Space continuous atom laser in one dimension

Cold atom physics in space station arouses a lot of interest of scientists. We investigate the dynamical output process of the space continuous atom laser by solving nonlinear Gross–Pitaevksii equations numerically. Slow-moving continuous atom beams in two directions are observed simultaneously. The slow-moving coherent atom beams can be used as a source of atom interferometer to realize long-time measurements. We also control the output of space atom laser by adjusting the output coupling strength.

Influence of the virtual photon field on the squeezing properties of an atom laser

This paper investigates the squeezing properties of an atom laser without rotating-wave approximation in the system of a binomial states field interacting with a two-level atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. It discusses the influences of atomic eigenfrequency, the interaction intensity between the optical field and atoms, parameter of the binomial states field and virtual photon field on the squeezing properties. The results show that two quadrature components of an atom laser can be squeezed periodically. The duration and the degree of squeezing an atom laser have something to do with the atomic eigenfrequency and the parameter of the binomial states field, respectively. The collapse and revival frequency of atom laser fluctuation depends on the interaction intensity between the optical field and atoms. The effect of the virtual photon field deepens the depth of squeezing an atom laser.

Sensitivity function analysis of gravitational wave detection with single-laser and large-momentum-transfer atomic sensors

Recently, a configuration using atomic interferometers （AIs） had been sug- gested for the detection of gravitational waves. A new AI with some additional laser pulses for implementing large momentum transfer was also put forward, in order to reduce the effect of shot noise and laser frequency noise. We use a sensitivity function to analyze all possible configurations of the new AI and to distinguish how many mo- menta are transferred in a specific configuration. By analyzing the new configuration, we further explore a detection scheme for gravitational waves, in particular, that ame- liorates laser frequency noise. We find that the amelioration occurs in such a scheme, but novelly, in some cases, the frequency noise can be canceled completely by using a proper data processing method.

Automatic compensation of magnetic field for a rubidium space cold atom clock

When the cold atom clock operates in microgravity around the near-earth orbit, its performance will be affected by the fluctuation of magnetic field. A strategy is proposed to suppress the fluctuation of magnetic field by additional coils, whose current is changed accordingly to compensate the magnetic fluctuation by the linear and incremental compensation. The flight model of the cold atom clock is tested in a simulated orbital magnetic environment and the magnetic field fluctuation in the Ramsey cavity is reduced from 17 nT to 2 nT, which implied the uncertainty due to the second order Zeeman shift is reduced to be less than 2×10^（-16）. In addition, utilizing the compensation, the magnetic field in the trapping zone can be suppressed from 7.5 μT to less than 0.3 μT to meet the magnetic field requirement of polarization gradients cooling of atoms.

Quantitative and Spatially Resolved Measurement of Atomic Potassium in Combustion Using Diode Laser

A compact optical setup for quantitative and spatially resolved measurement of atomic alkali concentration in combustion is demonstrated. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and laser-induced fluorescence are combined using a single continuous wave diode laser to measure the line-integration concentration and the relative distribution simultaneously, thereby obtaining the absolute concentration distribution along the laser beam. The results indicate the good performance of this method for one-dimensional quantitative measurement.

Tuning the velocity and flux of a low-velocity intense source of cold atomic beam

We investigate experimentally and numerically the quantitative dependence of characteristics of a low-velocity intensity source（LVIS） of atomic beam on light parameters, especially the polarization of cooling laser along the atomic beam axis（pushing beam）. By changing the polarization of the pushing beam, the longitudinal mean velocity of a rubidium atomic beam can be tuned continuously from 10 to 20 m/s and the flux can range from 3 × 10^-8 to 1 × 10^-9 atoms/s, corresponding to the maximum sensitivity of the velocity with respect to the polarization angle of 20（m/s）/rad and the mean sensitivity of flux of 1.2 × 10^-9（atoms/s）/rad. The mechanism is explained with a Monte-Carlo based numerical simulation method, which shows a qualitative agreement with the experimental result. This is also a demonstration of a method enabling the fast and continuous modulation of a low-velocity intense source of cold atomic beam on the velocity or flux,which can be used in many fields, like the development of a cold atomic beam interferometer and atom lithography.

