arXiv subjects

Florian Gahbauer

Publications and source records attributed to Florian Gahbauer.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) Antarctic Balloon Payload

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic stratospheric balloon mission designed to provide unmatched sensitivity to low-energy (<0.25 GeV/n) cosmic-ray antiprotons, antideuterons, and antihelium nuclei as signatures of dark matter. The distinctive GAPS particle identification technique relies on measuring the energy loss along the track of an incoming antinucleus as it slows down and is captured into an exotic atom, and then detecting the de-excitation X-rays and the nuclear annihilation products. This measurement is realized using a Tracker composed of more than 1000 custom silicon strip detectors and a plastic scintillator time-of-flight (TOF) system instrumenting more than 40m$^2$. Together, these subsystems provide the velocity and energy resolution, stopping power, particle tracking, and X-ray identification necessary to distinguish rare antinucleus signals from the abundant positive-nucleus backgrounds, all within the constraints of a high-altitude mission. A multi-loop capillary heat pipe system has been developed to maintain the tracker operating temperature with significant mass and power savings over a conventional pump-based system. The first GAPS science payload flew for 25 days during the 2025/26 NASA Antarctic balloon campaign. We detail the design, integration, and commissioning of the payload prior to flight.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Using NV centers in diamond to detect DC to very-low frequency magnetic fields

In this work we present a compact and portable tabletop magnetometer that utilizes negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. The magnetometer is operated using a dual microwave resonance detection approach in combination with an optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) technique (mitigating drifts in results due to changes of the diamond temperature), capable of simultaneously exciting and registering two ODMR transitions. The experimentally measured magnetic field noise-floor is $\approx 2.3~\textrm{nT}\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ while the calculated shot-noise-limited magnetic field sensitivity is $\approx 585~\textrm{pT}\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ when excited with a continuous wave laser at 0.5~W. These results pave the way for realizing a simple set-up magnetometer for precise single axis magnetic field measurements for example for accurate electric current measurements for stabilization purposes and magnetic communication applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Multi-parameter study of two-axis Hanle magnetometry on the Cs D$_1$ line

We have studied experimentally and theoretically the impact of various parameters on the characteristics of signals from a two-axis Hanle magnetometer based on the Cs D$_1$ transition illuminated by linearly polarized pump and probe beams propagating through the cell in such a way that the probe polarization vector can be switched between the $zy$- and the $xz$-plane in order to measure the magnetic field along the $x$- and $y$-axes, respectively. When the probe polarization additionally is reflected about the pump polarization vector and the two resulting absorption signals are subtracted, dispersion signals centered around zero are obtained. These dispersion signals can be reproduced accurately by the theoretical model, and the information from experiment and modeling used to optimize the magnetometer characteristics.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Radio-frequency induced Autler-Townes Effect for single- and double-photon magnetic-dipole transitions in the Cesium ground state

We have observed the Autler-Townes effect in single- and suspected double-photon magnetic-dipole transitions in the Cesium ground-state magnetic-sublevel manifold. Experiments were performed in a Cesium vapor cell. The D$_1$ line was excited by laser radiation to create ground-state optical polarization, and transitions between the ground-state magnetic sublevels were excited by radio-frequency (RF) radiation. Two different excitation geometries were studied: in one case the electric field vector of the linearly polarized laser radiation was parallel to the static magnetic field, whereas in the other case these vectors were perpendicular. The oscillating magnetic field produced by the RF coils was in the plane perpendicular to the electric field vector of the laser radiation. The Autler-Townes effect was confirmed by its linear dependence on the RF magnetic field amplitude, which is proportional to the Rabi frequency, in the case of single-photon transitions. We also observed peaks that by their position appeared to correspond to double and even triple photon transitions, which were more pronounced when the DC magnetic field and optical electric field vectors were perpendicular. In the peak at an energy that corresponds to two photons, splitting with a quadratic dependence on the RF magnetic field amplitude could be observed. The experimental measurements are supplemented by theoretical calculations of a model $J=1 \longrightarrow J=0$ system.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

