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Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

1996

Bryn Mawr College

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Polarization Stability And Dynamics In A Model For A Polarization-Isotropic Laser That Goes Beyond Third-Order Lamb Theory, N. B. Abraham, Mark Matlin, R. S. Gioggia May 1996

Polarization Stability And Dynamics In A Model For A Polarization-Isotropic Laser That Goes Beyond Third-Order Lamb Theory, N. B. Abraham, Mark Matlin, R. S. Gioggia

Physics Faculty Research and Scholarship

Instabilities and dynamical pulsations are common features of solutions of a model that includes the material variable dynamics for a laser with a polarization isotropic resonator and with a homogeneously broadened j=1 --> j=0 transition. These resemble in some respects features found in third-order Lamb theories under anisotropic conditions, such as splitting of the optical field into two relatively independent orthogonally polarized modes with different optical frequencies. At higher intensities the amplitudes and frequencies of these modes exhibit such strong coupling that a ''two-mode'' description loses its usefulness or effectiveness. Various periodic attractors with strong intensity and polarization pulsations are …


Excitation Of An Atomic Electron To A Coherent Superposition Of Macroscopically Distinct States, Michael W. Noel, C. R. Stroud Jr. Jan 1996

Excitation Of An Atomic Electron To A Coherent Superposition Of Macroscopically Distinct States, Michael W. Noel, C. R. Stroud Jr.

Physics Faculty Research and Scholarship

An atomic electron is prepared in a state closely analogous to Schrödinger’s coherent superposition of “live cat” and “dead cat.” The electronic state is a coherent superposition of two spatially localized wave packets separated by approximately 0.4 mm at the opposite extremes of a Kepler orbit. State-selective ionization is used to verify that only every other atomic level is populated in the “cat state,” and a Ramsey fringe measurement is used to verify the coherence of the superposition.