg gas by prompt Penning ionization. Conditions under which this electron gas drives expansion in the long axis dimension of the ellipsoid favours the formation of counter-propagating shock waves.« less

Chip-based microtrap arrays for cold polar molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Shunyong; Wei, Bin; Deng, Lianzhong; Yin, Jianping

2017-12-01

Compared to the atomic chip, which has been a powerful platform to perform an astonishing range of applications from rapid Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) production to the atomic clock, the molecular chip is only in its infant stages. Recently a one-dimensional electric lattice was demonstrated to trap polar molecules on a chip. This excellent work opens up the way to building a molecular chip laboratory. Here we propose a two-dimensional (2D) electric lattice on a chip with concise and robust structure, which is formed by arrays of squared gold wires. Arrays of microtraps that originate in the microsize electrodes offer a steep gradient and thus allow for confining both light and heavy polar molecules. Theoretical analysis and numerical calculations are performed using two types of sample molecules, N D3 and SrF, to justify the possibility of our proposal. The height of the minima of the potential wells is about 10 μm above the surface of the chip and can be easily adjusted in a wide range by changing the voltages applied on the electrodes. These microtraps offer intriguing perspectives for investigating cold molecules in periodic potentials, such as quantum computing science, low-dimensional physics, and some other possible applications amenable to magnetic or optical lattice. The 2D adjustable electric lattice is expected to act as a building block for a future gas-phase molecular chip laboratory.

Gas-phase spectra of MgO molecules: a possible connection from gas-phase molecules to planet formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kloska, Katherine A.; Fortenberry, Ryan C.

2018-02-01

A more fine-tuned method for probing planet-forming regions, such as protoplanetary discs, could be rovibrational molecular spectroscopy observation of particular premineral molecules instead of more common but ultimately less related volatile organic compounds. Planets are created when grains aggregate, but how molecules form grains is an ongoing topic of discussion in astrophysics and planetary science. Using the spectroscopic data of molecules specifically involved in mineral formation could help to map regions where planet formation is believed to be occurring in order to examine the interplay between gas and dust. Four atoms are frequently associated with planetary formation: Fe, Si, Mg and O. Magnesium, in particular, has been shown to be in higher relative abundance in planet-hosting stars. Magnesium oxide crystals comprise the mineral periclase making it the chemically simplest magnesium-bearing mineral and a natural choice for analysis. The monomer, dimer and trimer forms of (MgO)n with n = 1-3 are analysed in this work using high-level quantum chemical computations known to produce accurate results. Strong vibrational transitions at 12.5, 15.0 and 16.5 μm are indicative of magnesium oxide monomer, dimer and trimer making these wavelengths of particular interest for the observation of protoplanetary discs and even potentially planet-forming regions around stars. If such transitions are observed in emission from the accretion discs or absorptions from stellar spectra, the beginning stages of mineral and, subsequently, rocky body formation could be indicated.

Resolving metal-molecule interfaces at single-molecule junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komoto, Yuki; Fujii, Shintaro; Nakamura, Hisao; Tada, Tomofumi; Nishino, Tomoaki; Kiguchi, Manabu

2016-05-01

Electronic and structural detail at the electrode-molecule interface have a significant influence on charge transport across molecular junctions. Despite the decisive role of the metal-molecule interface, a complete electronic and structural characterization of the interface remains a challenge. This is in no small part due to current experimental limitations. Here, we present a comprehensive approach to obtain a detailed description of the metal-molecule interface in single-molecule junctions, based on current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Contrary to conventional conductance studies, this I-V approach provides a correlated statistical description of both, the degree of electronic coupling across the metal-molecule interface, and the energy alignment between the conduction orbital and the Fermi level of the electrode. This exhaustive statistical approach was employed to study single-molecule junctions of 1,4-benzenediamine (BDA), 1,4-butanediamine (C4DA), and 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT). A single interfacial configuration was observed for both BDA and C4DA junctions, while three different interfacial arrangements were resolved for BDT. This multiplicity is due to different molecular adsorption sites on the Au surface namely on-top, hollow, and bridge. Furthermore, C4DA junctions present a fluctuating I-V curve arising from the greater conformational freedom of the saturated alkyl chain, in sharp contrast with the rigid aromatic backbone of both BDA and BDT.

Making More-Complex Molecules Using Superthermal Atom/Molecule Collisions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shortt, Brian; Chutjian, Ara; Orient, Otto

2008-01-01

A method of making more-complex molecules from simpler ones has emerged as a by-product of an experimental study in outer-space atom/surface collision physics. The subject of the study was the formation of CO2 molecules as a result of impingement of O atoms at controlled kinetic energies upon cold surfaces onto which CO molecules had been adsorbed. In this study, the O/CO system served as a laboratory model, not only for the formation of CO2 but also for the formation of other compounds through impingement of rapidly moving atoms upon molecules adsorbed on such cold interstellar surfaces as those of dust grains or comets. By contributing to the formation of increasingly complex molecules, including organic ones, this study and related other studies may eventually contribute to understanding of the origins of life.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zabawa, P.; Wakim, A.; Neukirch, A.

We demonstrate that a photoassociation resonance detuned less than a wave number below the Cs 6 {sup 2}P{sub 3/2} atomic line can be used to create a deeply bound molecular sample of ultracold polar NaCs. We assign 1 {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +} (v=4,5,6,11,19) vibrational levels utilizing a pulsed depletion spectroscopic method (scanning {approx}700 cm{sup -1} at a time) in which we observe the 1 {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}{yields}2 {sup 1}{Sigma}{sup +}-1 {sup 3{Pi}} vibrational progression. These data are compared with results from a hot-molecule collision-enhanced laser-induced fluorescence experiment and shown to be in good agreement. This technique is a powerful tool tomore » experimentally determine the population distribution in any ultracold molecular system.« less

Energy Scaling of Cold Atom-Atom-Ion Three-Body Recombination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krükow, Artjom; Mohammadi, Amir; Härter, Arne; Denschlag, Johannes Hecker; Pérez-Ríos, Jesús; Greene, Chris H.

2016-05-01

We study three-body recombination of Ba++Rb +Rb in the mK regime where a single 138Ba+ ion in a Paul trap is immersed into a cloud of ultracold 87Rb atoms. We measure the energy dependence of the three-body rate coefficient k3 and compare the results to the theoretical prediction, k3∝Ecol-3 /4, where Ecol is the collision energy. We find agreement if we assume that the nonthermal ion energy distribution is determined by at least two different micromotion induced energy scales. Furthermore, using classical trajectory calculations we predict how the median binding energy of the formed molecules scales with the collision energy. Our studies give new insights into the kinetics of an ion immersed in an ultracold atom cloud and yield important prospects for atom-ion experiments targeting the s -wave regime.

Physics of Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, D.; Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

Many varieties of molecule have been detected in the Milky Way and in other galaxies. The processes by which these molecules are formed and destroyed are now broadly understood (see INTERSTELLAR CHEMISTRY). These molecules are important components of galaxies in two ways. Firstly, radiation emitted by molecules enables us to trace the presence of diffuse gas, to infer its physical properties and ...

Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy review: shedding new light on old problems

PubMed Central

Shashkova, Sviatlana

2017-01-01

Fluorescence microscopy is an invaluable tool in the biosciences, a genuine workhorse technique offering exceptional contrast in conjunction with high specificity of labelling with relatively minimal perturbation to biological samples compared with many competing biophysical techniques. Improvements in detector and dye technologies coupled to advances in image analysis methods have fuelled recent development towards single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, which can utilize light microscopy tools to enable the faithful detection and analysis of single fluorescent molecules used as reporter tags in biological samples. For example, the discovery of GFP, initiating the so-called ‘green revolution’, has pushed experimental tools in the biosciences to a completely new level of functional imaging of living samples, culminating in single fluorescent protein molecule detection. Today, fluorescence microscopy is an indispensable tool in single-molecule investigations, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio for visualization while still retaining the key features in the physiological context of native biological systems. In this review, we discuss some of the recent discoveries in the life sciences which have been enabled using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, paying particular attention to the so-called ‘super-resolution’ fluorescence microscopy techniques in live cells, which are at the cutting-edge of these methods. In particular, how these tools can reveal new insights into long-standing puzzles in biology: old problems, which have been impossible to tackle using other more traditional tools until the emergence of new single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques. PMID:28694303

Programmed self-assembly of large π-conjugated molecules into electroactive one-dimensional nanostructures

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Yohei

2012-01-01

Electroactive one-dimensional (1D) nano-objects possess inherent unidirectional charge and energy transport capabilities along with anisotropic absorption and emission of light, which are of great advantage for the development of nanometer-scale electronics and optoelectronics. In particular, molecular nanowires formed by self-assembly of π-conjugated molecules attract increasing attention for application in supramolecular electronics. This review introduces recent topics related to electroactive molecular nanowires. The nanowires are classified into four categories with respect to the electronic states of the constituent molecules: electron donors, acceptors, donor–acceptor pairs and miscellaneous molecules that display interesting electronic properties. Although many challenges still remain for practical use, state-of-the-art 1D supramolecular nanomaterials have already brought significant advances to both fundamental chemical sciences and technological applications. PMID:27877488

Co-conspirators: Space, Molecules and Life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jheeta, Sohan

2012-07-01

molecules were chosen because they present in the interstellar medium (ISM) and on other satellites -- for example carbon dioxide (CO _{2}), ammonium (NH _{3}) and methanol (CH _{3}OH) are second, third and 5th most commonest compounds present in the ISM after water (Roush TL, 2001); and methyl cyanide (CH _{3}CN) is the simplest of the organic nitriles found in space. It was first identified in the molecular clouds, Sagittarius Sgr A and Sgr B (Solomon, Jefferts et al. 1971) through its emission lines in the vicinity of 2.7 mm from the J = 6 → 5 transition. In addition, CH _{3}CN along with HCN, HCCCN and NCCN, has been identified in the atmosphere of Saturn's satellite, Titan (Raulin and Owen 2002; Raulin 2008). It has also been shown in a theoretical paper that cytosine can be formed from isocyanic acid and cyanate. Cytosine, a pyrimidine derivative, is one of the four main bases found in DNA and RNA (Shapiro). The significance of this work for astrobiology and future experiments will be discussed at the conference. References Raulin, F. (2008). "Astrobiology and habitability of Titan." Space Science Reviews 135(1-4): 37-48. Raulin, F. and T. Owen (2002). "Organic chemistry and exobiology on Titan." Space Science Reviews 104(1-2): 377-394. Roush, T. L. (2001). "Physical state of ices in the outer solar system." Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets 106(E12): 33315-33323. Shapiro, R. (1999). "Prebiotic cytosine synthesis: A critical analysis and implications for the origin of life." Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 96(GrindEQ__8_): 4396-4401. Solomon, P. M., K. B. Jefferts, et al. (1971). "Detection of Millimeter Emission Lines from Interstellar Methyl Cyanide." Astrophysical Journal 168, L107.

Computational Study of the Bulk Properties of a Novel Molecule: alpha-Tocopherol-Ascorbic Acid Surfactant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stirling, Shannon; Kim, Hye-Young

Alpha-tocopherol-ascorbic acid surfactant (EC) is a novel amphiphilic molecule of antioxidant properties, which has a hydrophobic vitamin E and a hydrophilic vitamin C chemically linked. We have developed atomistic force fields (g54a7) for a protonated (neutral) EC molecule. Our goal is to carry out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of protonated EC molecules using the newly developed force fields and study the molecular properties. First we ran energy minimization (EM) with one molecule in a vacuum to obtain the low energy molecular configuration with emtol =10. We then used Packmol to insert 125 EC molecules in a 3nm cube. We then performed MD simulations of the bulk system composed of 125 EC molecules, from which we measured the bulk density and the evaporation energy of the molecular system. Gromacs2016 is used for the EM and MD simulation studies. We will present the results of the ongoing research. National Institute Of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM103424 (Kim). Computational resources were provided by the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative.

