arXiv subjects

P. Hannaford

Publications and source records attributed to P. Hannaford.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

Sub-micron period lattice structures of magnetic microtraps for ultracold atoms on an atom chip

We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of magnetic nanostructures to create a lattice of magnetic traps with sub--micron period for trapping ultracold atoms. These magnetic nanostructures were fabricated by patterning a Co/Pd multilayered magnetic film grown on a silicon substrate using high precision e-beam lithography and reactive ion etching. The Co/Pd film was chosen for its small grain size and high remanent magnetization and coercivity. The fabricated structures are designed to magnetically trap $^{87}$Rb atoms above the surface of the magnetic film with 1D and 2D (triangular and square) lattice geometries and sub-micron period. Such magnetic lattices can be used for quantum tunneling and quantum simulation experiments, including using geometries and periods that may be inaccessible with optical lattice.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Precision measurements of s-wave scattering lengths in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate

We use collective oscillations of a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate (2CBEC) of \Rb atoms prepared in the internal states $\ket{1}\equiv\ket{F=1, m_F=-1}$ and $\ket{2}\equiv\ket{F=2, m_F=1}$ for the precision measurement of the interspecies scattering length $a_{12}$ with a relative uncertainty of $1.6\times 10^{-4}$. We show that in a cigar-shaped trap the three-dimensional (3D) dynamics of a component with a small relative population can be conveniently described by a one-dimensional (1D) Schrödinger equation for an effective harmonic oscillator. The frequency of the collective oscillations is defined by the axial trap frequency and the ratio $a_{12}/a_{11}$, where $a_{11}$ is the intra-species scattering length of a highly populated component 1, and is largely decoupled from the scattering length $a_{22}$, the total atom number and loss terms. By fitting numerical simulations of the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations to the recorded temporal evolution of the axial width we obtain the value $a_{12}=98.006(16)\,a_0$, where $a_0$ is the Bohr radius. Our reported value is in a reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction $a_{12}=98.13(10)\,a_0$ but deviates significantly from the previously measured value $a_{12}=97.66\,a_0$ \cite{Mertes07} which is commonly used in the characterisation of spin dynamics in degenerate \Rb atoms. Using Ramsey interferometry of the 2CBEC we measure the scattering length $a_{22}=95.44(7)\,a_0$ which also deviates from the previously reported value $a_{22}=95.0\,a_0$ \cite{Mertes07}. We characterise two-body losses for the component 2 and obtain the loss coefficients ${γ_{12}=1.51(18)\times10^{-14} \textrm{cm}^3/\textrm{s}}$ and ${γ_{22}=8.1(3)\times10^{-14} \textrm{cm}^3/\textrm{s}}$.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2011

Probing Zeeman coherence in nearly degenerate two-level atomic vapour with four-wave mixing

We present results of a study of four-wave mixing in Rb vapour with highly nonlinear susceptibility, using both homodyne and heterodyne detection. We demonstrate that the spectra have different appearances for media possessing electromagnetically induced transparency and electromagnetically induced absorption, and for different relative polarizations of the drive and probe fields. We show that these differences allow the contributions of different processes responsible for the enhanced Kerr nonlinearity of the media to be distinguished.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Probing degenerate two-level atomic media by coherent optical heterodyning

We analyze how light-induced coherent population oscillations and ground-state Zeeman coherence in an atomic medium with degenerate two-level transitions can modify spectra of applied cw resonant radiation at the sub-mW power level. The use of mutually coherent optical fields and heterodyne detection schemes allows spectral resolution at kHz level, well below the laser linewidth. We find that ground-state Zeeman coherence may facilitate nonlinear wave mixing while coherent population oscillations are responsible for phase and amplitude modulation of the applied fields. Conditions for the generation of new optical fields by nonlinear wave mixing in degenerate two-level atomic media are formulated.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Crossover from 2D to 3D in a weakly interacting Fermi gas

