Blue laser cooling transitions in Tm I

We have studied possible candidates for laser cooling transitions in ¹⁶⁹Tm in the spectral region of 410–420 nm. By means of saturation absorption spectroscopy, we have measured the hyperfine structure and rates of two nearly closed cycling transitions from the ground state 4f¹³6s²(²F₀)(J_g=7/2) to upper states 4f¹²(³H₅)5d_3/26s²(J_e=9/2) at 410.6 nm and 4f¹²(³F₄)5d_5/26s²(J_e=9/2) at 420.4 nm and evaluated the life times of the excited levels as 15.9(8) ns and 48(6) ns, respectively. Decay rates from these levels to neighboring opposite-parity levels are evaluated by means of Hartree–Fock calculations. We conclude that the strong transition at 410.6 nm has an optical leak rate of less then 2×10^-5 and can be used for efficient laser cooling of ¹⁶⁹Tm from a thermal atomic beam. The hyperfine structure of two other even-parity levels, which can be excited from the ground state at 409.5 nm and 418.9 nm, is also measured by the same technique. In addition, we give a calculated value of 7(2) s^-1 for the rate of magnetic-dipole transition at 1.14 μm between the fine structure levels (J_g=7/2)↔(J’_g=5/2) of the ground state which can be considered as a candidate for applications in atomic clocks. PACS 32.70.Cs; 32.10.Fn; 32.80.Pj     

Laser cooling of thulium atoms

We demonstrated laser cooling and trapping of thulium atoms at sub-Doppler temperatures in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Up to 3 × 10⁶ thulium atoms were trapped in the MOT at temperatures down to 25(5) μK which is approximately 10 times lower than the Doppler limit. The lifetime of atoms in the MOT varied between 0.3–1.5 s and was restricted mostly by optical leaks from the upper cooling level. The lower limit for the leaking rate was estimated to be 22(6) s⁻¹. Due to a big magnetic moment of Tm atoms, a part of them were trapped in a magnetic trap from the quadrupole field of the MOT. We observed about 3 × 10⁴ purely magnetically trapped atoms at temperature of 25 μK with a lifetime in the trap of 0.5 s. Also we set up a “dark” MOT consisting of six crossed hollow beams which increased the number of trapped atoms by a factor of 5 leading to 1.5 × 10⁷ atoms at the expense of higher temperature.     

Cold atomic beam from a rubidium funnel

We report an experimental demonstration of a continuous, slow and cold beam of rubidium atoms from a two-dimensional magneto-optic trap or atomic funnel. Typically 7.3(7)×10⁸ atoms/s are ejected from the funnel with a variable velocity in the range 2–8 m/s and a temperature of 45–55 μK in the moving frame. This represents the first demonstration of sub-Doppler laser cooling in an atomic beam and temperatures as low as ≈25 μK have been observed. Received: 30 September 1999 / Published online: 5 April 2000     

Muon/Muonium in an Isotopically Pure 13C Diamond

A preliminary study of the diamagnetic (μ_d) and the paramagnetic (Mu _T ) states in a synthetic ¹³C diamond has been performed using the Transverse Field Muon Spin Rotation method. This system could be used to verify the quantum diffusion behaviour observed before, however, with a more reliable extraction of the hopping rate. The results were obtained in an applied magnetic field of 7.5 mT and at sample temperatures of 10 K, 100 K and 200 K. The prompt fraction, f, of the μ_d state remains constant at 22(5)% in the range 10–200 K; that of the Mu _T state increases from 53(10)% at 10 K to 78(10)% at 200 K. The fractions of the two states add to 100% at 200 K, suggesting non-population of the bond-centred state, Mu_BC, which is often observed in other diamond samples. The μ_d state has a spin relaxation rate of 0.20(5) μs⁻¹, in contrast to the zero value obtained in type II diamond samples. This indicates appreciable interaction of the μ_d state with the ¹³C atoms. The Mu _T state has a large spin relaxation rate ranging from 3.0(5) μs⁻¹ at 10 K to 7.0(5) μs⁻¹ at 200 K, consistent with values obtained in diamond samples with defects. This work is part of ongoing studies of muon/muonium-defect interactions in diamonds. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interaction of Muons with H2/H3-Centres in Diamond