Cold Rydberg molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raithel, Georg; Zhao, Jianming

2017-04-01

Cold atomic systems have opened new frontiers at the interface of atomic and molecular physics. These include research on novel types of Rydberg molecules. Three types of molecules will be reviewed. Long-range, homonuclear Rydberg molecules, first predicted in [1] and observed in [2], are formed via low-energy electron scattering of the Rydberg electron from a ground-state atom within the Rydberg atom's volume. The binding mostly arises from S- and P-wave triplet scattering. We use a Fermi model that includes S-wave and P-wave singlet and triplet scattering, the fine structure coupling of the Rydberg atom and the hyperfine structure coupling of the 5S1/2 atom (in rubidium [3]). The hyperfine structure gives rise to mixed singlet-triplet potentials for both low-L and high-L Rydberg molecules [3]. A classification into Hund's cases [3, 4, 5] will be discussed. The talk further includes results on adiabatic potentials and adiabatic states of Rydberg-Rydberg molecules in Rb and Cs. These molecules, which have even larger bonding length than Rydberg-ground molecules, are formed via electrostatic multipole interactions. The leading interaction term of neutral Rydberg-Rydberg molecules is between two dipoles, while for ionic Rydberg molecules it is between a dipole and a monopole. NSF (PHY-1506093), NNSF of China (61475123).

Directional rolling of positively charged nanoparticles along a flexibility gradient on long DNA molecules.

PubMed

Park, Suehyun; Joo, Heesun; Kim, Jun Soo

2018-01-31

Directing the motion of molecules/colloids in any specific direction is of great interest in many applications of chemistry, physics, and biological sciences, where regulated positioning or transportation of materials is highly desired. Using Brownian dynamics simulations of coarse-grained models of a long, double-stranded DNA molecule and positively charged nanoparticles, we observed that the motion of a single nanoparticle bound to and wrapped by the DNA molecule can be directed along a gradient of DNA local flexibility. The flexibility gradient is constructed along a 0.8 kilobase-pair DNA molecule such that local persistence length decreases gradually from 50 nm to 40 nm, mimicking a gradual change in sequence-dependent flexibility. Nanoparticles roll over a long DNA molecule from less flexible regions towards more flexible ones as a result of the decreasing energetic cost of DNA bending and wrapping. In addition, the rolling becomes slightly accelerated as the positive charge of nanoparticles decreases due to a lower free energy barrier of DNA detachment from charged nanoparticle for processive rolling. This study suggests that the variation in DNA local flexibility can be utilized in constructing and manipulating supramolecular assemblies of DNA molecules and nanoparticles in structural DNA nanotechnology.

Vibronic Transitions in the X-Sr Series (X=Li, Na, K, Rb): on the Accuracy of Nuclear Wavefunctions Derived from Quantum Chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Ralf; Pototschnig, Johann V.; Hauser, Andreas W.; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

2016-06-01

Research on ultracold molecules has seen a growing interest recently in the context of high-resolution spectroscopy and quantum computation. The preparation of molecules in low vibrational levels of the ground state is experimentally challenging, and typically achieved by population transfer using excited electronic states. On the theoretical side, highly accurate potential energy surfaces are needed for a correct description of processes such as the coherent de-excitation from the highest and therefore weakly bound vibrational levels in the electronic ground state via couplings to electronically excited states. Particularly problematic is the correct description of potential features at large intermolecular distances. Franck-Condon overlap integrals for nuclear wavefunctions in barely bound vibrational states are extremely sensitive to inaccuracies of the potential at long range. In this study, we compare the predictions of common, wavefunction-based ab initio techniques for a known de-excitation mechanism in alkali-alkaline earth dimers. It is the aim to analyze the predictive power of these methods for a preliminary evaluation of potential cooling mechanisms in heteronuclear open shell systems which offer the experimentalist an electric as well as a magnetic handle for manipulation. The series of X-Sr molecules, with X = Li, Na, K and Rb, has been chosen for a direct comparison. Quantum degenerate mixtures of Rb and Sr have already been produced, making this combination very promising for the production of ultracold molecules. B. Pasquiou, A. Bayerle, S. M. Tzanova, S. Stellmer, J. Szczepkowski, M. Parigger, R. Grimm, and F. Schreck, Phys. Rev. A, 2013, 88, 023601

The energy release and temperature field in the ultracold neutron source of the WWR-M reactor at the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Serebrov, A. P., E-mail: serebrov@pnpi.spb.ru; Kislitsin, B. V.; Onegin, M. S.

2016-12-15

Results of calculations of energy releases and temperature fields in the ultracold neutron source under design at the WWR-M reactor are presented. It is shown that, with the reactor power of 18 MW, the power of energy release in the 40-L volume of the source with superfluid helium will amount to 28.5 W, while 356 W will be released in a liquid-deuterium premoderator. The lead shield between the reactor core and the source reduces the radiative heat release by an order of magnitude. A thermal power of 22 kW is released in it, which is removed by passage of water.more » The distribution of temperatures in all components of the vacuum structure is presented, and the temperature does not exceed 100°C at full reactor power. The calculations performed make it possible to go to design of the source.« less

Single-molecule conductance studies of photo-active and photochromic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tam, E. S.; Parks, J. J.; Santiago-Berrios, M. B.; Zhong, Y.-W.; Abruna, H. D.; Ralph, D. C.

2010-03-01

We perform statistical measurements of single molecule conductance in repeatedly-formed metal-molecule-metal junctions at room temperature. Our results on diaminoalkanes are consistent with those reported by the Venkataraman group. We focus on photo-active and photochromic molecules, including a series of transition-metal complexes with different metal centers and endgroups. We compare the trend in conductance across the family of complexes with that expected from electrochemical measurements. We will also report initial results on the voltage dependence of single-molecule conductances and the effects of optical excitations.

Cold Rydberg molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raithel, Georg

2017-04-01

Cold atomic systems have opened new frontiers in atomic and molecular physics, including several types of Rydberg molecules. Three types will be reviewed. Long-range Rydberg-ground molecules, first predicted in and observed in, are formed via low-energy electron scattering of the Rydberg electron from a ground-state atom within the Rydberg atom's volume. The binding mostly arises from S- and P-wave triplet scattering. We use a Fermi model that includes S-wave and P-wave singlet and triplet scattering, the fine structure coupling of the Rydberg atom and the hyperfine structure coupling of the 5S1/2 atom (in rubidium). The hyperfine structure gives rise to mixed singlet-triplet potentials for both low-L and high-L Rydberg molecules. A classification into Hund's cases will be discussed. The talk further includes results on adiabatic potentials and adiabatic states of Rydberg-Rydberg molecules in Rb and Cs. These molecules, which have even larger bonding length than Rydberg-ground molecules, are formed via electrostatic multipole interactions. The leading interaction of neutral Rydberg-Rydberg molecules is dipole-dipole, while for ionic Rydberg molecules it is dipole-monopole. Higher-order terms are discussed. FUNDING: NSF (PHY-1506093), NNSF of China (61475123).

Molecules, magic and forgetful fruit flies: the supernatural science of medical gas research.

PubMed

Mychaskiw, George

2011-09-06

Medical gas research often involves the study of molecules under extraphysiologic conditions, that is, conditions that do not exist in nature. This "supernatural" nature of medical gas research sometimes produces results that appear to be almost "magic" to those schooled in traditional physiology"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic".-Arthur C. Clarke.

Universality of maximum-work efficiency of a cyclic heat engine based on a finite system of ultracold atoms.

PubMed

Ye, Zhuolin; Hu, Yingying; He, Jizhou; Wang, Jianhui

2017-07-24

We study the performance of a cyclic heat engine which uses a small system with a finite number of ultracold atoms as its working substance and works between two heat reservoirs at constant temperatures T h and T c (

Hadronic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Feng-Kun; Hanhart, Christoph; Meißner, Ulf-G.; Wang, Qian; Zhao, Qiang; Zou, Bing-Song

2018-01-01

A large number of experimental discoveries especially in the heavy quarkonium sector that did not meet the expectations of the until then very successful quark model led to a renaissance of hadron spectroscopy. Among various explanations of the internal structure of these excitations, hadronic molecules, being analogs of light nuclei, play a unique role since for those predictions can be made with controlled uncertainty. Experimental evidence of various candidates of hadronic molecules and methods of identifying such structures are reviewed. Nonrelativistic effective field theories are the suitable framework for studying hadronic molecules and are discussed in both the continuum and finite volumes. Also pertinent lattice QCD results are presented. Further, the production mechanisms and decays of hadronic molecules are discussed and comments are given on the reliability of certain assertions often made in the literature.

Molecules, magic and forgetful fruit flies: the supernatural science of medical gas research

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Medical gas research often involves the study of molecules under extraphysiologic conditions, that is, conditions that do not exist in nature. This "supernatural" nature of medical gas research sometimes produces results that appear to be almost "magic" to those schooled in traditional physiology "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". -Arthur C. Clarke PMID:22146602

Sub-millimeter Spectroscopy of Astrophysically Interesting Metal-Containing Molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ziurys, L. M.; Brewster, M. A.; Sheridan, P. M.; Savage, C.; Halfen, D. T.; Apponi, A. J.

2002-01-01

With the advent of SOFIA and Herschel, new spectral windows will be opened for spectroscopy in the sub-millimeter region. To conduct science in this band, laboratory measurements must be carried out to provide accurate transition frequencies for molecular identification and physical interpretation. We are presently conducting such measurements using gas-phase submm direct absorption techniques. Of particular interest are simple molecules containing iron-peak elements, including carbides, and metal hydride ions (MH+), both which possess favorable transitions at submm wavelengths.

Crumpled Molecules and Edible Plastic: Science Learning Activation in Out-of-School Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dorph, Rena; Schunn, Christian D.; Crowley, Kevin

2017-01-01

The Coalition for Science After School highlights the dual nature of outcomes for science learning during out-of- school time (OST): Learning experiences should not only be positive in the moment, but also position youth for future success. Several frameworks speak to the first set of immediate outcomes--what youth learn, think, and feel as the…

Diffractive imaging of a rotational wavepacket in nitrogen molecules with femtosecond megaelectronvolt electron pulses

DOE PAGES

Yang, Jie; Guehr, Markus; Vecchione, Theodore; ...

2016-04-05

Imaging changes in molecular geometries on their natural femtosecond timescale with sub-Angström spatial precision is one of the critical challenges in the chemical sciences, as the nuclear geometry changes determine the molecular reactivity. For photoexcited molecules, the nuclear dynamics determine the photoenergy conversion path and efficiency. Here we report a gas-phase electron diffraction experiment using megaelectronvolt (MeV) electrons, where we captured the rotational wavepacket dynamics of nonadiabatically laser-aligned nitrogen molecules. We achieved a combination of 100 fs root-mean-squared temporal resolution and sub-Angstrom (0.76 Å) spatial resolution that makes it possible to resolve the position of the nuclei within the molecule.more » In addition, the diffraction patterns reveal the angular distribution of the molecules, which changes from prolate (aligned) to oblate (anti-aligned) in 300 fs. Lastly, our results demonstrate a significant and promising step towards making atomically resolved movies of molecular reactions.« less

Electrostatic melting in a single-molecule field-effect transistor with applications in genomic identification

PubMed Central

Vernick, Sefi; Trocchia, Scott M.; Warren, Steven B.; Young, Erik F.; Bouilly, Delphine; Gonzalez, Ruben L.; Nuckolls, Colin; Shepard, Kenneth L.

2017-01-01

The study of biomolecular interactions at the single-molecule level holds great potential for both basic science and biotechnology applications. Single-molecule studies often rely on fluorescence-based reporting, with signal levels limited by photon emission from single optical reporters. The point-functionalized carbon nanotube transistor, known as the single-molecule field-effect transistor, is a bioelectronics alternative based on intrinsic molecular charge that offers significantly higher signal levels for detection. Such devices are effective for characterizing DNA hybridization kinetics and thermodynamics and enabling emerging applications in genomic identification. In this work, we show that hybridization kinetics can be directly controlled by electrostatic bias applied between the device and the surrounding electrolyte. We perform the first single-molecule experiments demonstrating the use of electrostatics to control molecular binding. Using bias as a proxy for temperature, we demonstrate the feasibility of detecting various concentrations of 20-nt target sequences from the Ebolavirus nucleoprotein gene in a constant-temperature environment. PMID:28516911

Ultracold fermions in a one-dimensional bipartite optical lattice: Metal-insulator transitions driven by shaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Liberto, M.; Malpetti, D.; Japaridze, G. I.; Morais Smith, C.

