Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Commons^™

Low Saturation Intensities In Two-Photon Ultracold Collisions, C. I. Sukenik, D. Hoffman, S. Bali, T. Walker

Physics Faculty Publications

We have observed violet photon emission resulting from energy-pooling collisions between ultracold Rb atoms illuminated by two colors of near-resonant infrared laser light. We have used this emission as a probe of doubly excited state ultracold collision dynamics. We have observed the lowest saturation intensity for light-induced ultracold collisions seen to date which we identify as due to depletion of incoming ground state flux. We have also varied the detuning of the lasers which allows us to clearly identify the effect of spontaneous emission and optical shielding.

The Effects Of Fabry-Perot Fringing On The Sensitivity Of A Wavelength Modulation Experiment, Patrick C. Shea

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Parasitic Fabry-Perot etaloning plagues many experiments which use wavelength modulation spectroscopy. This fringing, which is an artifact that almost always appears in such experiments, arises from multiple reflections in the optical elements in the experimental apparatus. The etaloning plays a detrimental role and limits the ultimate sensitivity of wavelength modulation spectroscopy experiments. The research described in this thesis investigates this phenomenon. Experimental results are presented which show that when the Q-factor of the parasitic etalon is smaller that that of the absorption line being measured, significant improvement in the Signal to Fringe Noise Ratio can be obtained through the use …

Material Evaluation By Pulsed Diode Laser Optoacoustics, Xiaodong Xu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Pulsed diode laser optoacoustic diagnostics were carried out to characterize solid sample materials. The apparatus developed is compact, portable, cost-effective and therefore very promising for both industrial as well as laboratory applications. To our knowledge, this is the first time that optoacoustic characterization and measurement have been performed with a diode laser. The method was successfully applied to measure the thickness of a multilayer structure non-intrusively. Internal cracks of the material were detected by this technique.

A theory for optoacoustic signal generation, propagation and detection is given. A numerical analysis technique is developed to solve for the expected signal. In …

Emission Of Excimer Radiation From Direct Current, High-Pressure Hollow Cathode Discharge, Ahmed El-Habachi, Karl H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

A novel, nonequilibrium, high-pressure, direct current discharge, the microhollow cathode discharge, has been found to be an intense source of xenon and argon excimer radiation peaking at wavelengths of 170 and 130 nm, respectively. In argon discharges with a 100 μm diam hollow cathode, the intensity of the excimer radiation increased by a factor of 5 over the pressure range from 100 to 800 mbar. In xenon discharges, the intensity at 170 nm increased by two orders of magnitude when the pressure was raised from 250 mbar to 1 bar. Sustaining voltages were 200 V for argon and 400 V …

Core Scattering Of Stark Wave Packets, M. L. Naudeau, C. I. Sukenik, P. H. Bucksbaum

Physics Faculty Publications

We investigate the wave packet dynamics of electrons bound in the nonseparable potential of cesium in a static electric field using time-domain Ramsey interferometry. Specially shaped wave packets with low radial dispersion enable us to view the interaction between the wave packet and the atomic core. Experiments in cesium, together with quantum defect calculations of cesium and hydrogen, demonstrate changes in the motion and shape of these wave packets due to core scattering.

Characterization Of Iron Oxides And Atmospheric Corrosion Of Steel, Sei Jin Oh

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The study of corrosion behavior was performed using three different analytical techniques, which provided information on the formation, development and layering of iron oxides on the corrosion products as a function of atmospheric conditions, exposure time and type of steel. In particular, the protective layer formed on weathering steel was investigated as a function of different amounts of alloying elements in the steel, atmospheric conditions and exposure times. Combined together, the results provided a better understanding of the atmospheric corrosion behavior of steel, and formed a part of database of the atmospheric corrosion characteristics.