We report on transverse field muon spin rotation measurements on a nitrogen-rich type Ia diamond, both before and after the conversion of some of the aggregated nitrogen centres to nitrogen-vacancy complexes known as H2/H3-centres. The prompt fractions f and the spin relaxation rates λ were determined for the diamagnetic (μ_d) and the paramagnetic (Mu_T) states in the temperature range 10–300 K. The production of the nitrogen-vacancy complexes had little effect on the parameters of the Mu_T state for which f and λ remained unchanged at approximately 30% and 4 μs⁻¹, respectively. For the μ_d state, on the other hand, the formation of the H2/H3-centres resulted in an increase of the prompt fraction from 10(2)% to 20(3)%, and (for the first time) the spin relaxation rate showed a non-zero value of 0.020(3) μs⁻¹. These results show evidence of strong μ_d interactions with the nitrogen-vacancy complexes in diamond, and suggest a more complex structure for this state than a bare μ⁺. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Total and transport elastic cross-sections for excited muonic and pionic hydrogen atoms

The results of an experiment on muon catalyzed dd-fussion in HD gas are presented. The experiment was performed at the muon beam of PSI using a high-pressure ionization chamber filled with pure HD-gas of low D₂ concentration on the level 1%, at temperatures 50, 150 and 300 K. The non-resonant character of ddμ-molecule formation on HD molecules was confirmed by measuring the ratio of yields of the two ddμ-fusion channels, R=Y(³He,n)/Y(³H,p), which proved to be close to unity. The ddμ formation rate was found to vary from λ_ddμ-HD=0.05· 10⁶ s^-1 at T=50 K to λ_ddμ-HD=0.12· 10⁶ s^-1 at T=300 K, in agreement with the theoretical prediction. A prominent peak at t<60 ns was observed in the time spectrum of fusion neutrons indicating a resonant contribution of ddμ formation from epithermal dμ atoms. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nuclear fusion rates from resonant states of 3Hedμ molecular ion

We present new theoretical calculations of nuclear fusion rates λ _f ^J from the resonant states of the muonic molecular ion ³Hedμ ⁺⁺ with total angular momenta J=0,1. As a byproduct, new very accurate variational wave functions for these states have been obtained. Using these wave functions, the probability density |Ψ(R=0)|² in a fusion region has been calculated by extrapolating the variational solution to small internuclear distances by means of the multi-channel adiabatic solution. Calculated fusion rates for the states J=0 and J=1 are: λ _f ⁰ =1.9·10⁵s^-1 and λ _f ¹ =0.65·10³s^-1, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Experimental investigation of muon-catalyzed t + t fusion

The muon-catalyzed fusion (μCF) process in tritium was studied by the μCF collaboration on the muon beam of the JINR Phasotron. The measurements were carried out with a liquid tritium target at the temperature 22 K and density approximately 1.25 of the liquid hydrogen density (LHD). Parameters of the μCF cycle were determined: the ttμ muonic molecule formation rate λ _ttμ = 2.84(0.32) μs⁻¹, the ttμ fusion reaction rate λ _f = 15.6(2.0) μs⁻¹, and the probability of muon sticking to helium ω _tt = 13.9(1.5)%. The results agree with those obtained earlier by other groups, but better accuracy was achieved due to our unique experimental method. The article is published in the original.     

用双光子电离探测技术研究奇宇称的Sm原子光谱

采用两台激光器对Sm原子奇宇称激发态的光谱及其特性进行了系统研究.利用一台波长在585 nm到663 nm之间调谐的染料激光器,将Sm原子从某个4f⁶6s²⁷F_J(J=0—6)态激发到具有奇宇称的4f⁶6s6p或4f⁵5d6s²激发态.然后,采用波长固定在532 nm的强激光束,对处于上述奇宇称激发态的Sm原子进行双光子电离,以实现探测其光谱信息 关键词： 双光子电离 奇宇称态 Sm原子     

Stern Gerlach interferometry with metastable argon atoms: an immaterial mask modulating the profile of a supersonic beam

A new Stern Gerlach interferometer operating with a nozzle beam of metastable argon atoms Ar^* (3p⁵ 4s, ³ P ₂) is described. The selection of incoming (polarisation) and outgoing (analysis) Zeeman sublevels is achieved by use of laser induced transitions at two wavelengths, 811.5 nm (closed J = 2 → J = 3 transition) and 801.5 nm (open J = 2 → J = 2 transition). Linear superpositions of Zeeman sublevels, just beyond the polariser and just before the analyser, are prepared by means of two zones where Majorana transitions take place. In between, a controlled magnetic field configuration (the phase object) is produced within a triple μ-metal shielding. Standard interference patterns are obtained by scanning the field and detecting the atoms by secondary electron emission from a Faraday cup. When a static radial magnetic gradient is used, the beam profile is modulated by interference. The transverse pattern, which can be translated at will by adding a homogeneous field, is observed for the first time using a multi-channel electron multiplier followed by a phosphor screen and a CCD camera. The results satisfactorily agree with all theoretical predictions. Received 27 June 2002 / Received in final form 20 September 2002 Published online 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: perales@lpl.univ-paris13.fr RID="b" ID="b"UMR 7538 du CNRS     