Sensitivity of the GAPS Experiment to Low-energy Cosmic-ray Antiprotons

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an upcoming balloon mission to measure low-energy cosmic-ray antinuclei during at least three ~35-day Antarctic flights. With its large geometric acceptance and novel exotic atom-based particle identification, GAPS will detect ~500 cosmic antiprotons per flight and produce a precision cosmic antiproton spectrum in the kinetic energy range of ~0.07-0.21 GeV/n at the top of the atmosphere. With these high statistics extending to lower energies than any previous experiment, and with complementary sources of experimental uncertainty compared to traditional magnetic spectrometers, the GAPS antiproton measurement will be sensitive to dark matter, primordial black holes, and cosmic ray propagation. The antiproton measurement will also validate the GAPS antinucleus identification technique for the antideuteron and antihelium rare-event searches. This analysis demonstrates the GAPS sensitivity to cosmic-ray antiprotons using a full instrument simulation and event reconstruction, and including solar and atmospheric effects.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Astro 2020 Science White Paper: Cosmic-ray Antinuclei as Messengers for Dark Matter

The origin of dark matter is a driving question of modern physics. Low-energy antideuterons provide a "smoking gun" signature of dark matter annihilation or decay, essentially free of astrophysical background. Low-energy antiprotons are a vital partner for this analysis, and low-energy antihelium could provide further discovery space for new physics. In the coming decade, AMS-02 will continue accumulating the large statistics and systematic understanding necessary for it to probe rare antinuclei signatures, and GAPS, which is the first experiment optimized specifically for low-energy cosmic antinuclei, will begin several Antarctic balloon campaigns. The connection of cosmic-ray antinuclei and dark matter is reviewed and the outlook in light of experimental progress is presented.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Dynamic $^{14}\rm N$ nuclear spin polarization in nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

We studied the dynamic nuclear spin polarization of nitrogen in negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond both experimentally and theoretically over a wide range of magnetic fields from 0 to 1100 G covering both the excited-state level anti-crossing and the ground-state level anti-crossing magnetic field regions. Special attention was paid to the less studied ground-state level anti-crossing region. The nuclear spin polarization was inferred from measurements of the optically detected magnetic resonance signal. These measurements show that a very large (up to $96 \pm 2\%$) nuclear spin polarization of nitrogen can be achieved over a very broad range of magnetic field starting from around 400 G up to magnetic field values substantially exceeding the ground-state level anti-crossing at 1024 G. We measured the influence of angular deviations of the magnetic field from the NV axis on the nuclear spin polarization efficiency and found that, in the vicinity of the ground-state level anti-crossing, the nuclear spin polarization is more sensitive to this angle than in the vicinity of the excited-state level anti-crossing. Indeed, an angle as small as a tenth of a degree of arc can destroy almost completely the spin polarization of a nitrogen nucleus. In addition, we investigated theoretically the influence of strain and optical excitation power on the nuclear spin polarization.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Cross-relaxation studies with optically detected magnetic resonances in nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond in an external magnetic field

In this paper cross-relaxation between nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers and substitutional nitrogen in a diamond crystal was studied. It was demonstrated that optically detected magnetic resonance signals (ODMR) can be used to measure these signals successfully. The ODMR were detected at axial magnetic field values around 51.2~mT in a diamond sample with a relatively high (200~ppm) nitrogen concentration. We observed transitions that involve magnetic sublevels that are split by the hyperfine interaction. Microwaves in the frequency ranges from 1.3 GHz to 1.6 GHz ($m_S=0\longrightarrow m_S=-1$ NV transitions) and from 4.1 to 4.6 GHz ($m_S=0\longrightarrow m_S=+1$ NV transitions) were used. To understand the cross-relaxation process in more detail and, as a result, reproduce measured signals more accurately, a model was developed that describes the microwave-initiated transitions between hyperfine levels of the NV center that are undergoing anti-crossing and are strongly mixed in the applied magnetic field. Additionally, we simulated the extent to which the microwave radiation used to induce ODMR in the NV center also induced transitions in the substitutional nitrogen via cross-relaxation. The improved understanding of the NV processes in the presence of a magnetic field will be useful for designing NV-diamond-based devices for a wide range of applications from implementation of q-bits to hyperpolarization of large molecules to various quantum technological applications such as field sensors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Hyperfine level structure in nitrogen-vacancy centers near the ground-state level anticrossing

Energy levels of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond were investigated using optically detected magnetic-resonance spectroscopy near the electronic ground-state level anticrossing (GSLAC) at an axial magnetic field around 102.4~mT in diamond samples with a nitrogen concentration of 1~ppm and 200~ppm. By applying radiowaves in the frequency ranges from 0 to 40 MHz and from 5.6 to 5.9 GHz, we observed transitions that involve energy levels mixed by the hyperfine interaction. We developed a theoretical model that describes the level mixing, transition energies, and transition strengths between the ground-state sublevels, including the coupling to the nuclear spin of the NV center\textquotesingle s $^{14}$N and $^{13}$C atoms. The calculations were combined with the experimental results by fitting the ODMR spectral lines based on a theoretical model, which yielded information about the polarization of nuclear spins. This study is important for the optimization of experimental conditions in GSLAC-based applications, e.g., microwave-free magnetometry and microwave-free nuclear-magnetic-resonance probes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