One-dimensional atom laser in microgravity

Using coupled Gross–Pitaevksii(GP)equations,we simulate the output of one-dimensional pulsed atom laser in space station.We get two atom laser pulses propagating in opposite directions with one pulsed RF coupling.Compared with atom laser under gravity,the laser pulse in microgravity shows much slower moving speed,which is suitable to be used for long-term investigations.We also simulate the output flux at different coupling strengths.

Transient responses of transparency in a far-off resonant atomic system

Transient coherent oscillations in a closed A system under far-off resonant Raman fields were investigated theoreti- cally. It has been found that the coherent superposition of the ground states can be formed due to the absorption even for initial maximal mixed ground states. The absorption oscillates with a period depending on the two-photon detuning when the system is initially in a transparent state and the two-photon Raman detuning is suddenly changed. The amplitude of the absorption decays with the decay rate of the ground states, which is different from the case when the lasers are applied resonantly. These transient coherent oscillations can be used to measure the relaxation rate of the ground states.

Strange Attractors in the Resonance Interaction of Two-State Atoms with Single-Mode Laser Field

The resonance interaction of two-state atoms with single mode field is described theoretically by using the semi-classical theory and Jaynes-Cummings model. The nonlinear characteristics of this system are calculated by using FFT and Runge-Kutta methods. The chaotic strange attractors in this system are obtained from the numerical results.

Multiphoton Ionization of Potassium Atoms in Femtosecond Laser Fields

We study the multiphoton ionization of potassium atoms in 800 nm and 400 nm femtosecond laser fields.In the 800 nm laser field,the potassium atom absorbs three photons and emits one electron via one photon resonance with the 4p intermediate state with the help of the ac-Stark shift.The resonance feature is clearly shown as an Autler-Townes(AT) splitting and is mapped out in the electron kinetic energy spectrum.In a 400 nm laser field,although one photon resonance is possible with the 5p state,no splitting is observed.The different transition amplitudes between 4s-4p and 4s-5p explain the observed results.Due to the AT effect,an unexpected peak in the photoelectron energy spectrum that violates the dipole transition rule is observed.A preliminary explanation involving the spin-orbit interaction in the p state is given to account for this component.The observed ATsplitting in the electron kinetic energy distribution can be used as an effective method to calibrate the intensity of a laser field.

Role of XUV Photons in Atomic High-Order Above-Threshold Ionization Processes in IR+XUV Two-Color Laser Fields

We investigate the above-threshold ionization of an atom in a combined infrared （IR） and extreme ultraviolet （XUV） two-color laser field and focus on the role of XUV field in the high-order above-threshold ionization （HATI） process. It is demonstrated that, in stark contrast to previous studies, the XUV laser may play a significant role in atomic HATI process, and in particular, the XUV laser can accelerate the ionized electron in a quantized way during the collision between the electron and its parent ion. This process cannot be explained by the elassical three-step model Our results indicate that the previously well-established concept that HATI is an elastic recollision process is broken down.

Frequency locking of a 399-nm laser referenced to fluorescence spectrum of an ytterbium atomic beam

The laser cooling of ytterbium（Yb） atoms needs a 399-nm laser which operates on the strong1S0-1P1 transition and can be locked at the desired frequencies for different Yb isotopes.We demonstrate a frequency locking method using the fluorescence spectrum of an Yb atomic beam as a frequency reference.For unresolved fluorescence peaks,we make the spectrum of the even isotopes vanish by using the strong angular-dependence of the fluorescence radiations;the remained closely-spaced peaks are thus clearly resolved and able to serve as accurate frequency references.A computer-controlled servo system is used to lock the laser frequency to a single fluorescence peak of interest,and a frequency stability of 304 kHz is achieved.This frequency-locked laser enables us to realize stable blue magneto-optic-traps（MOT） for all abundant Yb isotopes.

A scheme for the generation of two-mode atomic laser

The quantum dynamic behavior of the system composed of V-type three-level atomic Bose-Einstein con-densate (BEC) interacting with two-mode coherent light field has been studied. The results show that the atoms of V-type three-level atomic BEC, which are excited to higher-level states under the action of light field, still keep their properties of coherent states. It demonstrates theoretically that two-mode atomic laser may be prepared by V-type three-level atomic BEC.