2014-08-01

We theoretically investigate the behavior of a system of fermionic atoms loaded in a bipartite one-dimensional optical lattice that is under the action of an external time-periodic driving force. By using Floquet theory, an effective model is derived. The bare hopping coefficients are renormalized by zeroth-order Bessel functions of the first kind with different arguments for the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor hopping. The insulating behavior characterizing the system at half filling in the absence of driving is dynamically suppressed, and for particular values of the driving parameter the system becomes either a standard metal or an unconventional metal with four Fermi points. The existence of the four-Fermi-point metal relies on the fact that, as a consequence of the shaking procedure, the next-nearest-neighbor hopping coefficients become significant compared to the nearest-neighbor ones. We use the bosonization technique to investigate the effect of on-site Hubbard interactions on the four-Fermi-point metal-insulator phase transition. Attractive interactions are expected to enlarge the regime of parameters where the unconventional metallic phase arises, whereas repulsive interactions reduce it. This metallic phase is known to be a Luther-Emery liquid (spin-gapped metal) for both repulsive and attractive interactions, contrary to the usual Hubbard model, which exhibits a Mott-insulator phase for repulsive interactions. Ultracold fermions in driven one-dimensional bipartite optical lattices provide an interesting platform for the realization of this long-studied four-Fermi-point unconventional metal.

The Physics of Ultracold Sr2 Molecules: Optical Production and Precision Measurement

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

causing stimulated emission. The wavelength of the feedback light is determined by the angle of the feedback mirror . The zeroth order is the output from...with representative mirror , diffraction grating and diode housing (right). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 2.14 Schematic of...of the feedback light is determined by the angle of the feedback mirror . The zeroth order is the output from the ECDL. . . . . . . . . . . . 23 2.15

The Physics of Ultracold Sr2 Molecules: Optical Production and Precision Measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osborn, Christopher Butler

Colloidal quantum dots have desirable optical properties which can be exploited to realize a variety of photonic devices and functionalities. However, colloidal dots have not had a pervasive utility in photonic devices because of the absence of patterning methods. The electronic chip industry is highly successful due to the well-established lithographic procedures. In this thesis we borrow ideas from the semiconductor industry to develop lithographic techniques that can be used to pattern colloidal quantum dots while ensuring that the optical properties of the quantum dots are not affected by the process. In this thesis we have developed colloidal quantum dot based waveguide structures for amplification and switching applications for all-optical signal processing. We have also developed colloidal quantum dot based light emitting diodes. We successfully introduced CdSe/ZnS quantum dots into a UV curable photo-resist, which was then patterned to realize active devices. In addition, "passive" devices (devices without quantum dots) were integrated to "active" devices via waveguide couplers. Use of photo-resist devices offers two distinct advantages. First, they have low scattering loss and secondly, they allow good fiber to waveguide coupling efficiency due to the low refractive index which allows for large waveguide cross-sections while supporting single mode operation. Practical planar photonic devices and circuits incorporating both active and passive structures can now be realized, now that we have patterning capabilities of quantum dots while maintaining the original optical attributes of the system. In addition to the photo-resist host, we also explored the incorporation of colloidal quantum dots into a dielectric silicon dioxide and silicon nitride one-dimensional microcavity structures using low temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This material system can be used to realize microcavity light emitting diodes that can be realized on any substrate. As a proof of concept demonstration we show a 1550 nm emitting all-dielectric vertical cavity structure embedded with PbS quantum dots. Enhancement in spontaneous emission from the dots embedded in the microcavity is also demonstrated.

Connecting synthetic chemistry decisions to cell and genome biology using small-molecule phenotypic profiling

PubMed Central

Wagner, Bridget K.; Clemons, Paul A.

2009-01-01

Discovering small-molecule modulators for thousands of gene products requires multiple stages of biological testing, specificity evaluation, and chemical optimization. Many cellular profiling methods, including cellular sensitivity, gene-expression, and cellular imaging, have emerged as methods to assess the functional consequences of biological perturbations. Cellular profiling methods applied to small-molecule science provide opportunities to use complex phenotypic information to prioritize and optimize small-molecule structures simultaneously against multiple biological endpoints. As throughput increases and cost decreases for such technologies, we see an emerging paradigm of using more information earlier in probe- and drug-discovery efforts. Moreover, increasing access to public datasets makes possible the construction of “virtual” profiles of small-molecule performance, even when multiplexed measurements were not performed or when multidimensional profiling was not the original intent. We review some key conceptual advances in small-molecule phenotypic profiling, emphasizing connections to other information, such as protein-binding measurements, genetic perturbations, and cell states. We argue that to maximally leverage these measurements in probe and drug discovery requires a fundamental connection to synthetic chemistry, allowing the consequences of synthetic decisions to be described in terms of changes in small-molecule profiles. Mining such data in the context of chemical structure and synthesis strategies can inform decisions about chemistry procurement and library development, leading to optimal small-molecule screening collections. PMID:19825513

Modeling Molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

The molecule modeling method known as Multibody Order (N) Dynamics, or MBO(N)D, was developed by Moldyn, Inc. at Goddard Space Flight Center through funding provided by the SBIR program. The software can model the dynamics of molecules through technology which stimulates low-frequency molecular motions and properties, such as movements among a molecule's constituent parts. With MBO(N)D, a molecule is substructured into a set of interconnected rigid and flexible bodies. These bodies replace the computation burden of mapping individual atoms. Moldyn's technology cuts computation time while increasing accuracy. The MBO(N)D technology is available as Insight II 97.0 from Molecular Simulations, Inc. Currently the technology is used to account for forces on spacecraft parts and to perform molecular analyses for pharmaceutical purposes. It permits the solution of molecular dynamics problems on a moderate workstation, as opposed to on a supercomputer.

Bioactive Molecule-loaded Drug Delivery Systems to Optimize Bone Tissue Repair.

PubMed

Oshiro, Joao Augusto; Sato, Mariana Rillo; Scardueli, Cassio Rocha; Lopes de Oliveira, Guilherme Jose Pimentel; Abucafy, Marina Paiva; Chorilli, Marlus

2017-01-01

Bioactive molecules such as peptides and proteins can optimize the repair of bone tissue; however, the results are often unpredictable when administered alone, owing to their short biological half-life and instability. Thus, the development of bioactive molecule-loaded drug delivery systems (DDS) to repair bone tissue has been the subject of intense research. DDS can optimize the repair of bone tissue owing to their physicochemical properties, which improve cellular interactions and enable the incorporation and prolonged release of bioactive molecules. These characteristics are fundamental to favor bone tissue homeostasis, since the biological activity of these factors depends on how accessible they are to the cell. Considering the importance of these DDS, this review aims to present relevant information on DDS when loaded with osteogenic growth peptide and bone morphogenetic protein. These are bioactive molecules that are capable of modulating the differentiation and proliferation of mesenchymal cells in bone tissue cells. Moreover, we will present different approaches using these peptide and protein-loaded DDS, such as synthetic membranes and scaffolds for bone regeneration, synthetic grafts, bone cements, liposomes, and micelles, which aim at improving the therapeutic effectiveness, and we will compare their advantages with commercial systems. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Combining single-molecule manipulation and single-molecule detection.

PubMed

Cordova, Juan Carlos; Das, Dibyendu Kumar; Manning, Harris W; Lang, Matthew J

2014-10-01

Single molecule force manipulation combined with fluorescence techniques offers much promise in revealing mechanistic details of biomolecular machinery. Here, we review force-fluorescence microscopy, which combines the best features of manipulation and detection techniques. Three of the mainstay manipulation methods (optical traps, magnetic traps and atomic force microscopy) are discussed with respect to milestones in combination developments, in addition to highlight recent contributions to the field. An overview of additional strategies is discussed, including fluorescence based force sensors for force measurement in vivo. Armed with recent exciting demonstrations of this technology, the field of combined single-molecule manipulation and single-molecule detection is poised to provide unprecedented views of molecular machinery. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular Beam Chemistry: Reactions of Oxygen Atoms with Halogen Molecules.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-15

nonlinear one has s = 3, r = 1, and n = 3/2. In the "loose" complex the bending modes go over to free rotation of the product diatomit molecule; thus s...contains no adjustable parameters. All observable properties *l of the reaction may be predicted including product velocity and angular dis- tributions...example, P. R. Bevington, Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences (McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1969). 65. Equation (3) is strictly

Quantum Effects in Molecule-Based Nanomagnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hill, Stephen

2005-11-01

Research into molecule-based-magnets has made immense strides in recent years, with the discoveries of all organic molecular magnets, room temperature 3D ordered permanent magnets, and single-molecule magnets (SMMs), the latter exhibiting a host of spectacular quantum phenomena; for a review, see ref. [1]. SMMs represent a molecular approach to nanoscale and sub-nanoscale magnetic particles. They offer all of the advantages of molecular chemistry as well as displaying the superparamagnetic properties of mesoscale magnetic particles of much larger dimensions. They also straddle the interface between classical and quantum behavior; for example, they exhibit quantum tunneling of their magnetization. I will give a general introduction to this area of research, followed by an overview of recent results obtained using high-frequency (40-800 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance techniques developed at the University of Florida. These results include: an elucidation of the role of molecular symmetry in the magnetic quantum tunneling phenomenon [2]; and the observation of quantum entanglement between pairs of nanomagnets within a supramolecular dimer [3]. 1. D. Gatteschi and R. Sessoli, Angew. Chem. 42, 268 (2003). 2. E. del Barco et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. 140, 119-174 (2005). 3. S. Hill et al., Science 302, 1015 (2003).

The physics of life: one molecule at a time

PubMed Central

Leake, Mark C.

2013-01-01

The esteemed physicist Erwin Schrödinger, whose name is associated with the most notorious equation of quantum mechanics, also wrote a brief essay entitled ‘What is Life?’, asking: ‘How can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?’ The 60+ years following this seminal work have seen enormous developments in our understanding of biology on the molecular scale, with physics playing a key role in solving many central problems through the development and application of new physical science techniques, biophysical analysis and rigorous intellectual insight. The early days of single-molecule biophysics research was centred around molecular motors and biopolymers, largely divorced from a real physiological context. The new generation of single-molecule bioscience investigations has much greater scope, involving robust methods for understanding molecular-level details of the most fundamental biological processes in far more realistic, and technically challenging, physiological contexts, emerging into a new field of ‘single-molecule cellular biophysics’. Here, I outline how this new field has evolved, discuss the key active areas of current research and speculate on where this may all lead in the near future. PMID:23267186

Active colloidal molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Löwen, Hartmut

2018-03-01

Like ordinary molecules are composed of atoms, colloidal molecules consist of several species of colloidal particles tightly bound together. If one of these components is self-propelled or swimming, novel “active colloidal molecules” emerge. Active colloidal molecules exist on various levels such as “homonuclear”, “heteronuclear” and “polymeric” and possess a dynamical function moving as propellers, spinners or rotors. Self-assembly of such active complexes has been studied a lot recently and this perspective article summarizes recent progress and gives an outlook to future developments in the rapidly expanding field of active colloidal molecules.

Microsecond protein dynamics observed at the single-molecule level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otosu, Takuhiro; Ishii, Kunihiko; Tahara, Tahei

2015-07-01

How polypeptide chains acquire specific conformations to realize unique biological functions is a central problem of protein science. Single-molecule spectroscopy, combined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer, is utilized to study the conformational heterogeneity and the state-to-state transition dynamics of proteins on the submillisecond to second timescales. However, observation of the dynamics on the microsecond timescale is still very challenging. This timescale is important because the elementary processes of protein dynamics take place and direct comparison between experiment and simulation is possible. Here we report a new single-molecule technique to reveal the microsecond structural dynamics of proteins through correlation of the fluorescence lifetime. This method, two-dimensional fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy, is applied to clarify the conformational dynamics of cytochrome c. Three conformational ensembles and the microsecond transitions in each ensemble are indicated from the correlation signal, demonstrating the importance of quantifying microsecond dynamics of proteins on the folding free energy landscape.

Microsecond protein dynamics observed at the single-molecule level

PubMed Central

Otosu, Takuhiro; Ishii, Kunihiko; Tahara, Tahei

2015-01-01

How polypeptide chains acquire specific conformations to realize unique biological functions is a central problem of protein science. Single-molecule spectroscopy, combined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer, is utilized to study the conformational heterogeneity and the state-to-state transition dynamics of proteins on the submillisecond to second timescales. However, observation of the dynamics on the microsecond timescale is still very challenging. This timescale is important because the elementary processes of protein dynamics take place and direct comparison between experiment and simulation is possible. Here we report a new single-molecule technique to reveal the microsecond structural dynamics of proteins through correlation of the fluorescence lifetime. This method, two-dimensional fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy, is applied to clarify the conformational dynamics of cytochrome c. Three conformational ensembles and the microsecond transitions in each ensemble are indicated from the correlation signal, demonstrating the importance of quantifying microsecond dynamics of proteins on the folding free energy landscape. PMID:26151767

Recent development of small molecule glutaminase inhibitors.

