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Articles 1 - 11 of 11

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Precision Frequency Measurements With Interferometric Weak Values, David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell Dec 2010

Precision Frequency Measurements With Interferometric Weak Values, David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We demonstrate an experiment which utilizes a Sagnac interferometer to measure a change in optical frequency of 129 ± 7 kHz/√Hz with only 2 mW of continuous-wave, single-mode input power. We describe the measurement of a weak value and show how even higher-frequency sensitivities may be obtained over a bandwidth of several nanometers. This technique has many possible applications, such as precision relative frequency measurements and laser locking without the use of atomic lines.


Rapidly Reconfigurable Slow-Light System Based On Off-Resonant Raman Absorption, Praveen K. Vudyasetu, Ryan M. Camacho, John C. Howell Nov 2010

Rapidly Reconfigurable Slow-Light System Based On Off-Resonant Raman Absorption, Praveen K. Vudyasetu, Ryan M. Camacho, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We present a slow-light system based on dual Raman absorption resonances in warm rubidium vapor. Each Raman absorption resonance is produced by a control beam in an off-resonant Λ system. This system combines all optical control of the Raman absorption and the low-dispersion broadening properties of the double Lorentzian absorption slow light. The bandwidth, group delay, and central frequency of the slow-light system can all be tuned dynamically by changing the properties of the control beam. We demonstrate multiple pulse delays with low distortion and show that such a system has fast switching dynamics and thus fast reconfiguration rates.


Site-Specific Photocatalytic Splitting Of Methanol On Tio2(110), Chuanyao Zhou, Zefeng Ren, Shijing Tan, Zhibo Ma, Xinchun Mao, Dongxu Dai, Hongjun Fan, Xueming Yang, Jerry L. Larue, Russell Cooper, Alec M. Wodtke, Zhou Wang, Zhenyu Li, Bing Wang, Jinlong Yang, Jianguo Hou Sep 2010

Site-Specific Photocatalytic Splitting Of Methanol On Tio2(110), Chuanyao Zhou, Zefeng Ren, Shijing Tan, Zhibo Ma, Xinchun Mao, Dongxu Dai, Hongjun Fan, Xueming Yang, Jerry L. Larue, Russell Cooper, Alec M. Wodtke, Zhou Wang, Zhenyu Li, Bing Wang, Jinlong Yang, Jianguo Hou

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Clean hydrogen production is highly desirable for future energy needs, making the understanding of molecular-level phenomena underlying photocatalytic hydrogen production both fundamentally and practically important. Water splitting on pure TiO2 is inefficient, however, adding sacrificial methanol could significantly enhance the photocatalyzed H2 production. Therefore, understanding the photochemistry of methanol on TiO2 at the molecular level could provide important insights to its photocatalytic activity. Here, we report the first clear evidence of photocatalyzed splitting of methanol on TiO2 derived from time-dependent two-photon photoemission (TD-2PPE) results in combination with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM tip induced molecular manipulation …


Heralded Single-Photon Partial Coherence, P. Ben Dixon, Gregory A. Howland, Mehul Malik, David J. Starling, R. W. Boyd, John C. Howell Aug 2010

Heralded Single-Photon Partial Coherence, P. Ben Dixon, Gregory A. Howland, Mehul Malik, David J. Starling, R. W. Boyd, John C. Howell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We study transverse spatial coherence of approximately localized single-photon states. We demonstrate nonlocal control over single-photon spatial coherence via projective measurements of an entangled twin and provide a theoretical interpretation from quantum coherence theory. Our results show that the spatial coherence of a single-photon state behaves similarly to that of a classical optical field, although the coincidence measurement adds a degree of freedom.


A Surface Femtosecond Two-Photon Photoemission Spectrometer For Excited Electron Dynamics And Time-Dependent Photochemical Kinetics, Zefeng Ren, Chuanyao Zhou, Zhibo Ma, Chun-Lei Xhao, Xinchun Mao, Dongxu Dai, Jerry L. Larue, Russell Cooper, Alec M. Wodtke, Xueming Yang Jun 2010

A Surface Femtosecond Two-Photon Photoemission Spectrometer For Excited Electron Dynamics And Time-Dependent Photochemical Kinetics, Zefeng Ren, Chuanyao Zhou, Zhibo Ma, Chun-Lei Xhao, Xinchun Mao, Dongxu Dai, Jerry L. Larue, Russell Cooper, Alec M. Wodtke, Xueming Yang

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

A surface femtosecond two-photon photoemission (2PPE) spectrometer devoted to the study of ultrafast excited electron dynamics and photochemical kinetics on metal and metal oxide surfaces has been constructed. Low energy photoelectrons are measured using a hemispheri- cal electron energy analyzer with an imaging detector that allows us to detect the energy and the angular distributions of the photoelectrons simultaneously. A Mach-Zehnder interferom- eter was built for the time-resolved 2PPE (TR-2PPE) measurement to study ultrafast surface excited electron dynamics, which was demonstrated on the Cu(111) surface. A scheme for measuring time-dependent 2PPE (TD-2PPE) spectra has also been developed for studies of …