Accurate characterization of the iron oxides …

Ionization Of Rydberg Wave Packets By Subpicosecond, Half-Cycle Electromagnetic Pulses, C. Raman, C. W. S. Conover, C. I. Sukenik, P. H. Bucksbaum

Physics Faculty Publications

We have studied the ionization of Rydberg wave packets by subpicosecond, nearly unipolar electromagnetic field pulses, in the regime where the duration of the electric field is less than the classical Kepler orbit time 2n3 for the wave packet. In contrast to the subpicosecond optical pulses, subpicosecond field pulses can ionize wave packets when the probability density near the inner turning point of the Kepler orbit is low. The transfer of energy from the electromagnetic field to essentially free electrons demonstrates that the pulses are substantially shorter than one field cycle. Such half-cycle pulses can track the wave packet throughout …

Two-Photon Quantum Interference Polarization Spectroscopy: Measurements Of Transition Matrix Elements In Atomic Rubidium, Alexander I. Beger

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The estimation of the adequacy of theoretical calculations on the atomic structure requires availability of the precise experimental data on radiative properties of the atoms. Such data is also required in astronomy and some important areas of technology. The lack of precision of traditional spectroscopic studies of atom presents a fundamental obstacle for progress in these areas. For example, in atomic rubidium, the best precision of the traditional spectroscopic results is on the order of about 1 - 5%, which does not allow for clear assessment of the latest sophisticated theoretical calculations on atomic rubidium structure, with emphasis on different, …

Spectroscopy Of Atoms Confined To The Single Node Of A Standing Wave In A Parallel-Plate Cavity, V. Sandoghar, C. I. Sukenik, S. Haroche, E. A. Hinds

Physics Faculty Publications

We have performed spectroscopy on sodium atoms that are optically channeled in the single node of a laser standing wave set up across a parallel-plate cavity. Using this technique we have extended our previous measurement of the Lennard-Jones van der Waals energy-level shift [Sandoghdar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 3432 (1992)] down to a cavity width of ~500 nm. We discuss the applications of this technique to the precise measurement of atom-surface distances.

Surface Debye Temperature Measurement With Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Measurement of the surface mean-square atomic vibrational amplitude, or equivalently the surface Debye temperature, with reflection high-energy electron diffraction is discussed. Low-index surfaces of lead are used as examples. Particular details are given about the temperature-dependent diffraction pattern of Pb(100) in the Debye-Waller region. The use of reflection high-energy electron diffraction for measurement of the substrate surface temperature in thin-film deposition chambers is suggested. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.

Excited-State Magnesium-Rare Gas Optical Collisions, Rosemary A. Lasell

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Polarization and intensity spectra have been obtained for excited-state magnesium (3s3p ¹P₁) - rare gas optical collisions. The magnesium was excited by a linearly polarized laser tuned to the 3s²1s₀ → 3s3p ¹P₁ atomic transition at 285 nm. A second linearly polarized laser was tuned near the 3s3p ¹P₁ → 3s5s ¹S₀ transition at 571 nm (experiment A) and near the 3s3p ¹P₁ → 3s4d ¹D₂ transition at 553 nm (experiment B). The polarization vector of the second laser was oriented either parallel or …

Measurement Of Hyperfine Coupling Constants Of The 5d²D₃/₂ And 5d²D₅/₂ Levels In Atomic Cesium Using Polarization Quantum Beat Spectroscopy, Wo Yei

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Accurate measurements of hyperfine constants have revealed effects that can not be explained by a simple hydrogenic picture of the alkali atoms such as cesium [1-3]. More precise experimental results and theoretical treatments are in demand for the alkali elements, especially for atomic cesium because of its wide range of applications. Therefore, it is essential to understand its atomic and nuclear structure. Precision measurement of its excited-states properties such as hyperfine structure provides global information on nuclear charge and current distributions and also serves as a check to the theory and a calibration of calculated excited state wave functions. Accurate …

Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy Study Of Pb On Si(111), D. Tang, H. E. Elsayed-Ali, J. Wendelken, J. Xu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Scanning-tunneling microscopy has been used to study temperature and coverage dependence of the structure of lead on the Si(111)-7×7 surface. For low Pb coverage, the Pb atoms favored the faulted sites. The ratio between the number of Pb atoms on faulted to unfaulted sites increased after sample annealing. An energy difference of 0.05 eV associated with a Pb atom on these two sites is estimated. The mobility of Pb atoms on Si(111) was observed at a temperature as low as 260°C for a coverage of 0.1 and 1 ML. © 1995 The American Physical Society.

