Dipole blockade at Förster resonances in high resolution laser excitation of Rydberg states of cesium atoms

High resolution laser excitation of np Rydberg states of cesium atoms shows a dipole blockade at F?rster resonances corresponding to the resonant dipole-dipole energy transfer of the np+np --> ns+(n+1)s reaction. The dipole-dipole interaction can be tuned on and off by the Stark effect, and such a process, observed for relatively low n(25-41), is promising for quantum gate devices. Both Penning ionization and saturation in the laser excitation can limit the range of observation of the dipole blockade.     

On the Steady State Correlation Functions of Open Interacting Systems

We address the existence of steady state Green-Keldysh correlation functions of interacting fermions in mesoscopic systems for both the partitioning and partition-free scenarios. Under some spectral assumptions on the non-interacting model and for sufficiently small interaction strength, we show that the system evolves to a NESS which does not depend on the profile of the time-dependent coupling strength/bias. For the partitioned setting we also show that the steady state is independent of the initial state of the inner sample. Closed formulae for the NESS two-point correlation functions (Green-Keldysh functions), in the form of a convergent expansion, are derived. In the partitioning approach, we show that the 0^th order term in the interaction strength of the charge current leads to the Landauer-Büttiker formula, while the 1^st order correction contains the mean-field (Hartree–Fock) results.     

Non-Equilibrium Steady States of Finite¶Quantum Systems Coupled to Thermal Reservoirs

We study the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of a 2-level quantum system, ?, coupled to two independent free Fermi reservoirs ?₁, ?₂, which are in thermal equilibrium at inverse temperatures β₁≠β₂. We prove that, at small coupling, the combined quantum system ?+?₁+?₂ has a unique non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) and that the approach to this NESS is exponentially fast. We show that the entropy production of the coupled system is strictly positive and relate this entropy production to the heat fluxes through the system. A part of our argument is general and deals with spectral theory of NESS. In the abstract setting of algebraic quantum statistical mechanics we introduce the new concept of the C-Liouvillean, L, and relate the NESS to zero resonance eigenfunctions of L ^*. In the specific model ?+?₁+?₂ we study the resonances of L ^* using the complex deformation technique developed previously by the authors in [JP1]. Dedicated to Jean Michel Combes on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday Received: 12 July 2001 / Accepted: 11 October 2001     

Entropic Fluctuations in Thermally Driven Harmonic Networks

Journal of Statistical Physics - We consider a general network of harmonic oscillators driven out of thermal equilibrium by coupling to several heat reservoirs at different temperatures. The action...     

Enumerative inequalities in integer programming

For a linear integer programming problem, thelocal information contained at an optimal solution of the continuous linear programming extension stems from the theory of L.P. solutions. This paper proposes the use ofenvironmental information (of a global nature but pertaining to the discrete vicinity of ), in order to isolate the set of integer solutions which may be considered as true candidates for the optimum. The concept ofenumerative inequalities is introduced and it is shown how it can be obtained in the context of the convex outer-domain theory of Balas, Young, et al.Generally speaking, enumerative inequalities can be made arbitrarily strong (deep), but at the cost of an increasing amount of work (i.e. enumeration) for their construction. In particular cases, however, very little global information can produce enumerative inequalities stronger than anyvalid cut.This paper was presented at the 7th Mathematical Programming Symposium 1970, The Hague, The Netherlands.     

Multi-stimuli Photo and Redox-active Nanostructured Mesoporous Silica Films on Transparent Electrodes

Silica matrices hosting transition metal guest complexes may offer remarkable platforms for the development of advanced functional devices. We report here the elaboration of ordered and vertically oriented mesoporous silica thin films containing covalently attached tris(bipyridine)iron derivatives using a combination of electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA) method and Huisgen cycloaddition reaction. Such a versatile approach is primarily used to bind nitrogen-based chelating ligands such as (4-[(2-propyn-1-yloxy)]4’-methyl-2,2’-bypiridine, bpy’) inside the nanochannels. Further derivatization of the bpy’-functionalized silica thin films is then achieved via a subsequent in-situ complexation step to generate [Fe(bpy)₂(bpy’)]²⁺ inside the mesopore channels. After giving spectroscopic evidences for the presence of such complexes in the functionalized film, electrochemistry is used to transform the confined diamagnetic (S=0) species to paramagnetic (S=1/2) oxidized species in a reversible way, while blue light irradiation (λ=470 nm) enables populating the short-lived paramagnetic (S=2) excited state. [Fe(bpy)₂(bpy’)]²⁺-functionalized ordered films are therefore both electro- and photo-active through the manipulation of the oxidation state and spin state of the confined complexes, paving the way for their integration in optoelectronic devices.     

Entropy Production in Nonlinear,Thermally Driven Hamiltonian Systems

We consider a finite chain of nonlinear oscillators coupled at its ends to two infinite heat baths which are at different temperatures. Using our earlier results about the existence of a stationary state, we show rigorously that for arbitrary temperature differences and arbitrary couplings, such a system has a unique stationary state. (This extends our earlier results for small temperature differences.) In all these cases, any initial state will converge (at an unknown rate) to the stationary state. We show that this stationary state continually produces entropy. The rate of entropy production is strictly negative when the temperatures are unequal and is proportional to the mean energy flux through the system     

Back and forth transfer and coherent coupling in a cold Rydberg dipole gas

Coupling by the resonant dipole-dipole energy transfer between cold cesium Rydberg atoms is investigated using time-resolved narrow-band deexcitation spectroscopy. This technique combines the advantage of efficient Rydberg excitation with high-resolution spectroscopy at variable interaction times. Dipole-dipole interaction is observed spectroscopically as avoided level crossing. The coherent character of the process is linked to back and forth transfer in the np + np <--> ns + (n + 1)s reaction. Decoherence in the ensemble has two different origins: the atom motion induced by dipole-dipole interaction and the migration of the s-Rydberg excitation in the environment of p-Rydberg atoms.     

Spontaneous evolution of rydberg atoms into an ultracold plasma

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.