PubMed

Song, Minsoo; Kim, Soong-Hyun; Im, Chun Young; Hwang, Hee-Jong

2018-05-24

Glutaminase (GLS) which is responsible for the conversion of glutamine to glutamate plays vital role in up-regulating cell metabolism for tumor cell growth, and is considered as a valuable therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Based on this important function of glutaminase in cancer, several GLS inhibitors have been developed from both academia and industries. Most importantly, Calithera Biosciences Inc. is actively developing glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 for the treatment of various cancers in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials at present. In this review, it is discussed about recent efforts to develop small molecule glutaminase inhibitors targeting glutamine metabolism both in the preclinical and clinical studies. In particular, more emphasis is placed on CB-839 since it is the only small molecule GLS inhibitor being studied in clinical setting. Inhibition mechanism is discussed based on x-ray structure study of thiadiazole derivatives as well. Finally, recent medicinal chemistry efforts to develop a new class of GLS inhibitors are given herein in the hope of providing useful information for GLS inhibitors of the next generation. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Wafer-scale metasurface for total power absorption, local field enhancement and single molecule Raman spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Wang, Dongxing; Zhu, Wenqi; Best, Michael D.; Camden, Jon P.; Crozier, Kenneth B.

2013-01-01

The ability to detect molecules at low concentrations is highly desired for applications that range from basic science to healthcare. Considerable interest also exists for ultrathin materials with high optical absorption, e.g. for microbolometers and thermal emitters. Metal nanostructures present opportunities to achieve both purposes. Metal nanoparticles can generate gigantic field enhancements, sufficient for the Raman spectroscopy of single molecules. Thin layers containing metal nanostructures (“metasurfaces”) can achieve near-total power absorption at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Thus far, however, both aims (i.e. single molecule Raman and total power absorption) have only been achieved using metal nanostructures produced by techniques (high resolution lithography or colloidal synthesis) that are complex and/or difficult to implement over large areas. Here, we demonstrate a metasurface that achieves the near-perfect absorption of visible-wavelength light and enables the Raman spectroscopy of single molecules. Our metasurface is fabricated using thin film depositions, and is of unprecedented (wafer-scale) extent. PMID:24091825

Rational design of small molecules as vaccine adjuvants.

PubMed

Wu, Tom Y-H; Singh, Manmohan; Miller, Andrew T; De Gregorio, Ennio; Doro, Francesco; D'Oro, Ugo; Skibinski, David A G; Mbow, M Lamine; Bufali, Simone; Herman, Ann E; Cortez, Alex; Li, Yongkai; Nayak, Bishnu P; Tritto, Elaine; Filippi, Christophe M; Otten, Gillis R; Brito, Luis A; Monaci, Elisabetta; Li, Chun; Aprea, Susanna; Valentini, Sara; Calabrό, Samuele; Laera, Donatello; Brunelli, Brunella; Caproni, Elena; Malyala, Padma; Panchal, Rekha G; Warren, Travis K; Bavari, Sina; O'Hagan, Derek T; Cooke, Michael P; Valiante, Nicholas M

2014-11-19

Adjuvants increase vaccine potency largely by activating innate immunity and promoting inflammation. Limiting the side effects of this inflammation is a major hurdle for adjuvant use in vaccines for humans. It has been difficult to improve on adjuvant safety because of a poor understanding of adjuvant mechanism and the empirical nature of adjuvant discovery and development historically. We describe new principles for the rational optimization of small-molecule immune potentiators (SMIPs) targeting Toll-like receptor 7 as adjuvants with a predicted increase in their therapeutic indices. Unlike traditional drugs, SMIP-based adjuvants need to have limited bioavailability and remain localized for optimal efficacy. These features also lead to temporally and spatially restricted inflammation that should decrease side effects. Through medicinal and formulation chemistry and extensive immunopharmacology, we show that in vivo potency can be increased with little to no systemic exposure, localized innate immune activation and short in vivo residence times of SMIP-based adjuvants. This work provides a systematic and generalizable approach to engineering small molecules for use as vaccine adjuvants. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

SLAC All Access: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science Instrument

ScienceCinema

Bozek, John

2018-02-13

John Bozek, a staff scientist at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser who manages the LCLS Soft X-ray Department, takes us behind the scenes at the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science (AMO) instrument, the first of six experimental stations now operating at LCLS. Samples used in AMO experiments include atoms, molecules, clusters, and nanoscale objects such as protein crystals or viruses. Science performed at AMO includes fundamental studies of light-matter interactions in the extreme X-ray intensity of the LCLS pules, time-resolved studies of increasingly charged states of atoms and molecules, X-ray diffraction imaging of nanocrystals, and single-shot imaging of a variety of objects.

Single-molecule optomechanics in "picocavities".

PubMed

Benz, Felix; Schmidt, Mikolaj K; Dreismann, Alexander; Chikkaraddy, Rohit; Zhang, Yao; Demetriadou, Angela; Carnegie, Cloudy; Ohadi, Hamid; de Nijs, Bart; Esteban, Ruben; Aizpurua, Javier; Baumberg, Jeremy J

2016-11-11

Trapping light with noble metal nanostructures overcomes the diffraction limit and can confine light to volumes typically on the order of 30 cubic nanometers. We found that individual atomic features inside the gap of a plasmonic nanoassembly can localize light to volumes well below 1 cubic nanometer ("picocavities"), enabling optical experiments on the atomic scale. These atomic features are dynamically formed and disassembled by laser irradiation. Although unstable at room temperature, picocavities can be stabilized at cryogenic temperatures, allowing single atomic cavities to be probed for many minutes. Unlike traditional optomechanical resonators, such extreme optical confinement yields a factor of 10 6 enhancement of optomechanical coupling between the picocavity field and vibrations of individual molecular bonds. This work sets the basis for developing nanoscale nonlinear quantum optics on the single-molecule level. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Strategy to discover diverse optimal molecules in the small molecule universe.

PubMed

Rupakheti, Chetan; Virshup, Aaron; Yang, Weitao; Beratan, David N

2015-03-23

The small molecule universe (SMU) is defined as a set of over 10(60) synthetically feasible organic molecules with molecular weight less than ∼500 Da. Exhaustive enumerations and evaluation of all SMU molecules for the purpose of discovering favorable structures is impossible. We take a stochastic approach and extend the ACSESS framework ( Virshup et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013 , 135 , 7296 - 7303 ) to develop diversity oriented molecular libraries that can generate a set of compounds that is representative of the small molecule universe and that also biases the library toward favorable physical property values. We show that the approach is efficient compared to exhaustive enumeration and to existing evolutionary algorithms for generating such libraries by testing in the NKp fitness landscape model and in the fully enumerated GDB-9 chemical universe containing 3 × 10(5) molecules.

Strategy To Discover Diverse Optimal Molecules in the Small Molecule Universe

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The small molecule universe (SMU) is defined as a set of over 1060 synthetically feasible organic molecules with molecular weight less than ∼500 Da. Exhaustive enumerations and evaluation of all SMU molecules for the purpose of discovering favorable structures is impossible. We take a stochastic approach and extend the ACSESS framework (Virshup et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2013, 135, 7296–730323548177) to develop diversity oriented molecular libraries that can generate a set of compounds that is representative of the small molecule universe and that also biases the library toward favorable physical property values. We show that the approach is efficient compared to exhaustive enumeration and to existing evolutionary algorithms for generating such libraries by testing in the NKp fitness landscape model and in the fully enumerated GDB-9 chemical universe containing 3 × 105 molecules. PMID:25594586

Bioinformatics: Current Practice and Future Challenges for Life Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hack, Catherine; Kendall, Gary

2005-01-01

It is widely predicted that the application of high-throughput technologies to the quantification and identification of biological molecules will cause a paradigm shift in the life sciences. However, if the biosciences are to evolve from a predominantly descriptive discipline to an information science, practitioners will require enhanced skills in…

Geometric phase effects in ultracold hydrogen exchange reaction

DOE PAGES

Hazra, Jisha; Kendrick, Brian K.; Balakrishnan, Naduvalath

2016-10-14

The role of the geometric phase effect on chemical reaction dynamics is explored by examining the hydrogen exchange process in the fundamental H+HD reaction. Results are presented for vibrationally excited HD molecules in the v = 4 vibrational level and for collision energies ranging from 1 μK to 100 K. It is found that, for collision energies below 3 K, inclusion of the geometric phase leads to dramatic enhancement or suppression of the reaction rates depending on the final quantum state of the HD molecule. The effect was found to be the most prominent for rotationally resolved integral and differential cross sections but it persists to a lesser extent in the vibrationally resolved and total reaction rate coefficients. However, no significant GP effect is present in the reactive channel leading to the D+H 2 product or in the D+H 2more » $$(v=4,j=0)\\,\\to $$ HD+H reaction. A simple interference mechanism involving inelastic (nonreactive) and exchange scattering amplitudes is invoked to account for the observed GP effects. The computed results also reveal a shape resonance in the H+HD reaction near 1 K and the GP effect is found to influence the magnitude of the resonant part of the cross section. In conclusion, experimental detection of the resonance may allow a sensitive probe of the GP effect in the H+HD reaction.« less

Energy-switching potential energy surface for the water molecule revisited: A highly accurate singled-sheeted form.

PubMed

Galvão, B R L; Rodrigues, S P J; Varandas, A J C

2008-07-28

A global ab initio potential energy surface is proposed for the water molecule by energy-switching/merging a highly accurate isotope-dependent local potential function reported by Polyansky et al. [Science 299, 539 (2003)] with a global form of the many-body expansion type suitably adapted to account explicitly for the dynamical correlation and parametrized from extensive accurate multireference configuration interaction energies extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. The new function mimics also the complicated Sigma/Pi crossing that arises at linear geometries of the water molecule.

12th US-Japan Seminar: Many Body Quantum Systems from Quantum Gases to Metrology and Information Processing. Held in Madison, Wisconsin on 20-24 September 2015

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-03

Ultracold Atoms 5:10 Zelevinsky Ye Inouye High-precision spectroscopy with two-body quantum systems Low entropy quantum gas of polar molecules New limit...12th US-Japan Seminar: Many Body Quantum Systems from Quantum Gases to Metrology and Information Processing Support was provided for The 12th US...Japan Seminar on many body quantum systems which was held in Madison, Wisconsin from September 20 to 24, 2015 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center

Ultracold-neutron production and up-scattering in superfluid helium between 1.1 K and 2.4 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, K. K. H.; Ivanov, S.; Piegsa, F. M.; Simson, M.; Zimmer, O.

2016-02-01

Ultracold neutrons (UCNs) were produced in superfluid helium using the PF1B cold-neutron beam facility at the Institut Laue-Langevin. A 4-liter beryllium-coated converter volume with a mechanical valve and windowless stainless-steel extraction system were used to accumulate and guide UCNs to a detector at room temperature. At a converter temperature of 1.08 K the total storage time constant in the vessel was (20.3 ±1.2 )s and the number of UCNs counted after accumulated was 91 700 ±300 . From this, we derive a volumetric UCN production rate of (6.9 ±1.7 ) cm-3s-1 , which includes a correction for losses in the converter during UCN extraction caused by the short storage time, but not accounting for UCN transport and detection efficiencies. The up-scattering rate of UCNs caused by excitations in the superfluid was studied by scanning the temperature between 1.2 K and 2.4 K . Using the temperature-dependent UCN production rate calculated from inelastic neutron scattering data, the only UCN up-scattering process found to occur was from two-phonon scattering. Our analysis for T <1.95 K rules out the contributions from roton-phonon scattering to <29 % (95% C.I.) and from one-phonon absorption to <47 % (95% C.I.) of their predicted levels.

New photon-counting detectors for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging

PubMed Central

Michalet, X.; Colyer, R. A.; Scalia, G.; Weiss, S.; Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; Tremsin, Anton S.; Vallerga, John V.; Villa, F.; Guerrieri, F.; Rech, I.; Gulinatti, A.; Tisa, S.; Zappa, F.; Ghioni, M.; Cova, S.