An Indirect Dark Matter Search Using Cosmic-Ray Antiparticles with GAPS

Experiments aiming to directly detect dark matter (DM) particles have yet to make robust detections, thus underscoring the need for complementary approaches such as searches for new particles at colliders, and indirect DM searches in cosmic-ray spectra. Low energy (< 0.25 GeV/n) cosmic-ray antiparticles such as antideuterons are strong candidates for probing DM models, as the yield of these particles from DM processes can exceed the astrophysical background by more than two orders of magnitude. The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS), a balloon borne cosmic-ray detector, will perform an ultra-low background measurement of the cosmic antideuteron flux in the regime < 0.25 GeV/n, which will constrain a wide range of DM models. GAPS will also detect approximately 1000 antiprotons in an unexplored energy range throughout one long duration balloon (LDB) flight, which will constrain < 10 GeV DM models and validate the GAPS detection technique. Unlike magnetic spectrometers, GAPS relies on the formation of an exotic atom within the tracker in order to identify antiparticles. The GAPS tracker consists of ten layers of lithium-drifted silicon detectors which record dE/dx deposits from primary and nuclear annihilation product tracks, as well as measure the energy of the exotic atom deexcitation X-rays. A two-layer, plastic scintillator time of flight (TOF) system surrounds the tracker and measures the particle velocity, dE/dx deposits, and provides a fast trigger to the tracker. The nuclear annihilation product multiplicity, deexcitation X-ray energies, TOF, and stopping depth are all used together to discern between antiparticle species. This presentation provided an overview of the GAPS experiment, an update on the construction of the tracker and TOF systems, and a summary of the expected performance of GAPS in light of the upcoming LDB flight from McMurdo Station, Antarctica in 2020.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Spatial dynamics of laser-induced fluorescence in an intense laser beam: experiment and theory in alkali metal atoms

We have shown that it is possible to model accurately optical phenomena in intense laser fields by taking into account the intensity distribution over the laser beam. We developed a theoretical model that divided an intense laser beam into concentric regions, each with a Rabi frequency that corresponds to the intensity in that region, and solved a set of coupled optical Bloch equations for the density matrix in each region. Experimentally obtained magneto-optical resonance curves for the $F_g=2\longrightarrow F_e=1$ transition of the $D_1$ line of $^{87}$Rb agreed very well with the theoretical model up to a laser intensity of around 200 mW/cm$^2$ for a transition whose saturation intensity is around 4.5 mW/cm$^2$. We have studied the spatial dependence of the fluorescence intensity in an intense laser beam experimentally and theoretically. An experiment was conducted whereby a broad, intense pump laser excited the $F_g=4\longrightarrow F_e=3$ transition of the $D_2$ line of cesium while a weak, narrow probe beam scanned the atoms within the pump beam and excited the $D_1$ line of cesium, whose fluorescence was recorded as a function of probe beam position. Experimentally obtained spatial profiles of the fluorescence intensity agreed qualitatively with the predictions of the model.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Coherent and incoherent processes responsible for various characteristics of nonlinear magneto-optical signals in rubidium atoms

We present the results of an investigation of the different physical processes that influence the shape of the nonlinear magneto-optical signals both at small magnetic field values (~ 100 mG) and at large magnetic field values (several tens of Gauss). We used a theoretical model that provided an accurate description of experimental signals for a wide range of experimental parameters. By turning various effects "on" or "off" inside this model, we investigated the origin of different features of the measured signals. We confirmed that the narrowest structures, with widths on the order of 100 mG, are related mostly to coherences among ground-state magnetic sublevels. The shape of the curves at other scales could be explained by taking into account the different velocity groups of atoms that come into and out of resonance with the exciting laser field. Coherent effects in the excited state can also play a role, although they mostly affect the polarization components of the fluorescence. The results of theoretical calculations are compared with experimental measurements of laser induced fluorescence from the D2 line of atomic rubidium as a function of magnetic field.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Enhancement of level-crossing resonances in rubidium atoms by frequency control of the exciting radiation field