Interferometric Weak Value Deflections: Quantum And Classical Treatments, John C. Howell, David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Praveen K. Vudyasetu, Andrew N. Jordan Mar 2010

Interferometric Weak Value Deflections: Quantum And Classical Treatments, John C. Howell, David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Praveen K. Vudyasetu, Andrew N. Jordan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We derive the weak value deflection given in an article by Dixon et al. [P. B. Dixon et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 173601 (2009)] both quantum mechanically and classically, including diffraction effects. This article is meant to cover some of the mathematical details omitted in that article owing to space constraints.


Analysis Of An All-Optical Sbs Avalanche Detector, D. Walker, M. Steiner, Armen Gulian Feb 2010

Analysis Of An All-Optical Sbs Avalanche Detector, D. Walker, M. Steiner, Armen Gulian

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Seeding Brillouin scattering with a sufficiently efficient source of coherent phonons has the potential to produce energy-sensitive photon detectors. Based on this idea, we propose and analyze some possible designs for such a detector.


A Time-Symmetric Formulation Of Quantum Mechanics, Yakir Aharonov, Sandu Popescu, Jeff Tollaksen Jan 2010

A Time-Symmetric Formulation Of Quantum Mechanics, Yakir Aharonov, Sandu Popescu, Jeff Tollaksen

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Quantum mechanics allows one to independently select both the initial and final states of a single system. Such pre- and postselection reveals novel effects that challenge our ideas about what time is and how it flows.


Entropy And Information Causality In General Probabilistic Theories, Howard Barnum, Jonathan Barrett, Lisa Orloff Clark, Matthew S. Leifer, Robert Spekkens, Nicholas Stepanik, Alex Wilce, Robin Wilke Jan 2010

Entropy And Information Causality In General Probabilistic Theories, Howard Barnum, Jonathan Barrett, Lisa Orloff Clark, Matthew S. Leifer, Robert Spekkens, Nicholas Stepanik, Alex Wilce, Robin Wilke

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We investigate the concept of entropy in probabilistic theories more general than quantum mechanics, with particular reference to the notion of information causality (IC) recently proposed by Pawlowski et al (2009 arXiv:0905.2292). We consider two entropic quantities, which we term measurement and mixing entropy. In the context of classical and quantum theory, these coincide, being given by the Shannon and von Neumann entropies, respectively; in general, however, they are very different. In particular, while measurement entropy is easily seen to be concave, mixing entropy need not be. In fact, as we show, mixing entropy is not concave whenever the state …


Quantum Interference Experiments, Modular Variables And Weak Measurements, Jeff Tollaksen, Yakir Aharonov, Aharon Casher, Tirzah Kaufherr, Shmuel Nussinov Jan 2010

Quantum Interference Experiments, Modular Variables And Weak Measurements, Jeff Tollaksen, Yakir Aharonov, Aharon Casher, Tirzah Kaufherr, Shmuel Nussinov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We address the problem of interference using the Heisenberg picture and highlight some new aspects through the use of pre-selection, post-selection, weak measurements and modular variables. We present a physical explanation for the different behaviors of a single particle when the distant slit is open or closed; instead of having a quantum wave that passes through all slits, we have a localized particle with non-local interactions with the other slit(s). We introduce a Gedanken experiment to measure this non-local exchange. While the Heisenberg and Schrodinger pictures are equivalent formulations of quantum mechanics, nevertheless, the results discussed here support a new …


Upper Limits On A Possible Gluon Mass, Shmuel Nussinov, Robert Shrock Jan 2010

Upper Limits On A Possible Gluon Mass, Shmuel Nussinov, Robert Shrock

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We analyze upper limits on a possible gluon mass, mg. We first discuss various ways to modify quantum chromodynamics to include m(g) not equal 0, including a bare mass, a Higgs mechanism, and dynamical breaking of color SU(3)(c). From an examination of experimental data, we infer an upper limit m(g) < O(1) MeV. As part of our analysis, we show that a claim, hitherto unrefuted in the literature, of a much stronger upper limit on m(g), is invalid. We discuss subtleties in interpreting gluon mass limits in view of the fact that at scales below Lambda(QCD), quantum chromodynamics is strongly coupled, perturbation theory is not reliable, and the physics is not accurately described in terms of the Lagrangian degrees of freedom, including gluons. We also point out a fundamental difference in the behavior of quantum chromodynamics with a nonzero gluon mass and a weakly coupled gauge theory with a gauge boson mass.