2013-01-01

Solution-based single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful new experimental approach with applications in all fields of natural sciences. Two typical geometries can be used for these experiments: point-like and widefield excitation and detection. In point-like geometries, the basic concept is to excite and collect light from a very small volume (typically femtoliter) and work in a concentration regime resulting in rare burst-like events corresponding to the transit of a single-molecule. Those events are accumulated over time to achieve proper statistical accuracy. Therefore the advantage of extreme sensitivity is somewhat counterbalanced by a very long acquisition time. One way to speed up data acquisition is parallelization. Here we will discuss a general approach to address this issue, using a multispot excitation and detection geometry that can accommodate different types of novel highly-parallel detector arrays. We will illustrate the potential of this approach with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single-molecule fluorescence measurements. In widefield geometries, the same issues of background reduction and single-molecule concentration apply, but the duration of the experiment is fixed by the time scale of the process studied and the survival time of the fluorescent probe. Temporal resolution on the other hand, is limited by signal-to-noise and/or detector resolution, which calls for new detector concepts. We will briefly present our recent results in this domain. PMID:24729836

New photon-counting detectors for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging.

PubMed

Michalet, X; Colyer, R A; Scalia, G; Weiss, S; Siegmund, Oswald H W; Tremsin, Anton S; Vallerga, John V; Villa, F; Guerrieri, F; Rech, I; Gulinatti, A; Tisa, S; Zappa, F; Ghioni, M; Cova, S

2011-05-13

Solution-based single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful new experimental approach with applications in all fields of natural sciences. Two typical geometries can be used for these experiments: point-like and widefield excitation and detection. In point-like geometries, the basic concept is to excite and collect light from a very small volume (typically femtoliter) and work in a concentration regime resulting in rare burst-like events corresponding to the transit of a single-molecule. Those events are accumulated over time to achieve proper statistical accuracy. Therefore the advantage of extreme sensitivity is somewhat counterbalanced by a very long acquisition time. One way to speed up data acquisition is parallelization. Here we will discuss a general approach to address this issue, using a multispot excitation and detection geometry that can accommodate different types of novel highly-parallel detector arrays. We will illustrate the potential of this approach with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single-molecule fluorescence measurements. In widefield geometries, the same issues of background reduction and single-molecule concentration apply, but the duration of the experiment is fixed by the time scale of the process studied and the survival time of the fluorescent probe. Temporal resolution on the other hand, is limited by signal-to-noise and/or detector resolution, which calls for new detector concepts. We will briefly present our recent results in this domain.

The Molecule Pages database

PubMed Central

Saunders, Brian; Lyon, Stephen; Day, Matthew; Riley, Brenda; Chenette, Emily; Subramaniam, Shankar

2008-01-01

The UCSD-Nature Signaling Gateway Molecule Pages (http://www.signaling-gateway.org/molecule) provides essential information on more than 3800 mammalian proteins involved in cellular signaling. The Molecule Pages contain expert-authored and peer-reviewed information based on the published literature, complemented by regularly updated information derived from public data source references and sequence analysis. The expert-authored data includes both a full-text review about the molecule, with citations, and highly structured data for bioinformatics interrogation, including information on protein interactions and states, transitions between states and protein function. The expert-authored pages are anonymously peer reviewed by the Nature Publishing Group. The Molecule Pages data is present in an object-relational database format and is freely accessible to the authors, the reviewers and the public from a web browser that serves as a presentation layer. The Molecule Pages are supported by several applications that along with the database and the interfaces form a multi-tier architecture. The Molecule Pages and the Signaling Gateway are routinely accessed by a very large research community. PMID:17965093

The Molecule Pages database.

PubMed

Saunders, Brian; Lyon, Stephen; Day, Matthew; Riley, Brenda; Chenette, Emily; Subramaniam, Shankar; Vadivelu, Ilango

2008-01-01

The UCSD-Nature Signaling Gateway Molecule Pages (http://www.signaling-gateway.org/molecule) provides essential information on more than 3800 mammalian proteins involved in cellular signaling. The Molecule Pages contain expert-authored and peer-reviewed information based on the published literature, complemented by regularly updated information derived from public data source references and sequence analysis. The expert-authored data includes both a full-text review about the molecule, with citations, and highly structured data for bioinformatics interrogation, including information on protein interactions and states, transitions between states and protein function. The expert-authored pages are anonymously peer reviewed by the Nature Publishing Group. The Molecule Pages data is present in an object-relational database format and is freely accessible to the authors, the reviewers and the public from a web browser that serves as a presentation layer. The Molecule Pages are supported by several applications that along with the database and the interfaces form a multi-tier architecture. The Molecule Pages and the Signaling Gateway are routinely accessed by a very large research community.

Robust nonparametric quantification of clustering density of molecules in single-molecule localization microscopy

PubMed Central

Jiang, Shenghang; Park, Seongjin; Challapalli, Sai Divya; Fei, Jingyi; Wang, Yong

2017-01-01

We report a robust nonparametric descriptor, J′(r), for quantifying the density of clustering molecules in single-molecule localization microscopy. J′(r), based on nearest neighbor distribution functions, does not require any parameter as an input for analyzing point patterns. We show that J′(r) displays a valley shape in the presence of clusters of molecules, and the characteristics of the valley reliably report the clustering features in the data. Most importantly, the position of the J′(r) valley (rJm′) depends exclusively on the density of clustering molecules (ρc). Therefore, it is ideal for direct estimation of the clustering density of molecules in single-molecule localization microscopy. As an example, this descriptor was applied to estimate the clustering density of ptsG mRNA in E. coli bacteria. PMID:28636661

Design strategy for photoinduced electron transfer-based small-molecule fluorescent probes of biomacromolecules.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Ma, Zhao; Du, Lupei; Li, Minyong

2014-06-07

As the cardinal support of innumerable biological processes, biomacromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides are of importance to living systems. The key to understanding biological processes is to realize the role of these biomacromolecules in thte localization, distribution, conformation and interaction with other molecules. With the current development and adaptation of fluorescent technologies in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, the fluorescence imaging (FLI) approach of using small-molecule fluorescent probes is becoming an up-to-the-minute method for the detection and monitoring of these imperative biomolecules in life sciences. However, conventional small-molecule fluorescent probes may provide undesirable results because of their intrinsic deficiencies such as low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and false-positive errors. Recently, small-molecule fluorescent probes with a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) "on/off" switch for biomacromolecules have been thoroughly considered. When recognized by the biomacromolecules, these probes turn on/off the PET switch and change the fluorescence intensity to present a high SNR result. It should be emphasized that these PET-based fluorescent probes could be advantageous for understanding the pathogenesis of various diseases caused by abnormal expression of biomacromolecules. The discussion of this successful strategy involved in this review will be a valuable guide for the further development of new PET-based small-molecule fluorescent probes for biomacromolecules.

Interstellar Chemistry Gets More Complex With New Charged-Molecule Discovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2007-07-01

Astronomers using data from the National Science Foundation's Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) have found the largest negatively-charged molecule yet seen in space. The discovery of the third negatively-charged molecule, called an anion, in less than a year and the size of the latest anion will force a drastic revision of theoretical models of interstellar chemistry, the astronomers say. Molecule formation Formation Process of Large, Negatively-Charged Molecule in Interstellar Space CREDIT: Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF Click on image for page of graphics and detailed information "This discovery continues to add to the diversity and complexity that is already seen in the chemistry of interstellar space," said Anthony J. Remijan of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). "It also adds to the number of paths available for making the complex organic molecules and other large molecular species that may be precursors to life in the giant clouds from which stars and planets are formed," he added. Two teams of scientists found negatively-charged octatetraynyl, a chain of eight carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom, in the envelope of gas around an old, evolved star and in a cold, dark cloud of molecular gas. In both cases, the molecule had an extra electron, giving it a negative charge. About 130 neutral and about a dozen positively-charged molecules have been discovered in space, but the first negatively-charged molecule was not discovered until late last year. The largest previously-discovered negative ion found in space has six carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. "Until recently, many theoretical models of how chemical reactions evolve in interstellar space have largely neglected the presence of anions. This can no longer be the case, and this means that there are many more ways to build large organic molecules in cosmic environments than have been explored," said Jan M. Hollis of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Ultraviolet light from stars can

Novel systems and methods for quantum communication, quantum computation, and quantum simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorshkov, Alexey Vyacheslavovich

correlated physics of transition metal oxides, heavy fermion materials, and spin liquid phases. While ultracold atoms typically exhibit only short-range interactions, numerous exotic phenomena and practical applications require long-range interactions, which can be achieved with ultracold polar molecules. We demonstrate the possibility to engineer a repulsive interaction between polar molecules, which allows for the suppression of inelastic collisions, efficient evaporative cooling, and the creation of novel phases of polar molecules.

Atomic Rearrangements in Electron Attachment to Laser-Excited Molecules^*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinnaduwage, Lal; McCorkle, Dennis

1996-10-01

We report the observation of extensive atomic rearrangements in dissociative electron attachment to triethylamine " (Pinnaduwage and McCorkle, Chem.Phys. Lett. (in press, 1996))" and benzene laser excited to energies above their ionization thresholds. Large signal of "rearranged" negative ions, such as C_3^- (which is observed in both cases), were observed. This is in contrast to negative-ion formation via electron attachment to molecules in their ground states, where "rearranged" negative ions are comparatively weak and have been observed only occasionally. However, formation of "rearranged" positive ions is of common occurrence in the ionization of polyatomic molecules; it is possible that the formation of "rearranged" positive ions in the ionization processes, and the formation of such negative ions via electron attachment to excited states located close to the ionization threshold, are related. * Work supported by the LDRD Program of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. for the US Department of Energy under contract number DE-AC05-96OR22464, and by the National Science Foundation under contract CHE-93113949 with the Univ. of Tenn., Knoxville.

Atoms and Molecules. Study Guide. Unit 2. ZIM-SCI, Zimbabwe Secondary School Science Project. Year 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mandizha, George

The Zimbabwe Secondary School Science Project (ZIM-SCI) developed student study guides, corresponding teaching guides, and science kits for a low-cost science course which could be taught during the third year of secondary school without the aid of qualified teachers and conventional laboratories. This ZIM-SCI study guide is a four-part unit…

Continuous all-optical deceleration of molecular beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayich, Andrew; Chen, Gary; Long, Xueping; Wang, Anna; Campbell, Wesley

2014-05-01

A significant impediment to generating ultracold molecules is slowing a molecular beam to velocities where the molecules can be cooled and trapped. We report on progress toward addressing this issue with a general optical deceleration technique for molecular and atomic beams. We propose addressing the molecular beam with a pump and dump pulse sequence from a mode-locked laser. The pump pulse counter-propagates with respect to the beam and drives the molecules to the excited state. The dump pulse co-propagates and stimulates emission, driving the molecules back to the ground state. This cycle transfers 2 ℏk of momentum and can generate very large optical forces, not limited by the spontaneous emission lifetime of the molecule or atom. Importantly, avoiding spontaneous emission limits the branching to dark states. This technique can later be augmented with cooling and trapping. We are working towards demonstrating this optical force by accelerating a cold atomic sample.

Advances in ultrasensitive mass spectrometry of organic molecules.

PubMed

Kandiah, Mathivathani; Urban, Pawel L

2013-06-21

Ultrasensitive mass spectrometric analysis of organic molecules is important for various branches of chemistry, and other fields including physics, earth and environmental sciences, archaeology, biomedicine, and materials science. It finds applications--as an enabling tool--in systems biology, biological imaging, clinical analysis, and forensics. Although there are a number of technical obstacles associated with the analysis of samples by mass spectrometry at ultratrace level (for example analyte losses during sample preparation, insufficient sensitivity, ion suppression), several noteworthy developments have been made over the years. They include: sensitive ion sources, loss-free interfaces, ion optics components, efficient mass analyzers and detectors, as well as "smart" sample preparation strategies. Some of the mass spectrometric methods published to date can achieve sensitivity which is by several orders of magnitude higher than that of alternative approaches. Femto- and attomole level limits of detection are nowadays common, while zepto- and yoctomole level limits of detection have also been reported. We envision that the ultrasensitive mass spectrometric assays will soon contribute to new discoveries in bioscience and other areas.

