arXiv subjects

D. Clément

Publications and source records attributed to D. Clément.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2016

Momentum-resolved observation of thermal and quantum depletion in an interacting Bose gas

We report on the single-atom-resolved measurement of the distribution of momenta $\hbar k$ in a weakly interacting Bose gas after a 330 ms time-of-flight. We investigate it for various temperatures and clearly separate two contributions to the depletion of the condensate by their $k$-dependence. The first one is the thermal depletion. The second contribution falls of as $k^{-4}$, and its magnitude increases with the in-trap condensate density as predicted by the Bogoliubov theory at zero temperature. These observations suggest associating it with the quantum depletion. How this contribution can survive the expansion of the released interacting condensate is an intriguing open question.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Characterization of a detector chain using a FPGA-based Time-to-Digital Converter to reconstruct the three-dimensional coordinates of single particles at high flux

We report on the development of a novel FPGA-based Time-to-Digital Converter and its implementation in a detection chain that records the coordinates of single particles along three dimensions. The detector is composed of Micro-Channel Plates mounted on top of a cross delay line and connected to fast electronics. We demonstrate continuous recording of the timing signals from the cross delay line at rates up to 4.1x10^6 per second and three-dimensional reconstruction of the coordinates up to 3.2x10^6 particles per second. From the imaging of a calibrated structure we measure the in-plane resolution of the detector to be 140(20) um. In addition we analyze a method to measure the resolution without placing any structure under vacuum, a significant practical improvement. While we use UV photons here, the results of this work directly apply to the detection of other kinds of particles.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Fast production of Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable Helium

We report on the Bose-Einstein condensation of metastable Helium-4 atoms using a hybrid approach, consisting of a magnetic quadrupole and a crossed optical dipole trap. In our setup we cross the phase transition with 2x10^6 atoms, and we obtain pure condensates of 5x10^5 atoms in the optical trap. This novel approach to cooling Helium-4 provides enhanced cycle stability, large optical access to the atoms and results in production of a condensate every 6 seconds - a factor 3 faster than the state-of-the-art. This speed-up will dramatically reduce the data acquisition time needed for the measurement of many particle correlations, made possible by the ability of metastable Helium to be detected individually.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2012

An oscillator circuit to produce a radio-frequency discharge and application to metastable helium saturated absorption spectroscopy

We present an rf gas discharge apparatus which provides an atomic frequency reference for laser manipulation of metastable helium. We discuss the biasing and operation of a Colpitts oscillator in which the discharge coil is part of the oscillator circuit. Radiofrequency radiation is reduced by placing the entire oscillator in a metal enclosure.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2009

Excitations of Bose-Einstein condensates in a one-dimensional periodic potential

We report on the experimental investigation of the response of a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in the presence of a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice. By means of Bragg spectroscopy we probe the band structure of the excitation spectrum in the presence of the periodic potential. We selectively induce elementary excitations of the BEC choosing the transferred momentum and we observe different resonances in the energy transfer, corresponding to the transitions to different bands. The frequency, the width and the strength of these resonances are investigated as a function of the amplitude of the 1D optical lattice.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Exploring correlated 1D Bose gases from the superfluid to the Mott-insulator state by inelastic light scattering

We report the Bragg spectroscopy of interacting one-dimensional Bose gases loaded in optical lattices across the superfluid to Mott-insulator phase transition. Elementary excitations are created with a non-zero momentum and the response of the correlated 1D gases is in the linear regime. The complexity of the strongly correlated quantum phases is directly displayed in the spectra which exhibit novel features. This work paves the way for a precise characterization of the state of correlated atomic phases in optical lattices.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2001

Effects of Grain Morphology and Impurities on the Infrared Spectra of Silicon Carbide Particles

In this paper we demonstrate that distinguishing between the polytypes of silicon carbide by means of infrared features in small-grain spectra is impossible. Therefore, the infrared spectra of carbon stars, unfortunately, do not provide a means for drawing comparisons between the crystal structures of grains condensed in these environments and found in meteorites. This is proven first by comparing theoretical band profiles calculated for ellipsoidal particles, which show clearly a strong dependence on the axis ratio of the ellipsoids but negligible differences for the two most common polytypes. Second, spectra measured on submicron particle samples in the laboratory do not show any obvious correlation of band position or shape to the polytype. However, we demonstrate by measurements on SiC whiskers that grain shape is able to determine the spectrum completely. A further strong systematic influence on the band profile can be exerted by plasmon-phonon coupling due to conductivity of the SiC material. The latter fact probably is responsible for the confusion in the astronomical literature about spectral properties of SiC grains. We show that, although the conductivity seems to be a common property of many SiC laboratory samples, it is, however, independent of the polytype.

astro-ph↗