CPT Magnetometer with Atomic Energy Level Modulation

We propose and experimentally investigate a coherent population trapping state based magnetometer prototype with ^87Rb atoms. Through modulating Zeeman sublevels with an ac magnetic field, not only a phase sensitive detection scheme suitable for miniature magnetometer is realized, but also the detection resolution of magnetic field intensity could be improved by a factor of two. Our study result indicates that it is a promising low power consumption miniature sensitive low magnetic field sensor offering spatially resolved measurement at the sub-millimetre level.     

Time-resolved Stark effect in rapidly varying fields

The cycle-averaged ac Stark effect associated with the ^[ A _]2Σ⁺v^′=2?^[ X _]2Π1/2v^′=0 two-photon absorption of NO at intensities between 7.7 and 15.2 TW cm^-2 has been characterized in real time through a synergic combination of bichromatic laser experiments and quantum-dynamics calculations. Measurements of the fluorescence emitted by the Rydberg ^[ A _]2Σ⁺v^′=2 level as a function of time between Stark and probe components of a bichromatic field exhibit a characteristic evolution in temporal peak structure with Stark-field intensity, which is interpreted in terms of a time-dependent Floquet analysis of the laser–matter interaction. The experimental observations are consistent with a dynamic Stark shift of Δε_s(ω₁,ω₂)≤0.23 eV of the optical transition at these intensities. Received: 18 January 2002 / Revised version: 6 March 2002 / Published online: 24 April 2002     

Motional Stark Effect and Its Active Cancellation in Diamagnetic Spectrum of Barium

With time-of-flight and electric field ionization detection technique, we investigate the motional Stark effect for highly excited Rydberg barium in high magnetic field and its active cancellation experimentally. In the experiment, the atom beam is aligned at a small angle of 15° with respect to the magnetic field. The motional Stark effect cancellation is demonstrated on two sets of. circularly polarized spectra in static magnetic field B = 1.00000 Tesla and B = 1.70000 Tesla, respectively, although the effect is very small （- 3.5 Vcm^-1） in our apparatus configuration.     

Measured Cd III Stark widths

The Stark FWHM (Full-Width at Half of the Maximal line intensity, W) have been measured for 16 doubly ionized cadmium (Cd III) spectral lines in a pulsed helium discharge in the wavelength interval between 200 nm and 304 nm. The helium discharge was created in the linear low pressure pulsed arc operated at 19 000 K electron temperature and 5.0×¹⁰²² m−3 electron density. The cadmium atoms were sputtered from the cadmium (99.9% purity) cylindrical plates located in the linear part of the discharge tube. The high density of the Cd III ions is boosted by cascade ionization processes via the well populated Cd II energy levels due to the Penning and charge exchange effects. The shapes of the Cd III lines are recorded using a spectrograph (McPherson model 209, 1.33 m focal-length with 2400 grooves/mm holographic grating) and intensified CCD camera (Andor DH740-18F-03) as a high-sensitive detection system. The Stark parameters introduced in this Letter are the first published experimental Cd III Stark widths.     

Magneto-Optical Trapping of Ytterbium Atoms with a 398.9nm Laser

We report the realization of ytterbium magneto-optical trap （MOT） operating on the dipole-allowed ^1S0 - ^1P1 transition at 398.9nm. The MOT is loaded by a slowed atomic beam produced by a Zeeman slower. All seven stable isotopes of Yb atoms could be trapped separately at different laser detuning values. Over 10^7 174 Yb atoms are collected in the MOT, whereas the atom number of fermionic isotope ^171Yb is roughly 2.3 × 10^6 due to a lower abundance. Without the Zeeman slower the trapped atom numbers are one order of magnitude lower. Both the even and odd isotopes are recognized as excellent candidates of optical clock transition, so the cooling and trapping of ytterbium atoms by the blue MOT is an important step for building an optical clock.     

Stark broadening in the Sb III spectrum

The shapes of nine doubly ionized antimony (Sb III) spectral lines have been obtained in the laboratory helium plasma at 17 500 K electron temperature and electron density of . Measured line profiles are of a Voigt type. At the mentioned plasma conditions the Stark broadening has been found as the dominant mechanism in the Sb III line shapes formation. Using a deconvolution procedure the Lorentz (Stark) FWHM (Full-Width at Half of the Maximal intensity, W) have been obtained. Our measured Sb III Stark widths are the first data in the literature. The modified version of the linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc was used as a plasma source operated in helium with antimony atoms, as impurities. They were evaporated from the thin antimony layer, deposited on the silver cylindrical plates, located in the homogenous part of the discharge. This plasma source ensures good conditions for the generation of the doubly ionized antimony atoms in the helium plasma due to atomic processes concerning helium metastables.     

