Quantum degenerate exciton-polaritons in thermal equilibrium

We study the momentum distribution and relaxation dynamics of semiconductor microcavity polaritons by angle-resolved and time-resolved spectroscopy. Above a critical pump level, the thermalization time of polaritons at positive detunings becomes shorter than their lifetime, and the polaritons form a quantum degenerate Bose-Einstein distribution in thermal equilibrium with the lattice.     

Correlations and counting statistics of an atom laser

We demonstrate time-resolved counting of single atoms extracted from a weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate of 87Rb atoms. The atoms are detected with a high-finesse optical cavity and single atom transits are identified. An atom laser beam is formed by continuously output coupling atoms from the Bose-Einstein condensate. We investigate the full counting statistics of this beam and measure its second order correlation function g((2))(tau) in a Hanbury Brown-Twiss type experiment. For the monoenergetic atom laser we observe a constant correlation function g((2))(tau)=1.00 +/- 0.01 and an atom number distribution close to a Poissonian statistics. A pseudothermal atomic beam shows a bunching behavior and a Bose distributed counting statistics.     

Entanglement and factorized ground states in two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets

Making use of exact results and quantum Monte Carlo data for the entanglement of formation, we show that the ground state of anisotropic two-dimensional S=1/2 antiferromagnets in a uniform field takes the classical-like form of a product state for a particular value and orientation of the field, at which the purely quantum correlations due to entanglement disappear. Analytical expressions for the energy and the form of such states are given, and a novel type of exactly solvable two-dimensional quantum models is therefore singled out. Moreover, we show that the field-induced quantum phase transition present in the models is unambiguously characterized by a cusp minimum in the pairwise-to-global entanglement ratio R, marking the quantum-critical enhancement of multipartite entanglement.     

Dynamical response of modulated Nd-doped kilometric fibre lasers

The response to pump-power modulation of Nd-doped fibre lasers with lengths in the kilometre range is reported. The timescales involved are close to those of subcritical regimes so that the transient relaxation oscillations are strongly damped. Furthermore, no competing effects (antiphase dynamics) occur between the two polarization eigenstates of the laser. Simple rate equations are shown to predict these behaviours. The experimental side of this study furnishes a definite demonstration of the importance of timescales in the dynamical properties of nonlinear and nonautonomous physical systems.     

Flow equations for the relevant part of the pure Yang—Mills action

Wilson’s exact renormalization group equations are derived and integrated for the relevant part of the pure Yang-Mills action. We discuss in detail how modified Slavnov—Taylor identities control the breaking of BRST invariance in the presence of a finite infrared cutoff k through relations among different parameters in the effective action. In particular they imply a nonvanishing gluon mass term for nonvanishing k. The requirement of consistency between the renormalization group flow and the modified Slavnov—Taylor identities allows to control the self—consistency of truncations of the effective action.     

Exposure of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets to soft X-rays: The effect of the counterions on radiation stability

X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies of the [Mn^III₆Cr^III]³⁺ single-molecule magnet deposited as a microcrystalline layer on gold substrates are presented. The oxidation state of the manganese centers changes from Mn^III to Mn^II due to irradiation with soft X-rays. The influence of the charge-neutralizing anions on the stability of [Mn^III₆Cr^III]³⁺ against soft X-ray exposure is investigated for the different anions tetraphenylborate (BPh₄^?), lactate (C₃H₅O₃^?) and perchlorate (ClO₄^?). The exposure dependence of the radiation-induced reduction process is compared for [Mn^III₆Cr^III]³⁺ with the three different anions.     

Einstein-Hopf drag,Doppler shift of thermal radiation and blackbody drag: Three perspectives on quantum friction

The thermal friction force acting on an atom moving relative to a thermal photon bath has recently been calculated on the basis of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. The thermal fluctuations of the electromagnetic field give rise to a drag force on an atom provided one allows for dissipation of the field energy via spontaneous emission. The drag force exists if the atomic polarizability has a nonvanishing imaginary part. Here, we explore alternative derivations. The damping of the motion of a simple harmonic oscillator is described by radiative reaction theory (result of Einstein and Hopf), taking into account the known stochastic fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Describing the excitations of the atom as an ensemble of damped harmonic oscillators, we identify the previously found expressions as generalizations of the Einstein-Hopf result. In addition, we present a simple explanation for blackbody friction in terms of a Doppler shift of the thermal radiation in the inertial frame of the moving atom: The atom absorbs blue-shifted photons from the front and radiates off energy in all directions, thereby losing energy. The original plus the two alternative derivations provide for additional confirmation of an intriguing quantum friction effect, and leave no doubt regarding its existence.     

Enclosing a Set of Objects by Two Minimum Area Rectangles

In this paper, we face the problem of computing an enclosing pair of axis-parallel rectangles of a set of polygonal objects in the plane, serving as a simple container. We propose anO(nα(n)log n) worst-case time algorithm, where α( ) is the inverse Ackermann's function, for finding, given a setMof points, segments and polygons defined bynvertices, a pair of axis-parallel rectangles (s, t) such thats∪tencloses all objects inMand area(s)+area(t) is minimum. The algorithm works inO(nα(n) log log n) worst-case space. Moreover, we prove an Ω(n log n) lower bound for the one-dimensional version of the problem. We also show that for the special case of enclosing a set of polygons with axis-parallel sides, our algorithm runs in optimal worst-case timeO(n log n), using worst-case spaceO(n log log n).     

On the cube problem of Las Vergnas

We prove a conjecture of Las Vergnas in dimensions d7: The matroid of the d-dimensional cube C ^d has a unique reorientation class. This extends a result of Las Vergnas, Roudneff and Salaün in dimension 4. Moreover, we determine the automorphism group G ^d of the matroid of the d-cube C ^d for arbitrary dimension d, and we discuss its relation to the Coxeter group of C ^d . We introduce matroid facets of the matroid of the d-cube in order to evaluate the order of G ^d . These matroid facets turn out to be arbitrary pairs of parallel subfacets of the cube. We show that the Euclidean automorphism group W ^d is a proper subgroup of the group G ^d of all matroid symmetries of the d-cube by describing genuine matroid symmetries for each Euclidean facet. A main theorem asserts that any one of these matroid symmetries together with the Euclidean Coxeter symmetries generate the full automorphism group G ^d . For the proof of Las Vergnas' conjecture we use essentially these symmetry results together with the fact that the reorientation class of an oriented matroid is determined by the labeled lower rank contractions of the oriented matroid. We also describe the Folkman-Lawrence representation of the vertex figure of the d-cube and a contraction of it. Finally, we apply our method of proof to show a result of Las Vergnas, Roudneff, and Salaün that the matroid of the 24-cell has a unique reorientation class, too.     

Proton Dynamics in Letovicite, (NH4)3H(SO4)2: A H and N NMR Spectroscopic Study

The improper ferroelastic phase letovicite (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ has been studied by ¹H MAS NMR as well as by static ¹⁴N NMR experiments in the temperature range of 296–425 K. The ¹H MAS NMR resonance from ammonium protons can be well distinguished from that of acidic protons. A third resonance appears just below the phase transition temperature which is due to the acidic protons in the paraelastic phase. The lowering of the second moment M₂ for the ammonium protons takes place in the same temperature range as the formation of domain boundaries, while the signals of the acidic protons suffer a line narrowing in the area of T_c. The static ¹⁴N NMR spectra confirm the temperature of the motional changes of the ammonium tetrahedra. Two-dimensional ¹H NOESY spectra indicate a chemical exchange between ammonium protons and the acidic protons of the paraphase.