Quantum scattering problem without partial-wave analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Melezhik, V. S., E-mail: melezhik@theor.jinr.ru

2013-02-15

We have suggested a method for treating different quantum few-body dynamics without traditional using of the partial-wave analysis. It happened that this approach was very efficient in quantitative analysis of low-dimensional ultracold few-body systems arising in confined geometry of atomic traps. Here we discuss its application to a recently suggested mechanism of resonant molecule formation in confined two-component atomic mixture with transferring the energy release to the center-of-mass excitation of forming molecules. The author considers this result as one of the most significant in his scientific carrier which started from the model of resonant muonic molecule formation [S.I. Vinitsky etmore » al., Sov. Phys. JETP 47, 444 (1978)], one of the most citing works of S.I. Vinitsky.« less

How to probe transverse magnetic anisotropy of a single-molecule magnet by electronic transport?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Misiorny, M.; Burzuri, E.; Gaudenzi, R.; Park, K.; Leijnse, M.; Wegewijs, M.; Paaske, J.; Cornia, A.; van der Zant, H.

We propose an approach for in-situ determination of the transverse magnetic anisotropy (TMA) of an individual molecule by electronic transport measurements, see Phys. Rev. B 91, 035442 (2015). We study a Fe4 single-molecule magnet (SMM) captured in a gateable junction, a unique tool for addressing the spin in different redox states of a molecule. We show that, due to mixing of the spin eigenstates of the SMM, the TMA significantly manifests itself in transport. We predict and experimentally observe the pronounced intensity modulation of the Coulomb peak amplitude with the magnetic field in the linear-response transport regime, from which the TMA parameter E can be estimated. Importantly, the method proposed here does not rely on the small induced tunnelling effects and, hence, works well at temperatures and electron tunnel broadenings by far exceeding the tunnel splittings and even E itself. We deduce that the TMA for a single Fe4 molecule captured in a junction is substantially larger than the bulk value. Work supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Education as `Iuventus Plus' project (IP2014 030973) in years 2015-2016.

Ion-Molecule Reaction Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Jennifer; Wester, Roland

2017-05-01

We review the recent advances in the investigation of the dynamics of ion-molecule reactions. During the past decade, the combination of single-collision experiments in crossed ion and neutral beams with the velocity map ion imaging detection technique has enabled a wealth of studies on ion-molecule reactions. These methods, in combination with chemical dynamics simulations, have uncovered new and unexpected reaction mechanisms, such as the roundabout mechanism and the subtle influence of the leaving group in anion-molecule nucleophilic substitution reactions. For this important class of reactions, as well as for many fundamental cation-molecule reactions, the information obtained with crossed-beam imaging is discussed. The first steps toward understanding micro-solvation of ion-molecule reaction dynamics are presented. We conclude with the presentation of several interesting directions for future research.

Negative ions of polyatomic molecules.

PubMed Central

Christophorou, L G

1980-01-01

In this paper general concepts relating to, and recent advances in, the study of negative ions of polyatomic molecules area discussed with emphasis on halocarbons. The topics dealt with in the paper are as follows: basic electron attachment processes, modes of electron capture by molecules, short-lived transient negative ions, dissociative electron attachment to ground-state molecules and to "hot" molecules (effects of temperature on electron attachment), parent negative ions, effect of density, nature, and state of the medium on electron attachment, electron attachment to electronically excited molecules, the binding of attached electrons to molecules ("electron affinity"), and the basic and the applied significance of negative-ion studies. PMID:7428744

Attachment of second harmonic-active moiety to molecules for detection of molecules at interfaces

DOEpatents

Salafsky, Joshua S.; Eisenthal, Kenneth B.

2005-10-11

This invention provides methods of detecting molecules at an interface, which comprise labeling the molecules with a second harmonic-active moiety and detecting the labeled molecules at the interface using a surface selective technique. The invention also provides methods for detecting a molecule in a medium and for determining the orientation of a molecular species within a planar surface using a second harmonic-active moiety and a surface selective technique.

Effects of Perchlorate on Organic Molecules under Simulated Mars Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carrier, B. L.; Kounaves, S. P.

2014-12-01

Perchlorate (ClO4-) was discovered in the northern polar region of Mars by the Mars Phoenix Lander in 2008 and has also been recently detected by the Curiosity Rover in Gale Crater [1,2]. Perchlorate has also been shown to be formed under current Mars conditions via the oxidation of mineral chlorides, further supporting the theory that perchlorate is present globally on Mars [3]. The discovery of perchlorate on Mars has raised important questions about the effects of perchlorate on the survival and detection of organic molecules. Although it has been shown that pyrolysis in the presence of perchlorate results in the alteration or destruction of organic molecules [4], few studies have been conducted on the potential effects of perchlorate on organic molecules under martian surface conditions. Although perchlorate is typically inert under Mars-typical temperatures [5], perchlorate does absorb high energy UV radiation, and has been shown to decompose to form reactive oxychlorine species such as chlorite (ClO2-) when exposed to martian conditions including UV or ionizing radiation [6,7]. Here we investigate the effects of perchlorate on the organic molecules tryptophan, benzoic acid and mellitic acid in order to determine how perchlorate may alter these compounds under Mars conditions. Experiments are performed in a Mars Simulation Chamber (MSC) capable of reproducing the temperature, pressure, atmospheric composition and UV flux found on Mars. Soil simulants are prepared consisting of SiO2 and each organic, as well as varying concentrations of perchlorate salts, and exposed in the MSC. Subsequent to exposure in the MSC samples are leached and the leachate analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS to determine the degree of degradation of the original organic and the identity of any potential decomposition products formed by oxidation or chlorination. References: [1] Kounaves et al., J. Geophys. Res. Planets, Vol. 115, p. E00E10, 2010 [2] Glavin et al., J. Geophys. Res. Planets, Vol

Real-space and real-time observation of a plasmon-induced chemical reaction of a single molecule.

PubMed

Kazuma, Emiko; Jung, Jaehoon; Ueba, Hiromu; Trenary, Michael; Kim, Yousoo

2018-05-04

Plasmon-induced chemical reactions of molecules adsorbed on metal nanostructures are attracting increased attention for photocatalytic reactions. However, the mechanism remains controversial because of the difficulty of direct observation of the chemical reactions in the plasmonic field, which is strongly localized near the metal surface. We used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to achieve real-space and real-time observation of a plasmon-induced chemical reaction at the single-molecule level. A single dimethyl disulfide molecule on silver and copper surfaces was dissociated by the optically excited plasmon at the STM junction. The STM study combined with theoretical calculations shows that this plasmon-induced chemical reaction occurred by a direct intramolecular excitation mechanism. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Modeling Adsorption and Reactions of Organic Molecules at Metal Surfaces

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Conspectus The understanding of adsorption and reactions of (large) organic molecules at metal surfaces plays an increasingly important role in modern surface science and technology. Such hybrid inorganic/organic systems (HIOS) are relevant for many applications in catalysis, light-emitting diodes, single-molecule junctions, molecular sensors and switches, and photovoltaics. Obviously, the predictive modeling and understanding of the structure and stability of such hybrid systems is an essential prerequisite for tuning their electronic properties and functions. At present, density-functional theory (DFT) is the most promising approach to study the structure, stability, and electronic properties of complex systems, because it can be applied to both molecules and solids comprising thousands of atoms. However, state-of-the-art approximations to DFT do not provide a consistent and reliable description for HIOS, which is largely due to two issues: (i) the self-interaction of the electrons with themselves arising from the Hartree term of the total energy that is not fully compensated in approximate exchange-correlation functionals, and (ii) the lack of long-range part of the ubiquitous van der Waals (vdW) interactions. The self-interaction errors sometimes lead to incorrect description of charge transfer and electronic level alignment in HIOS, although for molecules adsorbed on metals these effects will often cancel out in total energy differences. Regarding vdW interactions, several promising vdW-inclusive DFT-based methods have been recently demonstrated to yield remarkable accuracy for intermolecular interactions in the gas phase. However, the majority of these approaches neglect the nonlocal collective electron response in the vdW energy tail, an effect that is particularly strong in condensed phases and at interfaces between different materials. Here we show that the recently developed DFT+vdWsurf method that accurately accounts for the collective electronic

Enzymatic DNA molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joyce, Gerald F. (Inventor); Breaker, Ronald R. (Inventor)

1998-01-01

The present invention discloses deoxyribonucleic acid enzymes--catalytic or enzymatic DNA molecules--capable of cleaving nucleic acid sequences or molecules, particularly RNA, in a site-specific manner, as well as compositions including same. Methods of making and using the disclosed enzymes and compositions are also disclosed.

Preparation of translationally cold neutral molecules.

PubMed

Di Domenicantonio, Giulia; Bertsche, Benjamin; Osterwalder, Andreas

2011-01-01

Efforts at EPFL to obtain translationally cold neutral molecules are described. Active deceleration of polar molecules is performed by confining the molecules in moving three-dimensional electrostatic traps, and by appropriately choosing the velocity of those traps. Alternatively, cold molecules can be obtained by velocity filtering. Here, the velocity of the molecules is not changed, but instead the cold molecules are extracted from a thermal sample by using the competition between the electrostatic force and the centrifugal force inside a bent electrostatic guide for polar molecules.

What is the minimum number of water molecules required to dissolve a potassium chloride molecule?

PubMed

Sen, Anik; Ganguly, Bishwajit

2010-12-01

This work answers an unsolved question that consists of determining the least number of water molecules necessary to separate a potassium chloride molecule. The answer based on accurate quantum chemical calculations suggests that tetramers are the smallest clusters necessary to dissociate KCl molecules. The study was made with Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory modified with the cluster theory having single, double, and perturbative triple excitations. With this extensive study, the dissociation of KCl molecule in different water clusters was evaluated. The calculated results show that four water molecules stabilize a solvent separated K(+)/Cl(-) ion-pair in prismatic structure and with six water molecules further dissociation was observed. Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy of KCl dissolved in water establishes that clusters are made of closely bound ions with a mean of five water molecules per ion-pair [K(+)(H(2)O)(5)Cl(-)]. (Max and Chapados, Appl Spectrosc 1999, 53, 1601; Max and Chapados, J Chem Phys 2001, 115, 2664.) The calculated results tend to support that five water molecules leads toward the formation of contact ion-pair. The structures, energies, and infrared spectra of KCl molecules in different water clusters are also discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Single Molecule Electronics and Devices

PubMed Central

Tsutsui, Makusu; Taniguchi, Masateru

2012-01-01

The manufacture of integrated circuits with single-molecule building blocks is a goal of molecular electronics. While research in the past has been limited to bulk experiments on self-assembled monolayers, advances in technology have now enabled us to fabricate single-molecule junctions. This has led to significant progress in understanding electron transport in molecular systems at the single-molecule level and the concomitant emergence of new device concepts. Here, we review recent developments in this field. We summarize the methods currently used to form metal-molecule-metal structures and some single-molecule techniques essential for characterizing molecular junctions such as inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy. We then highlight several important achievements, including demonstration of single-molecule diodes, transistors, and switches that make use of electrical, photo, and mechanical stimulation to control the electron transport. We also discuss intriguing issues to be addressed further in the future such as heat and thermoelectric transport in an individual molecule. PMID:22969345

Development of the Science Data System for the International Space Station Cold Atom Lab

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

van Harmelen, Chris; Soriano, Melissa A.

2015-01-01

Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) is a facility that will enable scientists to study ultra-cold quantum gases in a microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS) beginning in 2016. The primary science data for each experiment consists of two images taken in quick succession. The first image is of the trapped cold atoms and the second image is of the background. The two images are subtracted to obtain optical density. These raw Level 0 atom and background images are processed into the Level 1 optical density data product, and then into the Level 2 data products: atom number, Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) lifetime, magnetic chip-trap atom lifetime, and condensate fraction. These products can also be used as diagnostics of the instrument health. With experiments being conducted for 8 hours every day, the amount of data being generated poses many technical challenges, such as downlinking and managing the required data volume. A parallel processing design is described, implemented, and benchmarked. In addition to optimizing the data pipeline, accuracy and speed in producing the Level 1 and 2 data products is key. Algorithms for feature recognition are explored, facilitating image cropping and accurate atom number calculations.

Performance of the upgraded ultracold neutron source at Los Alamos National Laboratory and its implication for a possible neutron electric dipole moment experiment

DOE PAGES

Ito, Takeyasu M.; Adamek, E. R.; Callahan, N. B.; ...

