Experimental demonstration of variable-reflectivity signal recycling for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors

The results of an experimental demonstration of a benchtop Michelson interferometer with a variable-reflectivity signal mirror are presented. This variable reflectivity is achieved by employment of a second Michelson interferometer. The results are presented in the form of the frequency responses obtained from this configuration with a signal laser injection method. It is shown that the frequency response can be dynamically tuned with independent peak frequency and bandwidth control. Such a configuration gives a tunable frequency response and has an application as a flexible gravitational-wave detector.     

Direct bound-free photodesorption of physisorbed molecules

Because light, weakly adsorbed atoms and molecules have very few bound states, the harmonic oscillator Δv = 1 optical selection rule is invalid for vibrational transitions of the physisorption bond. For such systems, we show that very low power (50 mW) infrared radiation should be sufficient to cause a direct one-photon optical transition from the ground state to continuum translational levels, resulting in photodesorption. Using a simple one-dimensional model, we present computations of the photodesorption rate as a function of photon energy for the Morse potential and several dipole moment functions. The threshold behavior at long wavelengths is analyzed.     

Elastic π± + 3He scattering

Differential cross sections have been measured at θ≈20–120° at 50, 100 and 200 MeV. Salient features of the angular distributions are Coulomb interference effects at 50 MeV and clear spin-flip contributions to π^? compared to π⁺ scattering in the angular region of θ≈80° dominated by the πN p-wave minimum. Comparison with optical model calculations account for the data up to 200 MeV while this first-order scattering theory misses conspicuous features of data at 295 MeV.     

Novel,Monomeric Cyanine Dyes as Reporters for DNA Helicase Activity

The dimeric cyanine dyes, YOYO-1 and TOTO-1, are widely used as DNA probes because of their excellent fluorescent properties. They have a higher fluorescence quantum yield than ethidium homodimer, DAPI and Hoechst dyes and bind to double-stranded DNA with high affinity. However, these dyes are limited by heterogeneous staining at high dye loading, photocleavage of DNA under extended illumination, nicking of DNA, and inhibition of the activity of DNA binding enzymes. To overcome these limitations, seven novel cyanine dyes (Cyan-2, DC-21, DM, DM-1, DMB-2OH, SH-0367, SH1015-OH) were synthesized and tested for fluorescence emission, resistance to displacement by Mg²⁺, and the ability to function as reporters for DNA unwinding. Results show that Cyan-2, DM-1, SH-0367 and SH1015-OH formed highly fluorescent complexes with dsDNA. Of these, only Cyan-2 and DM-1 exhibited a large fluorescence enhancement in buffers, and were resistant to displacement by Mg²⁺. The potential of these two dyes to function as reporter molecules was evaluated using continuous fluorescence, DNA helicase assays. The rate of DNA unwinding was not significantly affected by either of these two dyes. Therefore, Cyan-2 and DM-1 form the basis for the synthesis of novel cyanine dyes with the potential to overcome the limitations of YOYO-1 and TOTO-1.     

Angular momentum polarization in molecular collisions : Classical and quantum theory for measurements using resonance fluorescence

Inelastic or reactive collisions typically produce an anisotropic distribution of rotational angular momentum. An explicit and general treatment is given for the intensity and polarization of resonance fluorescence from molecules produced in such processes. Both classical and quantum results are expressed in terms of bipolar harmonics and state multipoles formed from linear combinations of density matrix elements. The treatment provides an inversion procedure for determining moments of the rotational angular momentum distribution ; twelve independent moments can be obtained. The combinations of angular momentum operators involved are even in eight of these moments and odd in four, with respect to reflection in a plane containing the initial and final relative velocity vectors. Measurements of the even moments require linearly polarized excitation and fluorescence, whereas measurements of the odd moments require circularly polarized excitation. The requisite experimental geometry and other practical aspects are discussed. In the three appendices are discussed the classical limits of transition intensities, a density matrix treatment of atom-rigid-rotor collisions, including analysis of state multipole symmetries ; and the coupling coefficients for parallel angular momenta.     

Laser cooling without repumping: a magneto-optical trap for erbium atoms

We report on a novel mechanism that allows for strong laser cooling of atoms that do not have a closed cycling transition. This mechanism is observed in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) for erbium, an atom with a very complex energy level structure with multiple pathways for optical-pumping losses. We observe surprisingly high trap populations of over 10(6) atoms and densities of over 10(11) atoms cm(-3), despite the many potential loss channels. A model based on recycling of metastable and ground state atoms held in the quadrupole magnetic field of the trap explains the high trap population, and agrees well with time-dependent measurements of MOT fluorescence. The demonstration of trapping of a rare-earth atom such as erbium opens a wide range of new possibilities for practical applications and fundamental studies with cold atoms.     

A Reinvestigation of the Structure and Torsional Potential of N2O5 by Gas‐Phase Electron Diffraction Augmented by Ab Initio Theoretical Calculations

Gaseous N₂O₅ consists of two NO₂ groups bonded to a bridging O‐atom to form a nonlinear N−O−N moiety. The NO₂ groups undergo slightly hindered internal rotation around the bonds to the bridge so that instantaneous composition of the gaseous system is characterized by molecules with all combinations of torsion angles. In an earlier investigation, an attempt was made to determine the coefficients for an empirical form of the double‐rotor torsional potential, and the bond lengths and bond angles measured subject to assumptions that the structure of the O−NO₂ groups was invariant to torsion angle and that these groups had C_2v symmetry. The system has now been reinvestigated in terms of a more realistic model in which this symmetry restriction was relaxed, account was taken of structural changes in the NO₂ groups with torsion angle as predicted by ab initio theory at the B3LYP/6‐311+G* level, and a more convenient form of the torsional potential was assumed. The most stable conformation has C₂ symmetry with torsion angles τ₁ (defined as ∢(N−O−N=O₄)) equal to τ₂ (defined as ∢(N−O−N=O₆)) equal to 33.7°; because of the broad potential minimum in this region, the uncertainty in these angles is difficult to estimate, but is probably 3 – 4°. The results for the bond lengths and bond angles for the most stable conformation are r_g(N−O)=1.505(4) Å, r_g(N=O)=1.188(2) Å, ∢_α(N−O−N)=112.3(17)°, ∢_α(O=N=O)=134.2(4)°, 〈∢_α(O−N=O)〉=112.8(2)°. The difference between the symmetry‐nonequivalent O−N=O angles is estimated to be ca. 6.7° with the larger angle positioning the two N=O bonds on different NO₂ groups nearest each other. These average values are similar to those obtained in the original study. The main difference is found in the shape of the torsional potential, which at τ₁/τ₂=0/0 has a saddle point in the present work and a substantial peak in the earlier. The implication of the torsion‐angle findings for electron‐diffraction investigations of this type is discussed.