arXiv subjects

C. I. Westbrook

Publications and source records attributed to C. I. Westbrook.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Atomic four-wave mixing via condensate collisions

We perform a theoretical analysis of atomic four-wave mixing via a collision of two Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable helium atoms, and compare the results to a recent experiment. We calculate atom-atom pair correlations within the scattering halo produced spontaneously during the collision. We also examine the expected relative number squeezing of atoms on the sphere. The analysis includes first-principles quantum simulations using the positive P-representation method. We develop a unified description of the experimental and simulation results.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Hanbury Brown Twiss effect for ultracold quantum gases

We have studied 2-body correlations of atoms in an expanding cloud above and below the Bose-Einstein condensation threshold. The observed correlation function for a thermal cloud shows a bunching behavior, while the correlation is flat for a coherent sample. These quantum correlations are the atomic analogue of the Hanbury Brown Twiss effect. We observe the effect in three dimensions and study its dependence on cloud size.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2002

Using ion production to monitor the birth and death of a metastable helium Bose-Einstein condensate

We discuss observations of the ion flux from a cloud of trapped metastable helium atoms. Both Bose-Einstein condensates and thermal clouds were investigated. The ion flux is compared to time-of-flight observations of the expanded cloud. We show data concerning BEC formation and decay, as well as measurements of two- and three-body ionization rate constants. We also discuss possible improvements and extensions of our results.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2002

Resolved diffraction patterns from a reflection grating for atoms

We have studied atomic diffraction at normal incidence from an evanescent standing wave with a high resolution using velocity selective Raman transitions. We have observed up to 3 resolved orders of diffraction, which are well accounted for by a scalar diffraction theory. In our experiment the transverse coherence length of the source is greater than the period of the diffraction grating.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2002

Ionization rates in a Bose-Einstein condensate of metastable Helium

We have studied ionizing collisions in a BEC of He*. Measurements of the ion production rate combined with measurements of the density and number of atoms for the same sample allow us to estimate both the 2 and 3-body contributions to this rate. A comparison with the decay of the number of condensed atoms in our magnetic trap, in the presence of an rf-shield, indicates that ionizing collisions are largely or wholly responsible for the loss. Quantum depletion makes a substantial correction to the 3-body rate constant.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Bose-Einstein condensation of metastable helium: some experimental aspects

We describe our recent realization of BEC using metastable helium. All detection is done with a micruchannel plate which detects the metastables or ions coming from the trapped atom cloud. This discussion emphasizes some of the diagnostic experiments which were necessary to quantitatively analyse our results.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Thermalization of magnetically trapped metastable helium

We have observed thermalization by elastic collisions of magnetically trapped metastable helium atoms. Our method directly samples the reconstruction of a thermal energy distribution after the application of an RF knife. The relaxation time of our sample towards equilibrium gives an elastic collision rate constant close to the unitarity limit.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2000

Using atomic interference to probe atom-surface interaction

We show that atomic interference in the reflection from two suitably polarized evanescent waves is sensitive to retardation effects in the atom-surface interaction for specific experimental parameters. We study the limit of short and long atomic de Broglie wavelength. The former case is analyzed in the semiclassical approximation (Landau-Zener model). The latter represents a quantum regime and is analyzed by solving numerically the associated coupled Schroedinger equations. We consider a specific experimental scheme and show the results for rubidium (short wavelength) and the much lighter meta-stable helium atom (long wavelength). The merits of each case are then discussed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv1999

Properties of Microelectromagnet Mirrors as Reflectors of Cold Rb Atoms

Cryogenically cooled microelectromagnet mirrors were used to reflect a cloud of free-falling laser-cooled 85Rb atoms at normal incidence. The mirrors consisted of microfabricated current-carrying Au wires in a periodic serpentine pattern on a sapphire substrate. The fluorescence from the atomic cloud was imaged after it had bounced off a mirror. The transverse width of the cloud reached a local minimum at an optimal current corresponding to minimum mirror roughness. A distinct increase in roughness was found for mirror configurations with even versus odd number of lines. These observations confirm theoretical predictions.

physics.atom-ph↗