Theoretical Investigation Of Two-Color, Two-Photon, 6s(2)S(1/2) → 5d(2)D(J) → 11p(2)P(3/2) Excitation And Depolarization Spectra In Atomic Cesium, Boris Dobrydnev

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The theoretical investigation of two-photon, two-color intensity and depolarization spectra for the 6s²S_1/2 → 5d²D_j → 11p²P_3/2 transition in atomic caesium is considered. For quadrupole-dipole transitions the dependence of excitation from the ratio of reduced matrix elements is shown. The experimental method of determination of the value and sign of the ratio is proposed. Comparison of results for co- and counterpropagating beams revealed the strong dependence of the transition rate on the relative beam directions. Analysis of the influence of the external electric field on the process of absorption is presented. …

Precision Measurement Of Relative Dipole Matrix Elements In Atomic Sodium, Rodney P. Meyer

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Relative dipole matrix elements are measured by means of a new spectroscopic technique called polarization interference spectroscopy. It is a two-color two-photon nonresonant process that maps the matrix elements into the energy domain by means of quantum mechanical interference. The technique measures the relative magnitude of the reduced matrix elements, particularly those involving excited states, to accuracies that are an order of magnitude better than previously available. Also, for the first time the relative phase of the reduced matrix elements is measured. The ratio of reduced matrix elements for the transitions 3s ²S_1/2 →3P ²P_3/2 →5s …

Strong Magnetic Field Effects And Molecular Processes With Applications To White Dwarfs, Phillip C. Stancil

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Radiative transitions of hydrogenlike atoms in external magnetic fields of strength applicable to magnetic white dwarfs, i.e. B < 10³ megagauss, have been investigated for field-free principal quantum numbers n < 6. Finite proton mass corrections are included. Relativistic corrections are also investigated. Transition probabilities are determined using the length, velocity, and acceleration forms of the electric dipole operator. Discrepancies between previous calculations and magnetic white dwarf observations of low-lying boundbound transitions have been studied. New results for high-lying transitions are also obtained.

The transition probability for the hydrogenlike 2s two-photon decay has been investigated and shown to increase substantially with field strength. The computed two-photon spectra show resonances and interference minima. Anomalous Zeeman depolarization features are found in computed two-photon polarization spectra of alkali atoms in laboratory strength magnetic fields. A previously observed fine structure depolarization feature is shown to decay with decreasing field strength.

Measurement Of The Casimir-Polder Force, C. I. Sukenik, M. G. Boshier, S. Cho, V. Sandoghdar, E. A. Hinds

Physics Faculty Publications

The authors have studied the deflection of ground-state sodium atoms passing through a micron-sized parallel-plate cavity by measuring the intensity of a sodium atomic beam transmitted through the cavity as a function of cavity plate separation. This experiment provides clear evidence for the existence of the Casimir-Polder force, which is due to modification of the ground-state Lamb shift in the confined space of a cavity. The results confirm the magnitude of the force and the distance dependence predicted by quantum electrodynamics.

Determination Of The Neutron Spin Structure Function, P. L. Anthony, R. G. Arnold, H. R. Band, H. Borel, P.E. Bosted, V. Breton, G. D. Cates, T. E. Chupp, F. S. Dietrich, J. Dunne, R. Erbacher, J. Fellbaum, H. Fonvielle, R. Gearhart, R. Holmes, E. W. Hughes, J. R. Johnson, D. Kawall, C. Keppel, S. E. Kuhn, R. M. Lombard-Nelsen, J. Marroncle, T. Maruyama, W. Meyer, Z. E. Meziani, H. Middleton, J. Morgenstern, N. R. Newbury, G. G. Petratos, R. Pitthan, R. Prepost, Y. Roblin, S. E. Rock, S. H. Rokni, G. Shapiro, T. Smith, P. A. Souder, M. Spengos, F. Staley, L. M. Stuart, Z. M. Szalata, Y. Terrien, A. K. Thompson, J. L. White, M. Woods, J. Xu, C. C. Young, G. Zapalac, E142 Collaboration

Physics Faculty Publications

The spin structure function of the neutron g₁ⁿ has been determined over the range 0.03 < x < 0.6 at an average Q² of 2 (GeV/c)² by measuring the asymmetry in deep inelastic scattering of polarized electrons from a polarized ³He target at energies between 19 and 26 GeV. The integral of the neutron spin structure function is found to be f-¹₀ gⁿ₁(x)dx = -0.022 ± 0.011. Earlier reported proton results together with the Bjorken sum rule predict f-¹₀ gⁿ₁(x)dx = -0.059 ± 0.019.