The first Au III Stark widths

The shapes of 12 doubly ionized gold (Au III) spectral lines have been measured in the laboratory helium plasma at about 16 600 K electron temperature and 7.4×¹⁰²² m⁻³$7.4\times {10}^{22}{\text{ m}}^{\mathrm{-3}}$ electron density. At mentioned plasma conditions the Stark broadening has been found as the dominant mechanism in the Au III line shape formation. Here presented data are the first reported values for Stark widths related to the Au III lines. The modified version of the linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc was used as a plasma source operated in helium with gold atoms, as impurities, evaporated from gold cylindrical plates located in the homogeneous part of the discharge, providing conditions free of self-absorption.     

Dipole traps with mode-locked lasers

We investigate the properties of two separate dipole traps, realised using a cw mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser and a cw mode-locked Nd:YVO₄ laser, red-detuned by 25 nm and 284 nm, respectively. Approximately 10³ laser-cooled ⁸⁵Rb atoms were confined in the traps at ≈50 μK, with no observable heating after initial loading. The lifetimes of the traps were consistent with limitations imposed by wavelength-dependent photoassociation losses and collisions with background vapour. Determination of the ac Stark shift of the 780 nm cooling transition using a weak probe beam showed no observable difference between using narrow-bandwidth or mode-locked trapping light. Techniques for trapping and focusing of atoms based on the dipole force of blue and uv light become much more accessible through efficient doubling, tripling and quadrupling of mode-locked sources. This opens up the possibility of manipulating more technologically interesting species. Received: 30 September 1999 / Revised version: 21 December 1999 / Published online: 24 March 2000     

Improving Raman velocimetry of laser-cooled cesium atoms by spin-polarization

We study the performances of Raman velocimetry applied to laser-cooled, spin-polarized, cesium atoms. Atoms are optically pumped into the F = 4, m₄=0 ground-state Zeeman sublevel, which is insensitive to magnetic perturbations. High resolution Raman stimulated spectroscopy is shown to produce Fourier-limited lines, allowing, in realistic experimental conditions, atomic velocity selection to one-fiftieth of a recoil velocity.     

Photodetachment of H- near Elastic Surface in Parallel Electric and Magnetic Fields

The photodetachment cross section of H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields near an elastic surface is derived and calculated by using the closed orbit theory. It is found that the elastic surface can produce some interesting effects. Besides the closed orbits previously found by Peters et al. for the H^- in parallel electric and magnetic fields, some additional closed orbits are produced due to the effect of the elastic surface. The results show that the cross section oscillation is much more complicated in comparison with the cross section of H^- in parallel external fields without surface. Each peak in the Fourier transformed cross section corresponds to the period of one detached electron closed orbit. This study provides a new understanding of the photodetachment of negative ions in the presence of external fields and surface.     

Controlled Stark shifts in Er-doped crystalline and amorphous waveguides for quantum state storage

We present measurements of the linear Stark effect on the ⁴I_15/2 → ⁴I_13/2 transition in an Er³⁺-doped proton-exchanged LiNbO₃ crystalline waveguide and an Er³⁺-doped silicate fiber. The measurements were made using spectral hole burning techniques at temperatures below 4 K. We measured an effective Stark coefficient (Δμ_eχ)/(h) = 25 ± 1 kHz/V cm⁻¹ in the crystalline waveguide and  kHz/V cm⁻¹ in the silicate fiber. These results confirm the potential of erbium-doped waveguides for quantum state storage based on controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening.     

Coherent Control of Population Transfer in Li Atoms via Chirped Microwave Pulses

We demonstrate theoretically that Li atoms can be transferred to states of a lower principal quantum number by exposing them to a frequency chirped microwave pulse. The population transfer of Li atoms from the n = 75 state to n = 70 with more than 90% efficiency is achieved by means of the sequential single-photon △n = -1 transitions. The calculation fully utilizes all of the available orbital angular momentum l states for a given n, and the interference pattern and population evolution dynamics of individual l states are analyzed in detail. Using the time-dependent multilevel approach, we describe the process reasonably well as a sequence of adiabatic rapid passages.     