Carrier-envelope-phase effect in nonsequential double ionization of Ar atoms by few-cycle laser pulses

A classical ensemble method is used to investigate nonsequential double ionization（NSDI） of Ar atoms irradiated by linearly polarized few-cycle laser pulses. The correlated-electron momentum distribution（CMD） exhibits a strong dependence on the carrier-envelope phase（CEP）. When the pulse duration is four cycles, the CMD shows a cross-like structure, which is consistent with experimental results. The CEP dependence is more notable when the laser pulse duration is decreased to two cycles and a special L-shaped structure appears in CMD. Recollision time of returning electrons greatly depends on CEP, which plays a significant role in accounting for the appearance of this structure.

Widely tunable laser frequency offset locking to the atomic resonance line with frequency modulation spectroscopy

A simple and robust technique is reported to offset lock a single semiconductor laser to the atom resonance line with a frequency difference easily adjustable from a few tens of megahertz up to tens of gigahertz. The proposed scheme makes use of the frequency modulation spectroscopy by modulating sidebands of a fiber electro-optic modulator output. The short-term performances of a frequency offset locked semiconductor laser are experimentally demonstrated with the Allan variance of around 3.9 × 10-11 at a 2 s integration time. This method may have many applications, such as in Raman optics for an atom interferometer.

Resonant gradient force on atom interacting with laser field

The gradient force, as a function of position and velocity, is derived for a two-level atom interacting with a standing-wave laser field. Basing on optical Bloch equations, the numerical solutions for the gradient force f⊥,n (n = 0,1, 2,3,4, …) pointing in the direction of the transverse of the laser beam are given. It is shown the higher order gradient force plays important role at strong intensity (G = 64), the contribution of them can not be neglected.

Behavior of the relativistic angular and energy distributions of atoms exposed to a strong and low-frequency circularly polarized laser field

In this Letter, we focus on the theoretical analysis of the relativistic energy and angular distributions of the ejected photoelectrons during the relativistic tunnel ionization of atoms by intense, circularly polarized light. We make a small modification of the general analytical expressions for these distributions. The role of the initial momentum, the ponderomotive potential, and the Stark shift are considered. We also present the maximal angle of electron emission.

Quantum sensing of control errors in three-level systems by coherent control techniques

The quantum coherent control of a quantum system with high fidelity is rather important in quantum computation and quantum information processing.Many control techniques are used to reach these targets,such as resonant excitation,adiabatic passages,shortcuts to adiabaticity,and composite pulses.However,for a single pulse to realize population transfer,a tiny external error has a slight influence on the final population.The repeated application of the same pulse will greatly amplify the error efect,making it easy to be detected.Here,we propose to measure small control errors in three-level quantum systems through a coherent amplification of their efects using several coherent control techniques.For the two types of Hamiltonian with an SU(2)dynamic symmetry,we analyze how the fidelity of the population transfer is afected by the Rabi frequency error and static detuning deviation based on the pulse sequence with alternating and same phases,respectively.The results show that the sensitivity of detecting these errors can be efectively amplified by control pulse sequences.Furthermore,we discuss the efficiency of sensing the two errors with the control techniques by comparing the full width at half maximum of the population profiles.The results provide an accurate and reliable way for detecting the weak error in three-level quantum systems by repeatedly applying the coherent control pulse.

Wide and fast-frequency tuning for a stabilized diode laser

External-cavity diode laser(ECDL)has important applications in many fundamental and applied researches.Here we report a method to fast and widely tune the frequency of a stabilized ECDL.The beat frequency between the ECDL and a frequency-locked reference laser is identified by the voltagecontrolled oscillator contained in a phase detector,whose output voltage is subtracted from the flexibly controlled PC signal to generate an error signal for stabilizing the ECDL.The output frequency of the stabilized ECDL can be shifted at a short characteristic time of∼150µs within a range of∼620 MHz.The wide and fast-frequency tuning achieved by our method is compared with other previous works.We demonstrated the performance of our method by the efficient sub-Doppler cooling of Cs atoms with the temperature as low as 6µK.