Temporal Development Of Electric Field Structures In Photoconductive Gaas Switches, K. H. Schoenbach, J. S. Kenney, F.E. Peterkin, R. J. Allen

Bioelectrics Publications

The temporal development of the electric field distribution in semi‐insulating GaAs photoconductive switches operated in the linear and lock‐on mode has been studied. The field structure was obtained by recording a change in the absorption pattern of the switch due to the Franz–Keldysh effect at a wavelength near the band edge of GaAs. In the linear mode, a high field layer develops at the cathode contact after laser activation. With increasing applied voltage, domainlike structures become visible in the anode region and the switch transits into the lock‐on state, a permanent filamentary electrical discharge. Calibration measurements show the field intensity …

Investigation Of Alignment Dynamics In Mg-Ne And Mg-Ar Two-Photon Fractional Collisions, David Allen Olsgaard

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A new technique is used to observe the dynamics of electronic alignment in a dissociating collision complex. The technique requires the absorption of two optical photons during a single binary collision. Two exciting light fields are tuned into the wings of the 3s¹s₀-3p₁ and 3p¹p₁-5s¹s₀ resonances of Mg where strong collisions with rare gas atoms induce transitions between corresponding molecular states. The alignment produced in the intermediate state by the first excitation is probed by the second laser as a function of relative linear laser polarization and laser …

Direct Measurement Of The Van Der Waals Interaction Between An Atom And Its Images In A Micron-Sized Cavity, V. Sandoghdar, C. I. Sukenik, E. A. Hinds, S. Haroche

Physics Faculty Publications

The authors have measured by laser spectroscopy the energy of interaction between a sodium atom and its images in the walls of a micron-sized cavity. This cavity-QED study is the first direct quantitative test of the Lennard-Jones van der Waals interaction as a function of controlled atom-surface separation and mean-square electric dipole moment.

Density Effect In Cu K-Shell Ionization By 5.1-Gev Electrons, W. E. Meyerhof, D. G. Jensen, D. M. Kawall, S. E. Kuhn, D. W. Spooner, Z. E. Meziani, D.. N. Faust

Physics Faculty Publications

We have made an absolute measurement of the Cu K-shell impact ionization cross section by 5.1-GeV electrons, which demonstrates directly a density effect predicted by Fermi in 1940. By determining the ratio of the K x-ray yield from a thin front and back layer of the target by a novel grazing emission method, we have verified the effect of transition radiation on the x-ray production, suggested by Sorensen and reported by Bak et al.

Rotationally Resolved Laser Spectroscopy Of The 3s2Σ+ ← 2p2ii Transition In 6li20ne And 7li20ne Van Der Waals Molecules, Chang Jae Lee

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The rotationally resolved absorption spectrum of the ⁶Li²⁰Ne and ⁷Li²⁰Ne 3s²Σ⁺ ← 2p² II transition has been observed. For each isotope, thirteen vibrational transitions from four vibrational levels (v"=0, 1, 2, and 3) of the lower 2p² II to six (v’=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) of the upper 3s*Σ⁺ electronic state have been rotationally analyzed. Adiabatic potentials and dissociation energies for both states have been obtained through an inverse perturbation analysis. For the 2p²II state, a well depth of 212(5) cm^-1 and an …

Effects Of Quantum Noise On A Two-Level System In A Single-Mode Cavity, Linda L. Vahala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The effects of quantum noise on a two-level system in the bad-cavity regime are considered perturbatively in the form of closure at the pair-correlation level. It is found that pair-correlation effects can reduce the level of semiclassical chaos. However, under the rotating-wave approximation (RWA), quantum noise can lead to chaos if there is an initial population inversion, while the full RWA Hamiltonian system remains integrable.