Luminescence of CaGa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Eu crystals

We have studied photoluminescence and thermoluminescence (PL and TL) in CaGa₂Se₄:Eu crystals in the temperature range 77–400 K. We have established that broadband photoluminescence with maximum at 571 nm is due to intracenter transitions 4f⁶ 5d–4f⁷ (⁸S_7/2) of the Eu²⁺ ions. From the temperature dependence of the intensity (log I–10³/T), we determined the activation energy (E _a = 0.04 eV) for thermal quenching of photoluminescence. From the thermoluminescence spectra, we determined the trap depths: 0.31, 0.44, 0.53, 0.59 eV. The lifetime of the excited state 4f6 5d of the Eu²⁺ ions in the CaGa₂Se₄ crystal found from the luminescence decay kinetics is 3.8 μsec. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 112–116, January–February, 2009.     

Visible superfluorescence from optically pumped europium atoms

We have observed superfluorescence (SF) on five atomic transitions at visible wavelengths 633.58, 635.00, 640.09, 640.61 and 736.22 nm in Doppler broadened gas of europium (Eu) atom. The nanosecond SF pulses were observed by longitudinally pumping Eu vapor column with a pulsed dye laser to upper states 4f⁶5d6s², ⁸D_7/2at 346.79 nm and 4f⁷5d6p, ¹⁰F_5/2at 348.73 nm from the ground state 4f⁷6s², ⁸S_7/2. High optical conversion efficiency ≈10% was measured for these SF transitions. Our experiment deals with the large sample multilevel SF in the regime where the length of the excited column L is greater than the maximum value of the Arecchi-Courtens length (L_c). The observed variation of SF peak intensity (I_fl) and time delay for SF evolution (τ_D) with number of atoms in the excited state (N) resemble theoretically predicted SF scaling laws for transverse excitation, namely I_fl∝N and t_D μ 1/?N\tau_D \propto 1/{\sqrt N} although the experimental condition is similar to the swept excitation. This could be due to the Rabi frequency associated with the pump transition which is comparable to the SF delay time precluding the initiation of SF at different times along the sample and results in transverse (instantaneous) excitation. The experimental τ_D values were found to be in agreement with the quantum mechanical calculations describing SF.     

Excitation cross sections of thulium atom transitions terminating at 4f13(2Fo)6s6p(3Po (7/2, J2) levels with J2 = 0, 1

The excitation of odd levels of the thulium atom, spontaneous transitions from which terminate at the 4f ¹³(² F ^o)6s6p(³ P ^o) (7/2, J ₂) levels with J ₂ = 0, 1, is studied by the method of extended crossing beams. Fifty four excitation cross sections are measured at an excitation electron energy of 50 eV. Seven optical excitation functions are recorded in the electron energy range of 0–200 eV.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of hot extruded Bi-2223/Ag concentric tapes

Summary In this work we report on the anisotropic physical properties of silver-sheathed Bi-2223 tapes fabricated by means of hot extrusion and repeated pressing and sintering processes. The obtained Bi-2223/Ag short tapes, having critical current densitiesJ _c of 20–30 kA/cm² at 77 K, 0 T, were measured in external magnetic fields up to 0.5T applied in two different orientations (i.e. μ₀H‖(a,b)-planes and μ₀H ⊥(a,b)-planes). The magnetic characterizations were performed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields to study the first magnetization curve of tapes evaluating the lower critical fields μ₀H_c1⊥ab and ⊥₀H_c1#x2016;ab and their dependences on temperature. TheJ _c values at different fields in the temperature range 4.6–90 K, calculated from the magnetization data by the critical state model, are also presented. Paper presented at the ?VII Congresso SATT?, Torino, 4–7 October 1994.     

Final states in Si and GaAs via RF μSR spectroscopy

The ionization of muonium centers in Si and GaAs have been studied using radio frequency (RF) resonant techniques. In Si all three muonic centers are detectable by RF. No evidence was found for delayed Mu and Mu^* states at any temperature. However, our results on the diamagnetic final state (μ _f ⁺ ) show that it is composed of prompt fractions (as seen by conventional μSR) and delayed fractions arising from the ionization of Mu^* and Mu. We observe a full μ _f ⁺ fraction at 317 K when the Mu relaxation rate is above 10 μs⁻¹. GaAs differs from the situation in Si in that we observed only a partial conversion of Mu^* and Mu to a μ⁺ final state up to 310 K in spite of the fact that the transverse field relaxation rates become very high at 150 and 250 K respectively.     

Thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in Li<Subscript>6</Subscript>(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals

The thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in crystals of the lithium borate family Li₆(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO₃)₃ have been investigated. The steady-state luminescence spectra under X-ray excitation (X-ray luminescence spectra), the temperature dependences of the X-ray luminescence intensity, and the glow curves for the Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃, Li₆Eu(BO₃)₃, Li₆Y_0.5Gd_0.5(BO₃)₃: Eu, and Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃: Eu compounds have been measured in the temperature range 90–500 K. In the X-ray luminescence spectra, the band at 312 nm corresponding to the ⁶ P _J → ⁸ S _7/2 transitions in the Gd³⁺ ion and the group of lines at 580–700 nm due to the ⁵ D ₀ → ⁷ F _J transitions (J = 0–4) in the Eu³⁺ ion are dominant. For undoped crystals, the X-ray luminescence intensity of these bands increases by a factor of 15 with a change in the temperature from 100 to 400 K. The possible mechanisms providing the observed temperature dependence of the intensity and their relation to the specific features of energy transfer of electronic excitations in these crystals have been discussed. It has been revealed that the glow curves for all the crystals under investigation exhibit the main complex peak with the maximum at a temperature of 110–160 K and a number of weaker peaks with the composition and structure dependent on the crystal type. The nature of shallow trapping centers responsible for the thermally stimulated luminescence in the range below room temperature and their relation to defects in the lithium cation sublattice have been analyzed.     

Luminescence and thermally stimulated recombination processes in Li<Subscript>6</Subscript>Gd(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> crystals

The luminescence and thermally stimulated recombination processes in lithium borate crystals Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃ and Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃:Ce have been studied. The steady-state luminescence spectra under X-ray excitation (X-ray luminescence), temperature dependences of the intensity of steady-state X-ray luminescence (XL), and thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) spectra of these compounds have been investigated in the temperature range of 90–500 K. The intrinsic-luminescence 312-nm band, which is due to the ⁶ P _J → ⁸ S _7/2 transitions in Gd³⁺ matrix ions, dominates in the X-ray luminescence spectra of these crystals; in addition, there is a wide complex band at 400–420 nm, which is due to the d → f transitions in Ce³⁺ impurity ions. It is found that the steady-state XL intensity in these bands increases several times upon heating from 100 to 400 K. The possible mechanisms of the observed temperature dependence of the steady-state XL intensity and their correlation with the features of electronic-excitation energy transfer in these crystals are discussed. The main complex TSL peak at 110–160 K and a number of minor peaks, whose composition and structure depend on the crystal type, have been found in all crystals studied. The nature of the shallow traps that are responsible for TSL at temperatures below room temperature and their relation with defects in the lithium cation sublattice are discussed.     

Progress in pion-decay channelling: Refractory bcc metals at high and low temperatures

By means of π⁺/μ⁺ channelling, positive pions (π⁺) implanted intoTa, Mo, andW are investigated up to high temperatures. A striking observation is that the channelling effect disappears in a rather narrow temperature interval centred at 0.26 (Ta) to 0.51 (W) of the melting temperature. From studies of π⁺ trapping by oxygen atoms inTa estimates for the low-temperature π⁺ diffusivity inTa [D _π(23K)=1.4·10^−10±0.3 m²s⁻¹,D _π(47K)=5.7·10^−10±0.3 m²s⁻¹] as well as for the binding enthalpy of π⁺ to 0 atoms (H _B=7·10⁻² eV) have been obtained. The diffusion data are in reasonable agreement with the theory of phonon-assisted tunnelling.     

A μSR and neutron polarisation analysis study of Mn moment delocalisation in Fe substituted YMn2

Neutron polarisation analysis measurements reveal antiferromagnetic spin correlations persisting to temperatures of 120 K in Pauli paramagnetic Y(Mn_1−x Fe _x )₂, 0.03≤x≤0.05. The mean moment at the Mn(Fe) site is found to be 0.2μ _B. Transverse field μSR is characterised by weak exponential damping with a rate of 0.02 μs⁻¹ at 300 K increasing according to the power lawT ^−0.75 to only 0.16μ _S ⁻¹ at 12 K. It is suggested that these results are consistent with a slowing down of longitudinal spin fluctuations at the Mn site as temperature decreases.     

钐原子的两步激发共振光电离光谱

采用两步激发共振光电离技术研究了Sm原子的偶宇称高激发态光谱.实验采用了两条激发路线：1)第一束激光的波长固定在478.44nm以便将Sm原子从4f⁶6s²［⁷F₁］态激发至4f⁶6s6p［⁷D₁］态,再用第二束激光使其波长从480nm扫描至530nm,将Sm原子进一步激发至待测的高激发态;2)第一束激光的波长固定在574.8 关键词： Sm原子 光谱 分步激发 共振电离