Nonlinear interaction of strong laser fields in vacuum

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) predicts that electromagnetic fields interact with each other in vacuum. We study the possibility of revealing this interaction experimentally with intensities on the order of 10²⁴–10²⁶ W/cm², which may be available in the next generation of laser systems. In particular, we investigate high-order harmonic generation in vacuum via the collision of two ultrastrong counterpropagating laser pulses. The experimental feasibility of the related process of stimulated light-by-light scattering is also examined. Finally, the importance of including diffractive effects to describe the nonlinear interaction between an x-ray probe and a strong, focused optical standing wave is pointed out.     

基于探测超声的新型生物组织光声层析成像

利用一束单频探测超声穿过由脉冲激光照射产生的光声激发区域，使之与光致声场产生相互作用，光声信号将耦合到探测束上，再解调探测超声来重建光吸收区域的图像，可以得到丰富的组织信息.该信息不仅反映了组织中光吸收的特性，也反映了组织的声学特性.实验中，通过旋转超声探测器进行数据采集，并利用滤波反投影算法重建图像，可得到高信噪比的光声层析图像.由于激光的窄光谱线宽，其吸收是特征分子选择性的，所以此方法既是一种无损伤的结构层析成像方法，也可用于组织的功能成像.     

Observation of collimation and decollimation of an atomic beam in a misaligned standing wave

This paper reports an experimental study on the collimation and decollimation of an atomic beam in a misaligned standing wave, in which the effective detuning caused by the Doppler effect is affected by the longitudinal velocity of the atomic beam. The experiment shows that in a strong field with red detuning between laser field and atomic transition frequency, laser heating in a normal standing wave becomes laser cooling in a misaligned standing wave for an approriate misalignment angle. For blue detuning, laser cooling in a standing wave can also become laser heating in a misaligned standing wave for an appropriate condition. These results ca be used in controling atomic motion.     

The reflection of electrons from standing light waves

Experiments are described in which a slow electron beam is deflected by a standing light wave produced by a high intensity laser. This interaction is believed to occur as a Bragg reflection of the electrons in the standing wave intensity pattern set up in the light beam, as was predicted byKapitza andDirac in 1933. No energy interchange takes place but a momentum transfer which results in a Bragg relationship for the angle of reflection. The probability is proportional to the square of the light intensity.Kapitza-Dirac's original particle treatment of the effect is shortly reviewed and a wave mechanical treatment is added. Two types of experiments A and B are described. In type A an electron beam is scanned through a standing light wave and any deflection is detected with a differential amplifier. In type B the electron beam is locked in at maximum deflection and the laser output is simultaneously displayed with the deflected electrons on a fast dual beam oscilloscope. The electron beam deflections follow the fine structure of the laser spikes. Results from both types of experiments stay within the right magnitude of the theoretical predictions.     

Electromagnetically induced grating and parity-time symmetry in coupled quantum wells

An asymmetric coupled three well system has been shown to exhibit PT-symmetry and electromagnetically induced grating (EIG), owing to electromagnetic induced transparency under the application of standing wave control and pump fields. The detuning of the probe and the uniform amplitudes of the standing wave control and pump fields could be used to tune the PT-symmetry. The probe beam is asymmetrically diffracted by the EIG either in positive or negative diffraction angles owing to the PT symmetry. The angle of diffraction can be controlled by the interaction length, probe detuning, and the uniform amplitudes of the standing wave control and pump fields.     

原子光刻中驻波场与基片距离的判定方法研究

原子光刻实验中, 激光驻波场能起到原子透镜的效果, 实现原子汇聚. 激光驻波场与沉积基片间的距离对形成纳米条纹结构的质量具有重要影响. 利用高斯光束传播规律, 提出了一种能够定量判断激光驻波场与沉积基片相对位置的实验方法. 该方法通过调节装载有凸透镜和反射镜的精密位移台改变驻波场距基片的距离, 利用光电探测器接收反射光强的变化, 将位移改变量转变为接收器的电压信号. 利用驻波场激光束光斑直径值, 实现准确定位驻波场与基片的距离. 对上述实验过程进行数值模拟, 数值计算的结果和实验结果高度符合. 该方法实现了准确定位驻波场距基片的距离, 为后续深入研究驻波场和基片间距离对沉积纳米条纹结构质量的影响提供实验基础.     

