arXiv subjects

Benjamin Plotkin-Swing

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Plotkin-Swing.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

High-temperature phonons in h-BN: momentum-resolved vibrational spectroscopy and theory

Vibrations in materials and nanostructures at sufficiently high temperatures result in anharmonic atomic displacements, which leads to new phenomena such as thermal expansion and multiphonon scattering processes, with a profound impact on temperature-dependent material properties including thermal conductivity, phonon lifetimes, nonradiative electronic transitions, and phase transitions. Nanoscale momentum-resolved vibrational spectroscopy, which has recently become possible on monochromated scanning-transmission-electron microscopes, is a unique method to probe the underpinnings of these phenomena. Here we report momentum-resolved vibrational spectroscopy in hexagonal boron nitride at temperatures of 300, 800, and 1300 K across three Brillouin zones (BZs) that reveals temperature-dependent phonon energy shifts and demonstrates the presence of strong Umklapp processes. Density-functional-theory calculations of temperature-dependent phonon self-energies reproduce the observed energy shifts and identify the contributing mechanisms.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Crossed-Beam slowing to enhance narrow-line Ytterbium Magneto-Optic Traps

We demonstrate a method to enhance the atom loading rate of a ytterbium (Yb) magneto-optic trap (MOT) operating on the 556 nm ${^1S}_0 \rightarrow {^3P}_1$ intercombination transition (narrow linewidth $\Gamma_g = 2\pi \times 182$ kHz). Following traditional Zeeman slowing of an atomic beam near the 399 nm ${^1S}_0 \rightarrow {^1P}_1$ transition (broad linewidth $\Gamma_p = 2\pi \times 29 $ MHz), two laser beams in a crossed-beam geometry, frequency tuned near the same transition, provide additional slowing immediately prior to the MOT. Using this technique, we observe an improvement by a factor of 6 in the atom loading rate of a narrow-line Yb MOT. The relative simplicity and generality of this approach make it readily adoptable to other experiments involving narrow-line MOTs. We also present a numerical simulation of this two-stage slowing process which shows good agreement with the observed dependence on experimental parameters, and use it to assess potential improvements to the method.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Bloch-bands Picture for Light Pulse Atom Diffraction and Interferometry

We apply a Bloch-bands approach to the analysis of pulsed optical standing wave diffractive elements in optics and interferometry with ultracold atoms. We verify our method by comparison to a series of experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates. The approach provides accurate Rabi frequencies for diffraction pulses and is particularly useful for the analysis and control of diffraction phases, an important systematic effect in precision atom interferometry. Utilizing this picture, we also demonstrate a method to determine atomic band structure in an optical lattice through a measurement of phase shifts in an atomic contrast interferometer.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Three-path atom interferometry with large momentum separation

We demonstrate the scale up of a symmetric three-path contrast interferometer to large momentum separation. The observed phase stability at separation of 112 photon recoil momenta ($112\hbar k$) exceeds the performance of earlier free-space interferometers. In addition to the symmetric interferometer geometry and Bose-Einstein condensate source, the robust scalability of our approach relies crucially on the suppression of undesired diffraction phases through a careful choice of atom optics parameters. The interferometer phase evolution is quadratic with number of recoils, reaching a rate as high as $7\times10^7$ radians/s. We discuss the applicability of our method towards a new measurement of the fine-structure constant and a test of QED.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Active Stabilization of a Diode Laser Injection Lock

We report on a device to electronically stabilize the optical injection lock of a semiconductor diode laser. Our technique uses as discriminator the peak height of the laser's transmission signal on a scanning Fabry-Perot cavity and feeds back to the diode current, thereby maintaining maximum optical power in the injected mode. A two-component feedback algorithm provides constant optimization of the injection lock, keeping it robust to slow thermal drifts and allowing fast recovery from sudden failures such as temporary occlusion of the injection beam. We demonstrate the successful performance of our stabilization method in a diode laser setup at 399 nm used for laser cooling of Yb atoms. The device eases the requirements on passive stabilization and can benefit any diode laser injection lock application, particularly those where several such locks are employed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

Advances in precision contrast interferometry with Yb Bose-Einstein condensates

Using a three-path contrast interferometer (CI) geometry and laser-pulse diffraction gratings, we create the first matter-wave interferometer with ytterbium (Yb) atoms. We present advances in contrast interferometry relevant to high-precision measurements. By comparing to a traditional atom interferometer, we demonstrate the immunity of the CI to vibrations for long interaction times (> 20 ms). We characterize and demonstrate control over the two largest systematic effects for a high-precision measurement of the fine structure constant via photon recoil with our interferometer: diffraction phases and atomic interactions. Diffraction phases are an important systematic for most interferometers using large-momentum transfer beam splitters; atomic interactions are a key concern for any BEC interferometer. Finally, we consider the prospects for a future sub-part per billion photon recoil measurement using a Yb CI.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Production of quantum degenerate mixtures of ytterbium and lithium with controllable inter-species overlap

Quantum degenerate mixtures of alkali and spin-singlet atoms form the starting point for studying few- and many-body physics of mass-imbalanced pairs as well as the production of paramagnetic polar molecules. We recently reported the achievement of dual-species quantum degeneracy of a mixture of lithium and ytterbium atoms. Here we present details of the key experimental steps for the all-optical preparation of these mixtures. Further we demonstrate the use of the magnetic field gradient tool to compensate for the differential gravitational sag of the two species and control their spatial overlap.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