Light-shift suppression in laser optically pumped vapour-cell atomic frequency standards

We present a novel scheme for reducing the AC Stark effect in optical-microwave double-resonance spectroscopy and its application for efficient suppression of the light-shift-related instabilities in laser-pumped gas-cell atomic clocks. The method uses a multi-frequency pump light field that can be easily produced by frequency modulation of the single-frequency pump laser. We show theoretically that variations of the light shift with both laser frequency and light intensity can be strongly suppressed with properly chosen pump light spectra. Suitable modulation parameters can be found for both the case of pure frequency modulation as well as for pump light spectra showing amplitude-modulation contributions, as usually found for current modulation of diode lasers. We experimentally demonstrate the method for a Rb atomic clock using a frequency-modulated distributed Bragg-reflector laser diode as pump light source.     

Enhancement of Transfer Efficiency of Cold Atoms Using an Optical Guiding Laser Beam

We transfer cold ^87 Rb atoms from a vapour cell chamber to a spatially separated UHV magneto-optical trap （MOT） with the assistance of a red-detuned optical guiding beam and a normal push beam. Efficient optical guiding of the cold atoms is observed within a small detuning window. A pulsed optical guiding beam enhances the transfer efficiency and hence allows us to collect more atoms in UHV MOT in a shorter time, which is favourable for our experiment of achieving Bose-Einstein condensates （BEC）. Besides the easy operation, another advantage of this optical guiding technique is also demonstrated such that slower atomic beams may be efficiently transferred along horizontal direction. This study is a direct application of the optical guiding technique as a powerful tool.     

Statistical properties of laser-induced fluorescence signals

We point out the influence of the different noise sources which occur in the detection of the fluorescence signal induced by a laser in an atomic beam. We have developed a theoretical model which takes account of the atomic shot noise, photon noise, laser-frequency noise and a partition noise linked to the imperfect detection of the fluorescence photons. The calculations have been performed for two- and three-level atomic systems. We detail the own contribution of each noise source and give some predictions concerning the value of the fluorescence signal to noise ratio. We determine predominance domains of each noise source which depend on the values of key parameters such as the atomic flux intensity and the laser spectral linewidth. We particularly show that the laser-frequency noise, which induces a coupling between the emission of fluorescence photons by various atoms, leads to a saturation of the S/N ratio for intense atomic fluxes. Moreover, we point out that the optical pumping process associated with a three level atomic system leads to an interesting laser-noise filtering effect.     

Superradiant transitions between high-lying levels of Sr in an external electric field

Superradiant transitions were observed between high lying levels in Sr. The transitions react very sensitively to an external electric field. Superradiant cascades or one transition in a superradiant branching can be suppressed. The square root of the high of a superradiant pulse decreases with the second power of the electric field strength. This behaviour can be explained by calculations.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Herbert Welling on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Ti-pumped Mo X-ray laser at 24 Å

We propose using the Ti XXI He- emission line to resonantly photo-pump Li-like Mo (Z=42) and produce lasing on several n=5 n=4 transitions near 24 Å. The continuum emission from Ti photoionizes the Mo to the Li-like isoelectronic sequence. Gains of 1–2 cm^–1 are calculated on these lines before the inclusion of Stark broadening which lowers the gain by as much as a factor of two.     

A longitudinal stern-gerlach atomic interferometer

A new magnetic field configuration has been used in the mixing and elongating regions of the longitudinal Stern-Gerlach interferometer. This configuration has proven to considerably improve the performances of the interferometer. An analysis in terms of the vector model of a spin 1 particle is presented.Laboratoire associé au CNRS, URA 282     

Raman heterodyne Ramsey spectroscopy in a Samarium atomic beam

A novel optical heterodyne technique for Raman Ramsey spectroscopy of atomic radio-frequency resonances in an atomic beam is reported. The method relies on coherent resonance Raman transitions to optically excite and probe sublevel coherence in atomic ground states using two separated atom-field interaction regions. First experimental results obtained with the use of Zeeman sublevels in the Samarium =570.68 nm (J=1)–(J=0) transition are discussed.     

Stark shifts and fine structure of the Li 3 D states

⁶Li 3²D _{3/2, 5/2} states were studied using a diode laser to first excite the 2P _3/2 state and a dye laser to populate the 3²D _{3/2, 5/2} states. The dye laser was modulated by an electro-optic modulator and intersected an atomic beam that passed through a field free region and subsequently through a uniform electric field. A value of 1084.24±0.20 MHz was found for the 3²D fine structure splitting. The scalar and tensor polarizabilities were determined to be α (3D _3/2 ) = - 3.753±0.015, α ₂ (3D _3/2 ) = 2.893±0.017, α (3D _5/2 ) = - 3.772±0.008 and α ₂ (3D _5/2 ) = 4.058±0.013 MHz/(kV/cm)². Received 26 September 2002 / Received in final form 22 January 2003 Published online 11 March 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: wlaser@yorku.ca