2018-01-29

We report the ultracold neutron (UCN) source at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which uses solid deuterium as the UCN converter and is driven by accelerator spallation neutrons, has been successfully operated for over 10 years, providing UCN to various experiments, as the first production UCN source based on the superthermal process. It has recently undergone a major upgrade. This paper describes the design and performance of the upgraded LANL UCN source. Measurements of the cold neutron spectrum and UCN density are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The source is shown to perform as modeled. The UCN densitymore » measured at the exit of the biological shield was 184(32) UCN / cm 3, a fourfold increase from the highest previously reported. Finally, the polarized UCN density stored in an external chamber was measured to be 39(7) UCN / cm 3, which is sufficient to perform an experiment to search for the nonzero neutron electric dipole moment with a one-standard-deviation sensitivity of σ(d n) = 3 × 10 -27 e cm.« less

Performance of the upgraded ultracold neutron source at Los Alamos National Laboratory and its implication for a possible neutron electric dipole moment experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, T. M.; Adamek, E. R.; Callahan, N. B.; Choi, J. H.; Clayton, S. M.; Cude-Woods, C.; Currie, S.; Ding, X.; Fellers, D. E.; Geltenbort, P.; Lamoreaux, S. K.; Liu, C.-Y.; MacDonald, S.; Makela, M.; Morris, C. L.; Pattie, R. W.; Ramsey, J. C.; Salvat, D. J.; Saunders, A.; Sharapov, E. I.; Sjue, S.; Sprow, A. P.; Tang, Z.; Weaver, H. L.; Wei, W.; Young, A. R.

2018-01-01

The ultracold neutron (UCN) source at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which uses solid deuterium as the UCN converter and is driven by accelerator spallation neutrons, has been successfully operated for over 10 years, providing UCN to various experiments, as the first production UCN source based on the superthermal process. It has recently undergone a major upgrade. This paper describes the design and performance of the upgraded LANL UCN source. Measurements of the cold neutron spectrum and UCN density are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The source is shown to perform as modeled. The UCN density measured at the exit of the biological shield was 184 (32 ) UCN /cm3 , a fourfold increase from the highest previously reported. The polarized UCN density stored in an external chamber was measured to be 39 (7 ) UCN /cm3 , which is sufficient to perform an experiment to search for the nonzero neutron electric dipole moment with a one-standard-deviation sensitivity of σ (dn) =3 ×10-27e cm .

Performance of the upgraded ultracold neutron source at Los Alamos National Laboratory and its implication for a possible neutron electric dipole moment experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ito, Takeyasu M.; Adamek, E. R.; Callahan, N. B.

We report the ultracold neutron (UCN) source at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which uses solid deuterium as the UCN converter and is driven by accelerator spallation neutrons, has been successfully operated for over 10 years, providing UCN to various experiments, as the first production UCN source based on the superthermal process. It has recently undergone a major upgrade. This paper describes the design and performance of the upgraded LANL UCN source. Measurements of the cold neutron spectrum and UCN density are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The source is shown to perform as modeled. The UCN densitymore » measured at the exit of the biological shield was 184(32) UCN / cm 3, a fourfold increase from the highest previously reported. Finally, the polarized UCN density stored in an external chamber was measured to be 39(7) UCN / cm 3, which is sufficient to perform an experiment to search for the nonzero neutron electric dipole moment with a one-standard-deviation sensitivity of σ(d n) = 3 × 10 -27 e cm.« less

Universal relations of an ultracold Fermi gas with arbitrary spin-orbit coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jie, Jianwen; Qi, Ran; Zhang, Peng

2018-05-01

We derive the universal relations for an ultracold two-component Fermi gas with a spin-orbit coupling (SOC) ∑α,β =x ,y ,zλα βσαpβ , where px ,y ,z and σx ,y ,z are the single-atom momentum and Pauli operators for pseudospin, respectively, and the SOC intensity λα β could take an arbitrary value. We consider the system with an s -wave short-range interspecies interaction, and ignore the SOC-induced modification for the value of the scattering length. Using the first-quantized approach developed by Tan [S. Tan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 145302 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.145302], we obtain the short-range and high-momentum expansions for the one-body real-space correlation function and momentum distribution function, respectively. For our system these functions are a 2 ×2 matrix in the pseudospin basis. We find that the leading-order (1 /k4 ) behavior of the diagonal elements of the momentum distribution function, i.e., n↑↑(k ) and n↓↓(k ) , are not modified by the SOC. However, the SOC can significantly modify the large-k behaviors of the distribution difference δ n (k ) ≡n↑↑(k ) -n↓↓(k ) as well as the nondiagonal elements of the momentum distribution function, i.e., n↑↓(k ) and n↓↑(k ) . In the absence of the SOC, the leading order of δ n (k ) , n↑↓(k ) , and n↓↑(k ) is O (1 /k6) . When SOC appears, it can induce a term on the order of 1 /k5 for these elements. We further derive the adiabatic relation and the energy functional. Our results show that the SOC can induce an additional term in the energy functional, which describes the contribution from the SOC to the total energy. In addition, the form of the adiabatic relation for our system is not modified by the SOC. Our results are applicable for the systems with any type of single-atom trapping potential, which could be either diagonal or nondiagonal in the pseudospin basis.

Ordered structures in rotating ultracold Bose gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barberán, N.; Lewenstein, M.; Osterloh, K.; Dagnino, D.

2006-06-01

Two-dimentional systems of trapped samples of few cold bosonic atoms submitted to strong rotation around the perpendicular axis may be realized in optical lattices and microtraps. We investigate theoretically the evolution of ground state structures of such systems as the rotational frequency Ω increases. Various kinds of ordered structures are observed. In some cases, hidden interference patterns exhibit themselves only in the pair correlation function; in some other cases explicit broken-symmetry structures appear that modulate the density. For N<10 atoms, the standard scenario, valid for large sytems is absent, and is only gradually recovered as N increases. On the one hand, the Laughlin state in the strong rotational regime contains ordered structures much more similar to a Wigner molecule than to a fermionic quantum liquid. On the other hand, in the weak rotational regime, the possibility to obtain equilibrium states, whose density reveals an array of vortices, is restricted to the vicinity of some critical values of the rotational frequency Ω .

Re-examination of the Cs2 ground singlet X1Σg+ and triplet a3Σu+ states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sovkov, Vladimir B.; Xie, Feng; Lyyra, A. Marjatta; Ahmed, Ergin H.; Ma, Jie; Jia, Suotang

2017-09-01

This paper clarifies the disagreement in the depth of the potential energy curve of the cesium dimer singlet ground state which has lasted for nearly a decade. We point out that the origin of this disagreement must be a technical misprint in the values of the three binding energies reported by Danzl et al. [Science 321, 1062 (2008)], while the X1Σg+ state potential reported by Coxon and Hajigeorgiou [J. Chem. Phys. 132, 094105 (2010)], based on experimental data by Amiot and Dulieu [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 5155 (2002)], is quite correct. We have recalculated the potential energy function of the triplet ground state a3Σu+ by using the available experimental data spanning both the attractive and the repulsive branches so that the potential energy function complies asymptotically with the singlet ground state X1Σg+ potential energy function by Coxon and Hajigeorgiou. This is important for the simulation of the near dissociation properties such as Feshbach resonances, which are typically observed in modern experiments with ultracold atoms and molecules.

First Principles Modeling and Interpretation of Ionization-Triggered Charge Migration in Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruner, Adam; Hernandez, Sam; Mauger, Francois; Abanador, Paul; Gaarde, Mette; Schafer, Ken; Lopata, Ken

Modeling attosecond coherent charge migration in molecules is important for understanding initial steps of photochemistry and light harvesting processes. Ionization triggered hole migration can be difficult to characterize and interpret as the dynamics can be convoluted with excited states. Here, we introduce a real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) approach for modeling such dynamics from first principles. To isolate the specific hole dynamics from excited states, Fourier transform analysis and orbital occupations are used to provide a spatial hole representation in the frequency domain. These techniques are applied to hole transfer across a thiophene dimer as well as core-hole triggered valence motion in nitrosobenzene. This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award No. DE-SC0012462.

Single-Molecule Bioelectronics

PubMed Central

Rosenstein, Jacob K.; Lemay, Serge G.; Shepard, Kenneth L.

2014-01-01

Experimental techniques which interface single biomolecules directly with microelectronic systems are increasingly being used in a wide range of powerful applications, from fundamental studies of biomolecules to ultra-sensitive assays. Here we review several technologies which can perform electronic measurements of single molecules in solution: ion channels, nanopore sensors, carbon nanotube field-effect transistors, electron tunneling gaps, and redox cycling. We discuss the shared features among these techniques that enable them to resolve individual molecules, and discuss their limitations. Recordings from each of these methods all rely on similar electronic instrumentation, and we discuss the relevant circuit implementations and potential for scaling these single-molecule bioelectronic interfaces to high-throughput arrayed sensing platforms. PMID:25529538

Monte Carlo study of the honeycomb structure of anthraquinone molecules on Cu(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kwangmoo; Einstein, T. L.

2011-06-01

Using Monte Carlo calculations of the two-dimensional (2D) triangular lattice gas model, we demonstrate a mechanism for the spontaneous formation of honeycomb structure of anthraquinone (AQ) molecules on a Cu(111) plane. In our model long-range attractions play an important role, in addition to the long-range repulsions and short-range attractions proposed by Pawin, Wong, Kwon, and Bartels [ScienceSCIEAS0036-807510.1126/science.1129309 313, 961 (2006)]. We provide a global account of the possible combinations of long-range attractive coupling constants which lead to a honeycomb superstructure. We also provide the critical temperature of disruption of the honeycomb structure and compare the critical local coverage rate of AQ’s where the honeycomb structure starts to form with the experimental observations.

Maxwell's color statistics: from reduction of visible errors to reduction to invisible molecules.

PubMed

Cat, Jordi

2014-12-01

This paper presents a cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary account of Maxwell's introduction of statistical models of molecules for the composition of gases. The account focuses on Maxwell's deployment of statistical models of data in his contemporaneous color researches as established in Cambridge mathematical physics, especially by Maxwell's seniors and mentors. The paper also argues that the cross-disciplinary, or cross-domain, transfer of resources from the natural and social sciences took place in both directions and relied on the complex intra-disciplinary, or intra-domain, dynamics of Maxwell's researches in natural sciences, in color theory, physical astronomy, electromagnetism and dynamical theory of gases, as well as involving a variety of types of communicating and mediating media, from material objects to concepts, techniques and institutions.

Single-molecule dynamics in nanofabricated traps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Adam

2009-03-01

The Anti-Brownian Electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap) provides a means to immobilize a single fluorescent molecule in solution, without surface attachment chemistry. The ABEL trap works by tracking the Brownian motion of a single molecule, and applying feedback electric fields to induce an electrokinetic motion that approximately cancels the Brownian motion. We present a new design for the ABEL trap that allows smaller molecules to be trapped and more information to be extracted from the dynamics of a single molecule than was previously possible. In particular, we present strategies for extracting dynamically fluctuating mobilities and diffusion coefficients, as a means to probe dynamic changes in molecular charge and shape. If one trapped molecule is good, many trapped molecules are better. An array of single molecules in solution, each immobilized without surface attachment chemistry, provides an ideal test-bed for single-molecule analyses of intramolecular dynamics and intermolecular interactions. We present a technology for creating such an array, using a fused silica plate with nanofabricated dimples and a removable cover for sealing single molecules within the dimples. With this device one can watch the shape fluctuations of single molecules of DNA or study cooperative interactions in weakly associating protein complexes.

Organizing and addressing magnetic molecules.

PubMed

Gatteschi, Dante; Cornia, Andrea; Mannini, Matteo; Sessoli, Roberta

2009-04-20

Magnetic molecules ranging from simple organic radicals to single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are intensively investigated for their potential applications in molecule-based information storage and processing. The goal of this Article is to review recent achievements in the organization of magnetic molecules on surfaces and in their individual probing and manipulation. We stress that the inherent fragility and redox sensitivity of most SMM complexes, combined with the noninnocent role played by the substrate, ask for a careful evaluation of the structural and electronic properties of deposited molecules going beyond routine methods for surface analysis. Detailed magnetic information can be directly obtained using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism or newly emerging scanning probe techniques with magnetic detection capabilities.