Comment On "Orientation, Alignment, And Hyperfine Effects On Dissociation Of Diatomic Molecules To Open Shell Atoms", Mark D. Havey, Linda L. Vahala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A recent paper in this journal [Y. B. Band e t a l., J. Chem. Phys. 8 4, 3762 (1986)] reported parameters describing orientation and alignment produced, in an axial recoil limit, by one photondissociation of diatomic molecules. Reported also were values, applicable to the resonance transitions of the alkali atoms, for orientation and alignment depolarization coefficients. Most of the numerical values reported for the coefficients were incorrect, in some cases by as much as a factor of 2. We report a tabulation of correct depolarization coefficients applicable to the resonance transitions of common alkali isotopes. Further, the coefficients …

Nonadiabatic Theory Of Fine-Structure Branching Cross Sections For Na-He, Na-Ne, And Na-Ar Optical Collisions, Linda L. Vahala, P. S. Julienne, Mark D. Havey

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The nonadiabatic close-coupled theory of atomic collisions in a radiation field is generalized to include electron spin and is used to consider the weak-field Na–rare-gas (RG) optical collision Na(²S_1/2)+RG+nhν μNa(²P_j)+RG+(n-1)hν. The effects of detuning and incident energy on the branching into the atomic Na 3p²P_3/2 and 3p²P_1/2 states are examined. The cross sections σ(j) are found to have a strong asymmetry between red and blue detuning as well as a complex threshold and resonance structure dependence on energy. A partial cross-section analysis …

Absorption Cross-Sections Of Sodium Diatomic Molecules, Zeng-Shevan Fong

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The absorption cross sections of sodium dimers were studied using a heat pipe over operating in the non-heat-pipe mode. Three wavelength regions were observed. They are in the red, the green-blue, and the near ultraviolet regions. The absorption cross section depends on the wavelength of the incident light. Representative peak values for the v"=0 progression in the red and green-blue regions are 2.59 A sup 2 (average value) and 11.77 A sup 2 (T_ave=624 K). The value for the C greater than X transitions is several tenths A sup 2. The cross sections were measured from absorption spectra …

Partial Radiative Recombination Cross Sections For Excited States Of Hydrogen, Patricia M. Fazio

Physics Theses & Dissertations

In calculating the radiative recombination cross sections for interstellar H II regions usually only the electric dipole term in the expansion of the interaction Hamiltonian is kept. However, conditions present in these regions permit recombination into highly excited states and the "effective size" of the atom is not much less than the wavelength of the emitted photon. These physical conditions do not meet the requirements for making the dipole approximation. A higher order approximation is to keep an additional term in the expansion of the Hamiltonian, and, therefore, to include contributions of quadrupole transitions in the calculation of the partial …

A Theoretical Model For Calculation Of Molecular Stopping Power, Yuan-Jian Xu

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A modified local plasma model based on the work of Linhard-Winther, Bethe, Brown, and Walske is established. The Gordon-Kim's molecular charged density model is employed to obtain a formula to evaluate the stopping power of many useful molecular systems. The stopping power of H₂ and He gas was calculated for incident proton energy ranging from 100 KeV to 2.5 MeV. The stopping power of O₂, N₂ and water vapor was also calculated for incident proton energy ranging from 40 keV to 2.5 MeV. Good agreement with experimental data was obtained.

A discussion of molecular effects leading …

Systematic Estimate Of Binding Energies Of Weakly Bound Diatomic Molecules, Linda L. Vahala, Mark D. Havey

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

There is often insufficient spectroscopic data for a full RKR inversion to yield a potential for weakly bound diatomic molecules. In these cases, parametrized functions such as the Morse or Thakkar potentials may be used to obtain estimates of the binding energy. The Thakkar potential is more flexible, and has been used successfully on some weakly bound systems. In the more usual case, the Thakkar parameter p, which determines long range behavior R^-p, is chosen by p=-a₁-1, where a₁ is the first Dunham coefficient; p is usually noninteger. The authors present …