电子在激光驻波场中运动产生的太赫兹及X射线辐射研究

采用单电子模型和经典辐射理论分别对低能和高能电子在线偏振激光驻波场中的运动和辐射过程进行了研究. 结果表明: 垂直于激光电场方向入射的低速电子在激光驻波场中随着光强的增大, 逐渐从一维近周期运动演变为二维折叠运动, 并产生强的微米量级波长的太赫兹辐射; 高能电子垂直或者平行于激光电场方向入射到激光驻波场中, 都会产生波长在几个纳米的高频辐射; 低能电子与激光驻波场作用中, 激光强度影响着电子的运动形式、辐射频率以及辐射强度; 高能电子入射时, 激光强度影响了电子高频辐射的强度, 电子初始能量影响着辐射的频率; 电子能量越高, 产生的辐射频率越大. 研究表明可以由激光加速电子的方式得到不同能量的电子束, 并利用电子束在激光驻波场的辐射使之成为太赫兹和X射线波段的小型辐射源. 研究结果可以为实验研究和利用激光驻波场中的电子辐射提供依据.     

高斯激光驻波场沉积Na原子的量子理论分析

利用量子理论,通过CRANK-NICOLSON数值方法对23Na原子受激光驻波场作用的物理过程进行模拟.模拟结果表明:正失谐时,原子以λ/2为周期会聚在驻波光场中波节处.随着光势阱加深或原子纵向速度改变,原子会聚结果分别符合薄透镜、厚透镜及沟道化模型.厚透镜模型中,当原子纵向速度增加,原子密度峰位置沿z方向向后漂移,峰在z方向半高宽增加.当激光功率增加或激光束腰减小,会聚面上峰半高宽减小,对比度增加,峰值增加.     

基片衍射对会聚激光驻波场中原子波包几率密度演化的影响

针对激光会聚铬原子沉积实验,运用标量衍射理论,通过数值模拟研究了基片衍射对会聚激光驻波场中原子波包几率密度演化的影响。结果显示基片衍射的影响会随激光中轴线与基片沉积表面距离b0的变化而变化。相对于非衍射情况,衍射效应会提高激光驻波场中会聚平面内原子波包几率密度分布的中心值,同时减小其半峰全宽。当参量b0=－0.2w0(w0为高斯光束的束腰半径)时,原子波包几率密度的会聚平面和基片沉积表面完全重合。此处,衍射时原子波包几率密度分布的中心值为1.26,其半峰全宽为5.62 nm,两者分别为非衍射时的1.1倍和0.94倍。     

Deflection profiles of a monoenergetic atomic beam crossing a standing light wave

We calculate the shape of the deflection profile of a monoenergetic atomic beam crossing a laser standing wave, in a situation where many spontaneous emission processes occur during the interaction time. We predict that double peaked structures appear when the laser is detuned from resonance.     

Analysis of Aberrations in Laser-Focused Nanofabrication

Based on the semi-classical model, we analyse the motion equation of chromium atoms in the laser standing wave field under the condition of low intensity light field using fourth-order Adams-Moulton algorithm. The trajectory of the atoms is obtained in the standing wave field by analytical simulation. The image distortion coming from aberrations is analysed and the effects on focal beam features are also discussed. Besides these influences, we also discuss the effects on contrast as well as the feature width of the atomic beam due to laser power and laser beam waist. The simulation results have shown that source imperfection, especially the transverse velocity spread, plays a critical role in broadening the feature width. Based on these analyse, we present some suggestions to minimize these influences.     

Doppler shift of a laser pulse beam scattered by a rotating cone and cylinder

Based on laser radar equations, a Doppler shift model of a laser pulse beam scattered by a rotating arbitrary convex target is reported in this paper. The boundary relations between an incident pulse beam and the detected area elements are analyzed by geometric methods. The Doppler shift characteristics of the rotating cone and cylinder are discussed and the difference between the laser pulse beam and the plane wave scattered from the same rotating target is compared accordingly. Numerical simulations show that the Doppler shift is tightly relevant to their dimensions, speeds, and so on. In the same incidence conditions, the pulse beam and plane wave have difference peak values and the same Doppler shift bandwidth. If the waist radius of the pulse beam is larger, the peak value is higher, and the Doppler shifts are proportional to the speed of the rotating target. By virtue of our theoretical model, we probe into the scattered characteristics of the Doppler shifts of a laser pulse beam, which would benefit target identification in national defense.     

