Dynamics of a two-level trapped ion in a cavity

In the present paper we consider the case of a two-level ion in a cavity in the presence of a single mode field linearly polarized. We suppose that the ion is free to move along the polarization direction and trapped by a harmonic potential along the other two directions. By multiple path integration we derive the density matrix of the system and we study its dynamics. We assume an initial electromagnetic vacuum. This initial condition for the present system, compared with any other initial photonic state, gives new and higher order leading terms with respect to an expansion in powers of the inverse of the volume. Further after such an expansion there appears a first order term that originates from the combined interaction of the two-level system (qubit) with the quantum motion of the ion and the electromagnetic field in the cavity. We notice that the dynamics of the present system is very rich and can be studied exhaustively in the present framework.     

Proton NMR relaxation study of the CsHSO4 solid acid system

At 141 °C the solid acid CsHSO₄ is known to undergo transition to a superprotonic phase that is characterized by dramatic (several-order-of-magnitude) increases in hydrogen ion conductivity. Proton NMR spin-spin relaxation time T₂ measurements reported here for CsHSO₄ also reveal substantial increases (factors of 20-30) in the vicinity of the transition temperature. In the temperature range just below the transition (70-136 °C), T₂ increases by a factor of order 10 relative to the rigid-lattice regime, suggesting motional narrowing of the NMR resonance line. In the regime of motional narrowing, the activation energy barrier to diffusion is 0.40 eV, as determined from the present T₂ results. NMR spin-lattice relaxation T₁ measurements also show behavior consistent with transition to a regime of rapid hydrogen motion. In particular, proton T₁'s decrease with temperature (from 80 to 120 °C), and then drop sharply near the transition temperature. Above the transition temperature, T₁ exhibits a minimum in which the correlation time is found to be ∼2 ns.     

Photoacoustic detection of phase transitions with a resonant piezoelectric scheme with extreme sensitivity to small volume changes

Resonant piezoelectric photoacoustic detection is demonstrated to be a sensitive tool for the determination of phase transitions. A model is presented that describes the changes in the signal expected during phase transitions when resonant detection is used. The technique is applied to the study of first-order martensitic diffusionless transformations in copper-based shape-memory alloys. The model takes into account the signal changes arising from two sources. One behaves like an effective change in the heat capacity, and arises due to the enthalpy of the reaction, and the other can be described as an effective change in the thermal expansion coefficient, and arises from the volume change during the transformation. Due to the relative high frequency used (around 20 kHz), the transformation lags behind the temperature oscillations, yielding a phase shift in the acoustic signal as the transformation temperature is passed. The relative sign of the phase angle and amplitude as the transformation proceeds is an indication as to whether the signal arises from volume changes or heat exchange (enthalpy). Huge signals from very small volume changes (smaller than 0.5%) were observed.     

Confinement of selenium inside carbon nanotubes. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

In order to study the effect of confinement on crystallographic arrangement, selenium (Se) was introduced into carbon nanotubes with average diameters of 12, 23 and 50 Å. The evolution of the Se long-range crystallographic arrangement and the Se short-range atomic surroundings was characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, respectively. A transition from an initially disordered trigonal structure, where part of the chains are not well connected, to a structure exhibiting well-organized rings was observed when the tube diameter was of the order of 12 Å. Se-C bonds, detected when nanotube average diameters were of the order of 20 Å and less, might play a role in the structural transition.     

Thermodynamic studies of successive phase transitions in BaZnGeO4 and a new solid phase below 186.1 K

The successive phase transitions of BaZnGeO₄ have been studied on meltsolidified samples. A new solid phase (named phase VI) has been found below 186.1 K in samples of large particle size (diameter:D0.1 mm). The higher temperature crystalline phase V can be supercooled easily down to liquid helium temperature. On heating, however, it transforms into phase VI above 95 K in a slow exothermic process. Heat capacities have been measured by adiabatic calorimetry between 14 and 300 K. The enthalpy and entropy of the V–VI phase transition are 187.1 Jmol^–1 and 0.971 J K^–1 mol^–1, respectively. The corresponding data for the IV–V phase transition at 199.8 K are 229.3 J mol^–1 and 1.168 JK^–1 mol^–1. The phase VI does not appear in samples of smaller particle size (D0.1 mm).     

Propagation of partially polarized, partially coherent beams in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis

The propagation of partially polarized and partially coherent beams in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis is investigated. The analytical formulae for the elements of the cross-spectral density matrix of partially polarized and partially coherent beams propagating through uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical are derived. The numerical results show that the degree of polarization decreases with the increase of the ratio of extraordinary to ordinary refractive indices at a certain propagation distance, and the influence of uniaxial crystals on the degree of coherent is not so evident. And the beams spread more rapidly in the direction parallel to the optical axis than orthogonal to the optical axis in positive crystal with the propagation distance increasing.     

Ge1Sb2Te4 Based Chalcogenide Random Access Memory Array Fabricated by 0.18-μm CMOS Technology

Ge1Sb2Te4-based chalcogenide random access memory array, with a tungsten heating electrode of 260hm in diameter, is fabricated by 0.18-μm CMOS technology. Electrical performance of the device, as web as physical and electrical properties of GelSb2 Te4 thin film, is characterized. SET and RESET programming currents are 1.6 and 4.1 mA, respectively, when pulse width is 100 ns. Both the values are larger than those of the Ge2Sb2 Tesbased ones with the same structure and contact size. Endurance up to 106 cycles with a resistance ratio of about 100 has been achieved.     

Multi-color XUV interferometry using high-order harmonics

We present a novel interferometric setup operating in the XUV spectral range. The interferometer consists of a combination of a double pinhole (similar to Young’s double slit) and a transmission grating. In the case of a light source consisting of discrete spectral lines, it allows recording interferograms for multi-colors simultaneously. We present two experiments in which high-order harmonics generated by a titanium sapphire laser were used as the light source for the interferometer. First, the temporal coherence lengths of the single harmonics were determined, and second, the index of refraction and the absorption of a thin beryllium foil were measured simultaneously in the range of 17–25 nm.     

Propagation of a stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere

A generalized diffraction integral formula for stochastic electromagnetic beams propagating through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere is derived with the help of tensor method. Some analyses are illustrated by a numerical example relating to changes in the average intensity and the degree of polarization of an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam propagating through a double-lenses system. It is shown that the optical system has strong influence on the propagation properties of the beam. The method used in this paper can be widely applied to the propagation of astigmatic beams through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere.     

Spin density wave dislocation in chromium probed by coherent X-ray diffraction

We report on the study of a magnetic dislocation in pure chromium. Coherent X-ray diffraction profiles obtained on the incommensurate Spin Density Wave (SDW) reflection are consistent with the presence of a dislocation of the magnetic order, embedded at a few micrometers from the surface of the sample. Beyond the specific case of magnetic dislocations in chromium, this work may open up a new method for the study of magnetic defects embedded in the bulk.