Population dynamics of excited atoms in non-Markovian environments at zero and finite temperature

The population dynamics of a two-atom system, which is in two independent Lorentzian reservoirs or in two independent Ohmic reservoirs respectively, where the reservoirs are at zero temperature or finite temperature, is studied by using the time-convolutionless master-equation method. The influences of the characteristics and temperature of a non-Markovian environment on the population of the excited atoms are analyzed. We find that the population trapping of the excited atoms is related to the characteristics and the temperature of the non-Markovian environment. The results show that, at zero temperature, the two atoms can be effectively trapped in the excited state both in the Lorentzian reservoirs and in the Ohmic reservoirs. At finite temperature, the population of the excited atoms will quickly decay to a nonzero value.

Thermometry utilizing stored short-wavelength spin waves in cold atomic ensembles

Temperature,as a measure of thermal motion,is a significant parameter characterizing a cold atomic ensemble optical quantum memory.In a cold gas,storage lifetime strongly depends on its temperature and is associated with the spin wave decoherence.Here we experimentally demonstrate a new spin wave thermometry method relying on this direct dependence.The short-wavelength spin waves resulting from the counter-propagating configuration of the control and the probe laser beams make this thermometry highly suitable for probing in situ the atomic motion in elongated clouds as the ones used in quantum memories.Our technique is realized with comparable precision for memories that rely on electromagnetically induced transparency as well as far-detuned Raman storage.

The dynamics of a nanosecond gas discharge development with an extended slot cathode in argon

The article presents the results of an experimental study and numerical modelling for the formation and development dynamics of a high-voltage transverse nanosecond discharge generated by a slot cathode in an argon medium at a pressure range of 1–10 Torr. Numerical modelling was carried out under similar experimental conditions for the processes of formation and propagation of ionisation waves, electron density distribution, excited atom and average electron energy in the discharge gap, including the cavity inside the cathode. At a pressure of p=1 Torr, a classical version of a high-voltage discharge is demonstrated to take place with no penetration of the plasma into the cathode cavity and no observed hollow cathode effect. An increase in gas pressure to 5 Torr leads to a penetration of plasma into the cathode cavity with the formation of a cathodic potential drop(CPD) region. Electrons emitted from the side surfaces of the cavity pass through the CPD region without collisions, oscillate inside the cathode cavity;the hollow cathode effect is fully manifested. At р=10 Torr, the modelling results qualitatively coincide with the results at р=5 Torr;in this case, however, hardly any accelerated electrons are observed in the gap between the electrodes, due to their energetic relaxation both inside the cathode cavity and when exiting from it. In both cases, the plasma structure formed at the exit of the cathode cavity involves a concentration of charged particles an order of magnitude higher than that in the rest of the gap, leading to a self-limiting discharge current effect. The results of the numerical modelling are in good agreement with experimental data.

Analytic variationally optimized internally orthogonalized modified Laguerre orbitals in accurate atomic configuration interaction calculation

An analytic configuration interaction method based on variationally optimized internally orthogonalized modified Laguerre orbitals is presented. We have developed the corresponding computer code. For application, we study the 1s2s ^1S isoelectronic sequence from helium to neon, and compare with other methods. By taking into account the Eekart upper-bound theorem, we obtained more accurate and more intuitively understandable results than Hartree-Fock and multi-configuration Hartree-Fock reported results.

Atomic population distribution of excited states in He electrodeless discharge lamp

Population ratios between excited states are measured to build the excited state Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter(ESFADOF). We calculate these values between the excited states according to the spontaneous transition probabilities using rate equations and the measured intensities of fluorescence spectral lines of He atoms in an electrodeless discharge lamp in the visible spectral region from 350 to 730 nm. The electrodeless discharge lamp with populations in excited states can be used to realize the frequency stabilization reference of the laser frequency standard. This lamp can also build ESFADOFs for submarine communication application in the blue-green wavelength to simplify the system without the use of a pump laser.