We have studied the transition from two to three dimensions in a low temperature weakly interacting $^6$Li Fermi gas. Below a critical atom number, $N_{2D}$, only the lowest transverse vibrational state of a highly anisotropic oblate trapping potential is occupied and the gas is two-dimensional. Above $N_{2D}$ the Fermi gas enters the quasi-2D regime where shell structure associated with the filling of individual transverse oscillator states is apparent. This dimensional crossover is demonstrated through measurements of the cloud size and aspect ratio versus atom number.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2010

Temperature dependence of the contact in a unitary Fermi gas

The contact ${\cal I}$, introduced by Tan, has emerged as a key parameter characterizing universal properties of strongly interacting Fermi gases. For ultracold Fermi gases near a Feshbach resonance, the contact depends upon two quantities: the interaction parameter $1/(k_F a)$, where $k_F$ is the Fermi wave-vector and $a$ is the $s$-wave scattering length, and the temperature $T/T_F$, where $T_F$ is the Fermi temperature. We present the first measurements of the temperature dependence of the contact in a unitary Fermi gas using Bragg spectroscopy. The contact is seen to follow the predicted decay with temperature and shows how pair-correlations at high momentum persist well above the superfluid transition temperature.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2010

Universal behavior of pair correlations in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We show that short-range pair correlations in a strongly interacting Fermi gas follow a simple universal law described by Tan's relations. This is achieved through measurements of the static structure factor which displays a universal scaling proportional to the ratio of Tan's contact to the momentum $C/q$. Bragg spectroscopy of ultracold $^6$Li atoms from a periodic optical potential is used to measure the structure factor for a wide range of momenta and interaction strengths, providing broad confirmation of this universal law. We calibrate our Bragg spectra using the $f$-sum rule, which is found to improve the accuracy of the structure factor measurement.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2009

Towards Bose-Einstein condensation of excitons in an asymmetric multi-quantum state magnetic lattice

An asymmetric multi-quantum state magnetic lattice is proposed to host excitons formed in a quantum degenerate gas of ultracold fermionic atoms to simulate Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of excitons. A Quasi-two dimensional degenerate gas of excitons can be collected in the in-plane asymmetric magnetic bands created at the surface of the proposed magnetic lattice, where the ultracold fermions simulate separately direct and indirect confined electronhole pairs (spin up fermions-spin down fermions) rising to the statistically degenerate Bose gas and eventually through controlled tunnelling to BEC of excitons. The confinement of the coupled magnetic quantum well (CMQWs) system may significantly improve the condition for long lived exciton BEC. The exciton BEC, formed in CMQWs can be regarded as a suitable host for the multi-qubits (multipartite) systems to be used in quantum information processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Multipartite Entanglement in a Discrete Magnetic Bands Magnetic Lattice

Using magneto-optical materials, an asymmetric multi-quantum state magnetic lattice is proposed to host an entangled multipartite system formed by using a quantum degenerate gas of ultracold atoms in a Bose Einstein Condensate (BEC). The discrete magnetic bands magnetic lattice is devised to locate a controllable long-range entanglement of a many harmonic oscillator system well separated in space. The confinement of the coupled magnetic quantum well (CMQW) system may significantly improve the condition for the long-range entanglement of the multipartite (multi-qubits) to be used in quantum information processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Binding Energies of 6Li p-wave Feshbach Molecules

We present measurements of the binding energies of $^6$Li p-wave Feshbach molecules formed in combinations of the (F = 1/2, m_F = +1/2), (1), and (F = 1/2, m_F = -1/2), (2), states. The binding energies scale linearly with magnetic field detuning for all three resonances. The relative molecular magnetic moments are found to be $113 \pm 7 μ$K/G, $111 \pm 6 μ$K/G and $118 \pm 8 μ$K/G for the (1)-(1), (1)-(2) and (2)-(2) resonances, respectively, in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Closed channel amplitudes and the size of the p-wave molecules are obtained theoretically from full closed-coupled calculations.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Broadband optical delay with large dynamic range using atomic dispersion

