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Robert J. Silbey

Publications and source records attributed to Robert J. Silbey.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Spectral diffusion on ultralong time scales in low temperature glasses

A dynamical theory is constructed to describe spectral diffusion in glasses in the temperature range near 1 Kelvin on long time scales. The theory invokes interacting tunneling centers (TLS) which provide an excess contribution to the spectral hole width which qualitatively accounts for the deviation from standard logarithmic line broadening observed by Maier et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2085 (1996)]. Alternative explanation schemes of the nonlogarithmic line broadening, avoiding interacting TLS, are discussed. We devise experimental tests which could be used to access the validity of the proposed theories.

cond-mat↗

Some comments on the nature of universal properties in low-temperature glasses

We discuss the recent theory of Burin and Kagan that attempts to explain the existence of universal low temperature properties in amorphous solids. We suggest a realistic experimental scenario that could be used to test the theory. We comment on the results of an experiment that has already been performed in the proposed geometry.

cond-mat↗

Tunneling in a cavity

The mechanism of coherent destruction of tunneling found by Grossmann et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 516 (1991)] is studied from the viewpoint of quantum optics by considering the photon statistics of a single mode cavity field which is strongly coupled to a two-level tunneling system (TS). As a function of the interaction time between TS and cavity the photon statistics displays the tunneling dynamics. In the semi-classical limit of high photon occupation number $n$, coherent destruction of tunneling is exhibited in a slowing down of an amplitude modulation for certain parameter ratios of the field. The phenomenon is explained as arising from interference between displaced number states in phase space which survives the large $n$ limit due to identical $n^{-1/2}$ scaling between orbit width and displacement.

cond-mat↗