We studied magneto-optical resonances caused by excited-state level crossings in a nonzero magnetic field. Experimental measurements were performed on the transitions of the $D_2$ line of rubidium. These measured signals were described by a theoretical model that takes into account all neighboring hyperfine transitions, the mixing of magnetic sublevels in an external magnetic field, the coherence properties of the exciting laser radiation, and the Doppler effect. Good agreement between the experimental measurements and the theoretical model could be achieved over a wide range of laser power densities. We further showed that the contrasts of the level-crossing peaks can be sensitive to changes in the frequency of the exciting laser radiation as small as several tens of megahertz when the hyperfine splitting of the exciting state is larger than the Doppler broadening.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Conversion of bright magneto-optical resonances into dark at fixed laser frequency for D2 excitation of atomic rubidium

Nonlinear magneto-optical resonances on the hyperfine transitions belonging to the D2 line of rubidium were changed from bright to dark resonances by changing the laser power density of the single exciting laser field or by changing the vapor temperature in the cell. In one set of experiments atoms were excited by linearly polarized light from an extended cavity diode laser with polarization vector perpendicular to the light's propagation direction and magnetic field, and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) was observed along the direction of the magnetic field, which was scanned. A low-contrast bright resonance was observed at low laser power densities when the laser was tuned to the Fg=2 --> Fe=3 transition of Rb-87 and near to the Fg=3 --> Fe=4 transition of Rb-85. The bright resonance became dark as the laser power density was increased above 0.6mW/cm2 or 0.8 mW/cm2, respectively. When the Fg=2 --> Fe=3 transition of Rb-87 was excited with circularly polarized light in a second set of experiments, a bright resonance was observed, which became dark when the temperature was increased to around 50C. The experimental observations at room temperature could be reproduced with good agreement by calculations based on a theoretical model, although the theoretical model was not able to describe measurements at elevated temperatures, where reabsorption was thought to play a decisive role. The model was derived from the optical Bloch equations and included all nearby hyperfine components, averaging over the Doppler profile, mixing of magnetic sublevels in the external magnetic field, and a treatment of the coherence properties of the exciting radiation field.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2010

Cascade coherence transfer and magneto-optical resonances at 455 nm excitation of Cesium

We present and experimental and theoretical study of nonlinear magneto-optical resonances observed in the fluorescence to the ground state from the 7P_{3/2} state of cesium, which was populated directly by laser radiation at 455 nm, and from the 6P_{1/2} and 6P_{3/2} states, which were populated via cascade transitions that started from the 7P_{3/2} state and passed through various intermediate states. The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was observed as the magnetic field was scanned through zero. Signals were recorded for the two orthogonal, linearly polarized components of the LIF. We compared the measured signals with the results of calculations from a model that was based on the optical Bloch equations and averaged over the Doppler profile. This model was adapted from a model that had been developed for D_1 and D_2 excitation of alkali metal atoms. The calculations agree quite well with the measurements, especially when taking into account the fact that some experimental parameters were only estimated in the model.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

F-resolved Magneto-optical Resonances at D1 Excitation of Cesium: Experiment and Theory

Bright and dark nonlinear magneto-optical resonances associated with the ground state Hanle effect have been studied experimentally and theoretically for D1 excitation of atomic cesium. This system offers the advantage that the separation between the different hyperfine levels exceeds the Doppler width, and, hence, transitions between individual levels can be studied separately. Experimental measurements for various laser power densities and transit relaxation times are compared with a model based on the optical Bloch equations, which averages over the Doppler contour of the absorption line and simultaneously takes into account all hyperfine levels, as well as mixing of magnetic sublevels in an external magnetic field. In contrast to previous studies, which could not resolve the hyperfine transitions because of Doppler broadening, in this study there is excellent agreement between experiment and theory regarding the sign (bright or dark), contrast, and width of the resonance. The results support the traditional theoretical interpretation, according to which these effects are related to the relative strengths of transition probabilities between different magnetic sublevels in a given hyperfine transition.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Electric Field Induced Symmetry Breaking of Angular Momentum Distribution in Atoms

We report the experimental observation of alignment to orientation conversion in the 7D_3/2 and 9D_3/2 states of Cs in the presence of an external dc electric field, and without the influence of magnetic fields or atomic collisions. Initial alignment of angular momentum states was created by two-step excitation with linearly polarized laser radiation. The appearance of transverse orientation of angular momentum was confirmed by the observation of circularly polarized light. We present experimentally measured signals and compare them with the results of a detailed theoretical model based on the optical Bloch equations.

physics.atom-ph↗