Introductory Science Moves beyond "Rocks for Jocks"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brainard, Jeffrey

2008-01-01

In a survey last year, four-fifths of Americans surveyed could not correctly define "molecule." This is not good news for educators who worry that Americans are ill prepared to compete with other nations and understand political choices involving science. Behind those disturbing numbers lie another, more encouraging, set of poll results intimately…

Atomic-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopic Movies for Study of Organic Molecules, Assemblies, and Reactions: The First 10 Years of Development.

PubMed

Nakamura, Eiichi

2017-06-20

, thereby providing mechanistic insights into crystal formation-phenomena of general significance in science, engineering, and our daily life. Whereas many of the single organic molecules in a vacuum seen by SMART-TEM are sufficiently long-lived for detailed studies, molecules with low ionization potentials (<6 eV) were found to undergo chemical reactions, for example, [60]fullerene and organometallic compounds possibly via a hole catalysis mechanism, where a radical cation of CNT generated under electron irradiation catalyzes the transformation via an electron transfer mechanism. Common organic molecules whose ionization potentials are much higher (>8 eV) than that of CNT (5 eV) remain stable for a time long enough for observation at 60-120 kV acceleration voltage, as they are not oxidized by the CNT radical cation. Alternatively, the reaction may have taken place via an excited state of a molecule produced by energy transfer from CNT possessing excess energy provided by the electron beam. SMART-TEM imaging is a simple approach to the study of the structures and reactions of molecules and their assemblies and will serve as a gateway to the research and education of the science connecting the quantum mechanical world and the real world.

Observation of pendular butterfly Rydberg molecules

PubMed Central

Niederprüm, Thomas; Thomas, Oliver; Eichert, Tanita; Lippe, Carsten; Pérez-Ríos, Jesús; Greene, Chris H.; Ott, Herwig

2016-01-01

Engineering molecules with a tunable bond length and defined quantum states lies at the heart of quantum chemistry. The unconventional binding mechanism of Rydberg molecules makes them a promising candidate to implement such tunable molecules. A very peculiar type of Rydberg molecules are the so-called butterfly molecules, which are bound by a shape resonance in the electron–perturber scattering. Here we report the observation of these exotic molecules and employ their exceptional properties to engineer their bond length, vibrational state, angular momentum and orientation in a small electric field. Combining the variable bond length with their giant dipole moment of several hundred Debye, we observe counter-intuitive molecules which locate the average electron position beyond the internuclear distance. PMID:27703143

Structure-Property Relationships of Small Organic Molecules as a Prelude to the Teaching of Polymer Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wnek, Gary E.

2017-01-01

Small organic molecules offer a rich opportunity to discuss the interplay of chemical structure with properties such as the melting point and phenomena such as glass formation and can form the basis of fundamental considerations of structure-property relationships in macromolecules. Of particular importance are thermal transitions, specifically…

Relaxometry in soil science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaumann, G. E.; Jaeger, F.; Bayer, J. V.

2009-04-01

NMR relaxometry is a sensitive, informative and promising method to study pore size distribution in soils as well as many kinds of soil physicochemical processes, among which are wetting, swelling or changes in the macromolecular status. Further, it is a very helpful method to study interactions between molecules in soil organic matter and it can serve to study the state of binding of water or organic chemicals to soil organic matter. The method of Relaxometry excite the nuclei of interest and their relaxation kinetics are observed. The relaxation time is the time constant of this first order relaxation process. Most applications of relaxometry concentrate on protons, addressing water molecules or H-containing organic molecules. In this context, 1H-NMR relaxometry may be used as an analysis method to determine water uptake characteristics of soils, thus gaining information about water distribution and mobility as well as pore size distribution in wet and moist samples. Additionally, it can also serve as a tool to study mobility of molecular segments in biopolymers. Principally, relaxometry is not restricted to protons. In soil science, relaxometry is also applied using deuterium, xenon and other nuclei to study pore size distribution and interactions. The relaxation time depends on numerous parameters like surface relaxivity, diffusion and interactions between nuclei as well as between nuclei and the environment. One- and two-dimensional methods address the relation between relaxation time and diffusion coefficients and can give information about the interconnectivity of pores. More specific information can be gained using field cycling techniques. Although proton NMR relaxometry is a very promising method in soil science, it has been applied scarcely up to now. It was used to assess changes in molecular rigidity of humic substances. A very recent study shows the potential of NMR relaxometry to assess the pore size distribution of soils in a fast and non

Migratory resonances and Wigner timers in the photoionization of fullerene class of molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Himadri

2017-04-01

Empty fullerenes and atom-encaging endofullerenes are quintessential symmetric molecules exhibiting near stability in the room temperature. This property endows them with the quality to be tested for spectroscopic information otherwise inaccessible with regular atoms and molecules. Probing the response of fullerenes and endofullerenes to electromagnetic radiations is one classic way to accomplish this. Conventional spectroscopy of determining the photoelectron count and kinetic energy, as the frequency of the incoming photons varies, predicts varieties of resonances for such molecules. These resonances fundamentally originate from either the correlated electronic motions leading to plasmons or from the molecule's structural symmetry inducing diffractions or even from the mixing of both these effects in tandem. A particularly exotic class of these resonances, which will be emphasized in the talk, includes photoexcitation at one site of the molecule but its subsequent decay at a different location, as well as a coherent admixture of this mechanism with localized Auger processes. The other part of the talk will be devoted to connect to a more contemporary form of spectroscopy by evaluating the time-of-flight of the photoelectron, starting from its production at the molecule to the detector. This utilizes a Wigner clock based on the knowledge of energy-dependent photoelectron quantum phase. It will be shown that the information that can be obtained from the knowledge of this time is often consistent with the underlying electron correlative dynamics, both at the energy region of the giant plasmon resonance and at the generic Cooper-type minima (or anti-resonances). A selection of the results will be presented which are computed by the density functional approximation. The ground state of the molecule is described in a local density approximation (LDA) framework with accurate exchange correlation potential. And a linear-response variant of LDA (TDLDA) is utilized to

Scaled plane-wave Born cross sections for atoms and molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, H.; Brunger, M. J.; Campbell, L.; Kato, H.; Hoshino, M.; Rau, A. R. P.

2016-04-01

Integral cross sections for optically allowed electronic-state excitations of atoms and molecules by electron impact, by applying scaled plane-wave Born models, are reviewed. Over 40 years ago, Inokuti presented an influential review of charged-particle scattering, based on the theory pioneered by Bethe forty years earlier, which emphasized the importance of reliable cross-section data from low eV energies to high keV energies that are needed in many areas of radiation science with applications to astronomy, plasmas, and medicine. Yet, with a couple of possible exceptions, most computational methods in electron-atom scattering do not, in general, overlap each other's validity range in the region from threshold up to 300 eV and, in particular, in the intermediate region from 30 to 300 eV. This is even more so for electron-molecule scattering. In fact this entire energy range is of great importance and, to bridge the gap between the two regions of low and high energy, scaled plane-wave Born models were developed to provide reliable, comprehensive, and absolute integral cross sections, first for ionization by Kim and Rudd and then extended to optically allowed electronic-state excitation by Kim. These and other scaling models in a broad, general application to electron scattering from atoms and molecules, their theoretical basis, and their results for cross sections along with comparison to experimental measurements are reviewed. Where possible, these data are also compared to results from other computational approaches.

Quantifying the Dynamic Interactions Between a Clathrin-Coated Pit and Cargo Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigel, Aubrey; Tamkun, Michael; Krapf, Diego

2014-03-01

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a major pathway of internalization of cargo in eukaryotic cells. This process involves the recruitment of cargo molecules into a growing clathrin-coated pit (CCP). However, cargo-CCP interactions are difficult to study because CCPs display a large degree of lifetime heterogeneity and the interactions with cargo molecules evolve over time. We use single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, in combination with automatic detection and tracking algorithms, to directly visualize the recruitment of individual voltage-gated potassium channels into forming CCPs in living cells. Contrary to widespread ideas, cargo often escapes from a pit before abortive CCP termination or endocytic vesicle production. By measuring tens of thousands of capturing events, we build the distribution of capture times and the times that cargo remains confined to a CCP. An analytical stochastic model is developed and compared to the measured distributions. Due to the dynamic nature of the pit, the model is non-Markovian and it displays long-tail power law statistics. Our findings identify one source of the large heterogeneities observed in CCP maturation and provide a mechanism for the anomalous diffusion of proteins in the plasma membrane. This work was supported by National Science Foundation Grant PHY-0956714.

Using naturally occurring polysaccharides to align molecules with nonlinear optical activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prasthofer, Thomas

1996-01-01

The Biophysics and Advanced Materials Branch of the Microgravity Science and Applications Division at Marshall Space Flight Center has been investigating polymers with the potential for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications for a number of years. Some of the potential applications for NLO materials include optical communications, computing, and switching. To this point the branch's research has involved polydiacetylenes, phthalocyanins, and other synthetic polymers which have inherent NLO properties. The aim of the present research is to investigate the possibility of using naturally occurring polymers such as polysaccharides or proteins to trap and align small organic molecules with useful NLO properties. Ordering molecules with NLO properties enhances 3rd order nonlinear effects and is required for 2nd order nonlinear effects. Potential advantages of such a system are the flexibility to use different small molecules with varying chemical and optical properties, the stability and cost of the polymers, and the ability to form thin, optically transparent films. Since the quality of any polymer films depends on optimizing ordering and minimizing defects, this work is particularly well suited for microgravity experiments. Polysaccharide and protein polymers form microscopic crystallites which must align to form ordered arrays. The ordered association of crystallites is disrupted by gravity effects and NASA research on protein crystal growth has demonstrated that low gravity conditions can improve crystal quality.

Radio-Frequency-Controlled Cold Collisions and Universal Properties of Unitary Bose Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Yijue

This thesis investigates two topics: ultracold atomic collisions in a radio-frequency field and universal properties of a degenerate unitary Bose gas. One interesting point of the unitary Bose gas is that the system has only one length scale, that is, the average interparticle distance. This single parameter determines all properties of the gas, which is called the universality of the system. We first introduce a renormalized contact interaction to extend the validity of the zero-range interaction to large scattering lengths. Then this renormalized interaction is applied to many-body theories to determined those universal relations of the system. From the few-body perspective, we discuss the scattering between atoms in a single-color radio-frequency field. Our motivation is proposing the radio-frequency field as an effective tool to control interactions between cold atoms. Such a technique may be useful in future experiments such as creating phase transitions in spinor condensates. We also discuss the formation of ultracold molecules using radio-freqency fields from a time-dependent approach.

Electron collisions with atoms, ions, molecules, and surfaces: Fundamental science empowering advances in technology

PubMed Central

Bartschat, Klaus; Kushner, Mark J.

2016-01-01

Electron collisions with atoms, ions, molecules, and surfaces are critically important to the understanding and modeling of low-temperature plasmas (LTPs), and so in the development of technologies based on LTPs. Recent progress in obtaining experimental benchmark data and the development of highly sophisticated computational methods is highlighted. With the cesium-based diode-pumped alkali laser and remote plasma etching of Si3N4 as examples, we demonstrate how accurate and comprehensive datasets for electron collisions enable complex modeling of plasma-using technologies that empower our high-technology–based society. PMID:27317740

High-harmonic spectroscopy of aligned molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yun, Hyeok; Yun, Sang Jae; Lee, Gae Hwang; Nam, Chang Hee

2017-01-01

High harmonics emitted from aligned molecules driven by intense femtosecond laser pulses provide the opportunity to explore the structural information of molecules. The field-free molecular alignment technique is an expedient tool for investigating the structural characteristics of linear molecules. The underlying physics of field-free alignment, showing the characteristic revival structure specific to molecular species, is clearly explained from the quantum-phase analysis of molecular rotational states. The anisotropic nature of molecules is shown from the harmonic polarization measurement performed with spatial interferometry. The multi-orbital characteristics of molecules are investigated using high-harmonic spectroscopy, applied to molecules of N2 and CO2. In the latter case the two-dimensional high-harmonic spectroscopy, implemented using a two-color laser field, is applied to distinguish harmonics from different orbitals. Molecular high-harmonic spectroscopy will open a new route to investigate ultrafast dynamics of molecules.

Adhesion molecules and receptors

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Adhesion molecules are necessary for leukocyte trafficking and differentiation. They serve to initiate cell-cell interactions under conditions of shear, and they sustain the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions needed for cellular locomotion. They also can serve directly as signaling molecules act...