Physics Commons^™

Quantum Control Via A Genetic Algorithm Of The Field Ionization Pathway Of A Rydberg Electron, Vincent C. Gregoric, Xinyue Kang, Zhimin Cheryl Liu, Zoe A. Rowley, Thomas J. Carroll, Michael W. Noel

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Quantum control of the pathway along which a Rydberg electron field ionizes is experimentally and computationally demonstrated. Selective field ionization is typically done with a slowly rising electric field pulse. The (1/n^*)⁴ scaling of the classical ionization threshold leads to a rough mapping between arrival time of the electron signal and principal quantum number of the Rydberg electron. This is complicated by the many avoided level crossings that the electron must traverse on the way to ionization, which in general leads to broadening of the time-resolved field ionization signal. In order to control the ionization pathway, thus …

Inverse-Kinematics Proton Scattering On 43p, Lisa M. Skiles

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

Following an experiment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University in October 2016, we study the excited states of the neutron-rich isotope 43P via inverse-kinematic proton scattering with the GRETINA y-ray tracking array. We will discuss preliminary analysis and results, including measured cross sections for populating excited states of 43P.

Engineering Electron Superpositions Using A Magnetic Field, Zoe A. Rowley, Bianca R. Gualtieri

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

A Rydberg atom has a highly excited valence electron which is weakly bound and far from the nucleus. These atoms have exaggerated properties that make them attractive candidates for quantum computation and studies of fundamental quantum mechanics. The discrete energy levels of Rydberg atoms are shifted in the presence of an electric field by the Stark effect and are similarly shifted due to a magnetic field by the Zeeman effect. These effects couple the energy levels together, creating avoiding crossings. At these avoided crossings, an electron in one energy level can jump to the other.

Our goal is to be …

Optimizing An Electron's Path To Ionization Using A Genetic Algorithm, Jason Bennett, Kevin Choice

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

A Rydberg atom is an atom with a highly excited and weakly bound valence electron. A widespread method of studying quantum mechanics with Rydberg atoms is to ionize the electron and measure its arrival time. We use a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to control the electron's path to ionization. The Rydberg electron's energy levels are strongly shifted by the presence of an electric field. The energy levels shift and curve, but never cross. At an avoided crossing the electron can jump from one level to the next. By engineering the electric field's time dependence, we thereby control the path to ionization. …

Inverse Kinematics Proton Scattering Of P41, Benjamin R. Klybor

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

We have measured the gamma-ray spectrum of P41 using proton scattering in inverse kinematics with the NSCL/Ursinus College liquid hydrogen target and the GRETINA gamma-ray tracking array. We present preliminary results, including gamma-ray intensities and branching ratios.

Returning Thermal Advantage Instrument’S Dsc 2920 And Sdt 2960 To Functioning Order, Ethan B. Haldeman

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

Thermal Advantage (TA) Instruments DSC 2920 and SDT 2960 require a computer running Windows NT 2000 and an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion card to output and record data. Due to the lack of availability for this older software and hardware, a virtual machine running Windows NT 2000, using Oracle VM VirtualBox as the virtualization software, and a GPIB-USB-SH converter were used to allow a modern computer to interface with the DSC an SDT. The Windows NT virtual machine ran the necessary TA software to communicate with the DSC and SDT and USB pass-through was used to allow the virtual …