Observation of the second harmonic in Thomson scattering from relativistic electrons

A free relativistic electron in an electromagnetic field is a pure case of a light-matter interaction. In the laboratory environment, this interaction can be realized by colliding laser pulses with electron beams produced from particle accelerators. The process of single photon absorption and reemission by the electron, so-called linear Thomson scattering, results in radiation that is Doppler shifted into the x-ray and gamma-ray regions. At elevated laser intensity, nonlinear effects should come into play when the transverse motion of the electrons induced by the laser beam is relativistic. In the present experiment, we achieved this condition and characterized the second harmonic of Thomson x-ray scattering using the counterpropagation of a 60 MeV electron beam and a subterawatt CO2 laser beam.     

Theoretical Analyses and ExperimentalDemonstration of Coherent Splittingof Atomic Wave Packet

1.IntroductionWiththerapiddevelopmentoftechniqueofthelasercoolingandtrappingofneutralatoms,theresearchesofatomicopticshavemaderemarkableprograseduringrecentyears,forexample,therealizationofBose-Einsteincondensation,thesuccessfulapplica-tionofatomiclensinlithographytechnique,andtheapplicationofatomicinterferometerinhighIyprecisemeasurementandsoon.AllofthesepredictthebrilliantprosPectofatomicoptics.EsPecially,thefieIdofatominterferometryhasenjoyedasurgeofinterestbecauseatomicinterferometerismu…     

Atom localization of a two-level pump-probe system via the absorption spectrum

We propose a scheme to localize a two-level atom inside a classical standing wave field conditioned upon the measurement of the frequency of a weak probe field at resonance excitation of a two-level atomic system. Inside the classical standing wave field, the interaction between the atom and the field is position-dependent due to the Rabi frequency of the driving field; hence, as the absorption frequency of the probe field is measured, the position of an atom inside the classical standing wave field will be determined. The effects of atomic parameters on atom localization are then discussed.     

Investigation of solid/solid interface waves with laser ultrasonics

A new method for detection of the soild/soild interface wave with laser ultrasonics is introduced in this paper. Based on the interaction between the acoustic wave and the probe laser beam of an interferometer in a transparent solid, the Stoneley waves propagated along the quartz/steel interface are detected successfully. The dispersion properties of Leaky Rayleigh wave are studied when the boundary conditions are described by interface spring mode. The Leaky Rayleigh wave at Plexiglas/aluminum interface is also detected and the experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical results. It shows that the interface wave should be a powerful technique for evaluation of the interface properties.     

Structure formation in atom lithography using geometric collimation

Atom lithography uses standing wave light fields as arrays of lenses to focus neutral atom beams into line patterns on a substrate. Laser cooled atom beams are commonly used, but an atom beam source with a small opening placed at a large distance from a substrate creates atom beams which are locally geometrically collimated on the substrate. These beams have local offset angles with respect to the substrate. We show that this affects the height, width, shape, and position of the created structures. We find that simulated effects are partially obscured in experiments by substrate-dependent diffusion of atoms, while scattering and interference just above the substrate limit the quality of the standing wave lens. We find that in atom lithography without laser cooling the atom beam source geometry is imaged onto the substrate by the standing wave lens. We therefore propose using structured atom beam sources to image more complex patterns on subwavelength scales in a massively parallel way.     

激光驻波场中Cr原子运动轨迹与汇聚沉积的分析

利用半经典模型，从铬原子在激光驻波场中的运动方程出发，通过数值解方法模拟了铬原子在驻波场中的运动轨迹，并分析了原子的纵向速度分布和准直程度及球差对沉积条纹结构的影响，同时也讨论了基片摆放位置对沉积条纹结构的影响，并通过实验得到了纳米光栅条纹结构. 关键词： 激光驻波场 原子沉积 运动轨迹 沉积分布     

Imaging electron trajectories in a laser-wakefield cavity using betatron X-ray radiation

We demonstrate that betatron x-ray radiation accurately provides direct imaging of electrons trajectories accelerated in laser wakefields. Experimental far field x-ray beam profiles reveal that electrons can follow similar transverse trajectories with typical excursions of 1.5 microm+/-0.5 microm in the plane of laser polarization and 0.7 microm+/-0.2 microm in the plane perpendicular.