No Arabic abstract
We have studied the optical properties of gratings micro-fabricated into semiconductor wafers, which can be used for simplifying cold-atom experiments. The study entailed characterisation of diffraction efficiency as a function of coating, periodicity, duty cycle and geometry using over 100 distinct gratings. The critical parameters of experimental use, such as diffraction angle and wavelength are also discussed, with an outlook to achieving optimal ultracold experimental conditions.
We report on the observation of emerging beam resonances, well known as Rayleigh-Wood anomalies and threshold resonances in photon and electron diffraction, respectively, in an atom-optical diffraction experiment. Diffraction of He atom beams reflected from a blazed ruled grating at grazing incidence has been investigated. The total reflectivity of the grating as well as the intensities of the diffracted beams reveal anomalies at the Rayleigh angles of incidence, i.e., when another diffracted beam merges parallel to the grating surface. The observed anomalies are discussed in terms of the classical wave-optical model of Rayleigh and Fano.
We present the technical realization of a compact system for performing experiments with cold $^{87}{text{Rb}}$ and $^{39}{text{K}}$ atoms in microgravity in the future. The whole system fits into a capsule to be used in the drop tower Bremen. One of the advantages of a microgravity environment is long time evolution of atomic clouds which yields higher sensitivities in atom interferometer measurements. We give a full description of the system containing an experimental chamber with ultra-high vacuum conditions, miniaturized laser systems, a high-power thulium-doped fiber laser, the electronics and the power management. In a two-stage magneto-optical trap atoms should be cooled to the low $mu$K regime. The thulium-doped fiber laser will create an optical dipole trap which will allow further cooling to sub-$mu$K temperatures. The presented system fulfills the demanding requirements on size and power management for cold atom experiments on a microgravity platform, especially with respect to the use of an optical dipole trap. A first test in microgravity, including the creation of a cold Rb ensemble, shows the functionality of the system.
A method for diffracting the weak probe beam into unidirectional and higher-order directions is proposed via a novel Rydberg electromagnetically induced grating, providing a new way for the implementations of quantum devices with cold Rydberg atoms. The proposed scheme utilizes a suitable and position-dependent adjustment to the two-photon detuning besides the modulation of the standing-wave coupling field, bringing a in-phase modulation which can change the parity of the dispersion. We observe that when the modulation amplitude is appropriate, a perfect unidirectional diffraction grating can be realized. In addition, due to the mutual effect between the van der Waals (vdWs) interaction and the atom-field interaction length that deeply improves the dispersion of the medium, the probe energy can be counter-intuitively transferred into higher-order diffractions as increasing the vdWs interaction, leading to the realization of a controllable higher-order diffraction grating via strong blockade.
Optical frequency combs provide the clockwork to relate optical frequencies to radio frequencies. Hence, combs allow to measure optical frequencies with respect to a radio frequency where the accuracy is limited only by the reference signal. In order to provide a stable link between the radio and optical frequencies, the two parameters of the frequency comb must be fixed: the carrier envelope offset frequency $f_{rm ceo}$ and the pulse repetition-rate $f_{rm rep}$. We have developed the first optical frequency comb based on difference frequency generation (DFG) that eliminates $f_{rm ceo}$ by design - specifically tailored for applications in cold atom physics. An $f_{rm ceo}$-free spectrum at 1550 nm is generated from a super continuum spanning more than an optical octave. Established amplification and frequency conversion techniques based on reliable telecom fiber technology allow generation of multiple wavelength outputs. In this paper we discuss the frequency comb design, characterization, and optical frequency measurement of Sr Rydberg states. The DFG technique allows for a compact and robust, passively $f_{rm ceo}$ stable frequency comb significantly improving reliability in practical applications.
We propose a new approach to characterizing the depths of optical lattices, in which an atomic gas is given a finite initial momentum, which leads to high amplitude oscillations in the zeroth diffraction order which are robust to finite-temperature effects. We present a simplified model yielding an analytic formula describing such oscillations for a gas assumed to be at zero temperature. This model is extended to include atoms with initial momenta detuned from our chosen initial value, before analyzing the full finite-temperature response of the system. Finally we present a steady-state solution to the finite-temperature system, which in principle makes possible the measurement of both the lattice depth, and initial temperature of the atomic gas simultaneously.