No Arabic abstract
Measurements were made to determine the density of rubidium dimer vapor in paraffin-coated cells. The number density of dimers and atoms in similar paraffin-coated and uncoated cells was measured by optical spectroscopy. Due to the relatively low melting point of paraffin, a limited temperature range of 43-80 deg C was explored, with the lower end corresponding to a dimer density of less than 10^7 cm^(-3). With one-minute integration time, a sensitivity to dimer number density of better than 10^6 cm^(-3) was achieved. No significant difference in dimer density was observed between the cells.
We present preliminary results from an experimental study of slow light in anti-relaxation-coated Rb vapor cells, and describe the construction and testing of such cells. The slow ground state decoherence rate allowed by coated cell walls leads to a dual-structured electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectrum with a very narrow (<100 Hz) transparency peak on top of a broad pedestal. Such dual-structure EIT permits optical probe pulses to propagate with greatly reduced group velocity on two time scales. We discuss ongoing efforts to optimize the pulse delay in such coated cell systems.
Coherence time is an essential parameter for quantum sensing, quantum information, and quantum computation. In this work, we demonstrate electron spin coherence times as long as 0.1 s for an ensemble of rubidium atoms trapped in a solid parahydrogen matrix. We explore the underlying physics limiting the coherence time. The properties of these matrix isolated atoms are very promising for future applications, including quantum sensing of nuclear spins. If combined with efficient single-atom readout, this would enable NMR and magnetic resonance imaging of single molecules cotrapped with alkali-metal atom quantum sensors within a parahydrogen matrix.
We report modulation transfer spectroscopy on the D2 transitions in 85Rb and 87Rb using a simple home-built electro-optic modulator (EOM). We show that both the gradient and amplitude of modulation transfer spectroscopy signals, for the 87Rb F=2 to F=3 and the 85Rb F=3 to F=4 transitions, can be significantly enhanced by expanding the beams, improving the signals for laser frequency stabilization. The signal gradient for these transitions is increased by a factor of 3 and the peak to peak amplitude was increased by a factor of 2. The modulation transfer signal for the 85Rb F=2 to F transitions is also presented to highlight how this technique can generate a single, clear line for laser frequency stabilization even in cases where there are a number of closely spaced hyperfine transitions.
Experiments suggest that the migration of some cells in the three-dimensional extra cellular matrix bears strong resemblance to one-dimensional cell migration. Motivated by this observation, we construct and study a minimal one-dimensional model cell made of two beads and an active spring moving along a rigid track. The active spring models the stress fibers with their myosin-driven contractility and alpha-actinin-driven extendability, while the friction coefficients of the two beads describe the catch/slip bond behavior of the integrins in focal adhesions. In the absence of active noise, net motion arises from an interplay between active contractility (and passive extendability) of the stress fibers and an asymmetry between the front and back of the cell due to catch bond behavior of integrins at the front of the cell and slip bond behavior of integrins at the back. We obtain reasonable cell speeds with independently estimated parameters. We also study the effects of hysteresis in the active spring, due to catch bond behavior and the dynamics of cross-linking, and the addition of active noise on the motion of the cell. Our model highlights the role of alpha-actinin in three-dimensional cell motility and does not require Arp2/3 actin filament nucleation for net motion.
Quantum reflection is a pure wave phenomena that predicts reflection of a particle at a changing potential for cases where complete transmission occurs classically. For a chemical bond, we find that this effect can lead to non-classical vibrational turning points and bound states at extremely large interatomic distances. Only recently has the existence of such ultralong-range Rydberg molecules been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we identify a broad range of molecular lines, most of which are shown to originate from two different novel sources: a single-photon associated triatomic molecule formed by a Rydberg atom and two ground state atoms and a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop. The properties of the Rydberg molecules identified in this work qualify them as prototypes for a new type of chemistry at ultracold temperatures.