Decrease in the group velocity of a light pulse in the Bose-Einstein condensate of a dilute gas

A semiclassical theory of electromagnetically induced transparency in a Bose-Einstein condensate is considered. A nonlinear Schrödinger equation that describes the interaction of the Bose-Einstein condensate with an electromagnetic field is derived. An analysis of the obtained solutions to this equation demonstrates a decrease in the group velocity of the light pulse.     

Thermochromic transitions in poly(di-n-hexylsilane) films

The spectra of absorption (77–398 K) and luminescence (5 K) of poly(di-n-hexylsilane) films are studied in relation to the heating of the films above the phase transition temperature. Two new absorption bands in the region of the band of the gauche conformation are found. The position and intensity of these bands depend on the annealing temperature, annealing regime, and sample thickness. These bands are assumed to be associated with the appearance of a liquid crystalline phase in the polymer, which is determined by intermolecular interactions between neighboring polymer chains. The appearance of the liquid crystalline phase in the heat-treated polymer films is confirmed by the increase in their birefringence in comparison with the birefringence of the initial films and by the observation of a stable orientation of an E 7 nematic liquid crystal applied to the surface of an annealed sample. In addition, the absorption spectra of the films cooled after the annealing exhibit many new bands in comparison with the spectra of the initial samples. These bands are associated with the appearance in the polymer of defect states and longer segments as a result of orientation of polymer chains. The appearance of longer segments is consistent with the observation of a long-wavelength band in the luminescence spectra of the annealed samples.     

JET: Preparing the future in fusion

JET (Joint European Torus) is the largest tokamak in the world and the only fusion facility able to operate with Tritium, the fusion fuel, and Beryllium, the ITER first wall material. JET also features the most complete remote handling equipment for invessel maintenance. As a multinational research center, JET provides logistic experience in preparing for operation of the global facility, tokamak ITER.Experiments on JET are focused on ITER-relevant studies, in particular on detailing the operational scenarios (EL My H-modes and advanced regimes), on enhancing the heating systems, on developing diagnostics for burning plasmas etc. Pioneering real-time control techniques have been implemented that maximize performance and minimize internal disturbances of JET plasmas. In helium plasmas, ion cyclotron heating (ICRH) created fast α-particles, mimicking their populations in future burning plasmas. The recent successful Trace Tritium campaign provided important new data on fuel transport. Current enhancements on JET include a new ITER-like ELM-resilient high power ICRH antenna (7 MW) and over twenty new diagnostics that will further extend the JET scientific capabilities and push the facility even closer to the ITER parameters.A special mention is given to the involvement of the fusion experts from Association EURATOM-IPP.CR, who have been actively participating in the collective use of JET facility for more than three years.     

Adaptation of selected diagnostic techniques to magnetic confinement fusion experiments

The paper concerns several diagnostic techniques, which have been used in pulsed-power plasma experiments, i.e. Plasma-Focus and Z-Pinch devices, and which can be adapted to studies of Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) facilities, e.g. Stellarators and Tokamaks. The application of Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) for time-integrated ion measurements in MCF experiments is described and the use of such detectors for time-resolved ion measurements is discussed. The application of special ?erenkov-type detectors for time resolved measurements of fast runaway electrons is considered. Also discussed is the use of selected nuclear reactions for measurements of fusion products, e.g. fast neutrons.     

Charge qubit rotations in a double-dot nanostructure

Quantum operations with a charge solid-state qubit whose logical states are formed by two spatially separated localized states of an electron in the double-dot structure are studied theoretically. We show that it is possible to perform various one-qubit rotations making use of the microwave pulses tuned to the resonances between the localized states and the excited state delocalized over the nanostructure. An explicit analytic expression for the time-dependent electron state vector is derived, and the appropriate pulse parameters are determined.     

Impurity-induced stabilization of Luttinger liquid in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

It is shown theoretically that the Luttinger liquid can exist in quasi-one-dimensional conductors in the presence of impurities in a form of a collection of bounded Luttinger liquids. The conclusion is based on the observation by Kane and Fisher that a local impurity potential in Luttinger liquid acts, at low energies, as an infinite barrier. This leads to a discrete spectrum of collective charge and spin density fluctuations, so that interchain hopping can be considered as a small parameter at temperatures below the minimum excitation energy of the collective modes. The results are compared with recent experimental observation of a Luttinger-liquid-like behavior in thin NbSe₃ and TaS₃ wires.     

Influence of impurities on the metallization of inert gases at high pressures

It is shown that the introduction of heavy inert gas impurities into the condensed phase of a lighter inert gas can significantly change the kinetic properties of the latter at high pressures. The electronic structure of the ordered Ar₁₅Xe solid solution is calculated. Doping of the condensed phase of a light inert gas with atoms of a heavier inert gas may become a new convenient tool in high-pressure experiments.