We report on a tunable all-optical delay line for pulses with optical frequency within the Rb $D_2$ absorption line. Using frequency tuning between absorption components from different isotopes, pulses of 10 ns duration are delayed in a 10 cm hot vapour cell by up to 40 ns while the transmission remains above 10%. The use of two isotopes allows the delay to be increased or decreased by optical pumping with a second laser, producing rapid tuning over a range of more than 40% of the initial delay at 110$^{\circ}$C. We investigate the frequency and intensity ranges in which this delay line can be realised. Our observations are in good agreement with a numerical model of the system.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Molecular Bose-Einstein condensation in a versatile low power crossed dipole trap

We produce Bose-Einstein condensates of 6Li2 molecules in a low power (22 W) crossed optical dipole trap. Fermionic 6Li atoms are collected in a magneto-optical trap from a Zeeman slowed atomic beam, then loaded into the optical dipole trap where they are evaporatively cooled to quantum degeneracy. Our simplified system offers a high degree of flexibility in trapping geometry for studying ultracold Fermi and Bose gases.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Effect of Magnetization Inhomogeneity on Magnetic Microtraps for Atoms

We report on the origin of fragmentation of ultracold atoms observed on a permanent magnetic film atom chip. A novel technique is used to characterize small spatial variations of the magnetic field near the film surface using radio frequency spectroscopy of the trapped atoms. Direct observations indicate the fragmentation is due to a corrugation of the magnetic potential caused by long range inhomogeneity in the film magnetization. A model which takes into account two-dimensional variations of the film magnetization is consistent with the observations.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

Condensate splitting in an asymmetric double well for atom chip based sensors

We report on the adiabatic splitting of a BEC of $^{87}$Rb atoms by an asymmetric double-well potential located above the edge of a perpendicularly magnetized TbGdFeCo film atom chip. By controlling the barrier height and double-well asymmetry the sensitivity of the axial splitting process is investigated through observation of the fractional atom distribution between the left and right wells. This process constitutes a novel sensor for which we infer a single shot sensitivity to gravity fields of $δg/g\approx2\times10^{-4}$. From a simple analytic model we propose improvements to chip-based gravity detectors using this demonstrated methodology.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Bose-Einstein condensates on a permanent magnetic film atom chip

We present a permanent magnetic film atom chip based on perpendicularly magnetized TbGdFeCo films. This chip routinely produces a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of 10^5 87Rb atoms using the magnetic film potential. Fragmentation observed near the film surface provides unique opportunities to study BEC in a disordered potential. We show this potential can be used to simultaneously produce multiple spatially separated condensates. We exploit part of this potential to realize a time-dependent double well system for splitting a condensate.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

A permanent magnetic film atom chip for Bose-Einstein condensation

We present a hybrid atom chip which combines a permanent magnetic film with a micromachined current-carrying structure used to realize a Bose-Einstein condensate. A novel TbGdFeCo material with large perpendicular magnetization has been tailored to allow small scale, stable magnetic potentials for ultracold atoms. We are able to produce 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates in a magnetic trap based on either the permanent magnetic film or the current-carrying structure. Using the condensate as a magnetic field probe we perform cold atom magnetometry to profile both the field magnitude and gradient as a function of distance from the magnetic film surface. Finally we discuss future directions for our permanent magnetic film atom chip.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Storage and retrieval of light pulses in atomic media with "slow" and "fast" light

We present experimental evidence that light storage, i.e. the controlled release of a light pulse by an atomic sample dependent on the past presence of a writing pulse, is not restricted to small group velocity media but can also occur in a negative group velocity medium. A simple physical picture applicable to both cases and previous light storage experiments is discussed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2002

Dipolar oscillations in a quantum degenerate Fermi-Bose atomic mixture

We study the dynamics of coupled dipolar oscillations in a Fermi-Bose mixture of $^{40}$K and $^{87}$Rb atoms. This low-energy collective mode is strongly affected by the interspecies interactions. Measurements are performed in the dynamical and quantum degenerate regimes and evidence the crucial role of the statistical properties of the mixture. At the onset of quantum degeneracy, we investigate the role of Pauli blocking and superfluidity for K and Rb atoms, respectively, resulting in a change in the collisional interactions.

cond-mat.soft↗