Ultrafast dynamics of a molecular wave packet created by a strong 120-fs near-infrared (800 nm) laser pulse in iodine has been probed by synchronized 13.4-nm, 35-fs extreme-ultraviolet pulses delivered by the free-electron laser facility in Hamburg, FLASH. The kinetic energy release of the multiply charged ionic fragments reveals three essential steps of strong-field-induced molecular fragmentation dynamics: (i) The creation of I${}_2$${}^{2+}$ and (I${}_2$${}^{2+}$)${}^{*}$ molecular ions proceeds within (75 $\pm$ 15) fs full-width-at-half-maximum. (ii) With the onset of the I${}_2$${}^{2+}$ fragmentation the probability to lose a further electron within the same optical laser pulse rises with increasing I${}^{+}$—I${}^{+}$ internuclear separation and reaches its maximum after $\sim$30 fs with respect to the pulse maximum. (iii) Charge separation into the I${}_2$${}^{2+}\to {\mathrm{I}}^{2+}+\mathrm{I}$ dissociative channel with an asymmetric charge distribution is completed after (121 $\pm$ 22) fs.

Fermi gases with repulsive interactions are characterized by measuring their compressibility as a function of interaction strength. The compressibility is obtained from in-trap density distributions monitored by phase-contrast imaging. For interaction parameters $k_{F}a>0.25$, fast decay of the gas prevents the observation of equilibrium profiles. For smaller interaction parameters, the results are adequately described by first-order perturbation theory. We have developed a phase-contrast imaging method that compensates for dispersive distortions of the images.

We analyze the quench dynamics of a one-dimensional bosonic Mott insulator and focus on the time evolution of density correlations. For these we identify a pronounced propagation front, the velocity of which, once correctly extrapolated at large distances, can serve as a quantitative characteristic of the many-body Hamiltonian. In particular, the velocity allows the weakly interacting regime, which is qualitatively well described by free bosons, to be distinguished from the strongly interacting one, in which pairs of distinct quasiparticles dominate the dynamics. In order to describe the latter case analytically, we introduce a general approximation to solve the Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian based on the Jordan-Wigner fermionization of auxiliary particles. This approach can also be used to determine the ground-state properties. As a complement to the fermionization approach, we derive explicitly the time-dependent many-body state in the noninteracting limit and compare our results to numerical simulations in the whole range of interactions of the Bose-Hubbard model.

In this work we investigate a generic method able to extract information on molecular organization in biological samples from polarized second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, without the need to infer an a priori model for the molecular orientational distribution. The mean orientation of this distribution, as well as its first and third orders of symmetry, are estimated by monitoring SHG intensity signals under a varying incident polarization. We introduce, in particular, a reduction of the problem to a two-dimensional approach appropriate to the microscopy geometry. This method allows us to retrieve determining information which is not available in the traditional model-oriented methods, as illustrated in molecular-order imaging in collagen fibrils. The precision of the parameters estimation is evaluated by a Monte Carlo analysis, based on the Poisson noise statistics of the measured signal.

We propose a general method by which experiments on ultracold gases can be used to determine the topological properties of the energy bands of optical lattices, as represented by the map of the Berry curvature across the Brillouin zone. The Berry curvature modifies the semiclassical dynamics and hence the trajectory of a wave packet undergoing Bloch oscillations. However, in two dimensions these trajectories may be complicated Lissajous-like figures, making it difficult to extract the effects of Berry curvature in general. We propose how this can be done using a “time-reversal” protocol. This compares the velocity of a wave packet under positive and negative external force, and allows a clean measurement of the Berry curvature over the Brillouin zone. We discuss how this protocol may be implemented and explore the semiclassical dynamics for three specific systems: the asymmetric hexagonal lattice and two “optical flux” lattices in which the Chern number is nonzero. Finally, we discuss general experimental considerations for observing Berry curvature effects in ultracold gases.

We have used the narrow $2S_{1/2}\to 3P_{3/2}$ transition in the ultraviolet (uv) to laser cool and magneto-optically trap (MOT) ${}^6$Li atoms. Laser cooling of lithium is usually performed on the $2S_{1/2}\to 2P_{3/2}$ (D2) transition, and temperatures of $\sim$300 $\mu$K are typically achieved. The linewidth of the uv transition is seven times narrower than the D2 line, resulting in lower laser cooling temperatures. We demonstrate that a MOT operating on the uv transition reaches temperatures as low as 59 $\mu$K. Furthermore, we find that the light shift of the uv transition in an optical dipole trap at 1070 nm is small and blueshifted, facilitating efficient loading from the uv MOT. Evaporative cooling of a two spin-state mixture of ${}^6$Li in the optical trap produces a quantum degenerate Fermi gas with $3\times {10}^6$ atoms in a total cycle time of only 11 s.

We report the laser cooling and trapping of neutral potassium on an open transition. Fermionic ${}^{40}$K is captured using a magneto-optical trap (MOT) on the closed $4S_{1/2}\to 4P_{3/2}$ transition at 767 nm and then transferred, with high efficiency, to a MOT on the open $4S_{1/2}\to 5P_{3/2}$ transition at 405 nm. Because the $5P_{3/2}$ state has a smaller linewidth than the $4P_{3/2}$ state, the Doppler limit is reduced from 145 μK to 24 μK, and we observe temperatures as low as 63(6) $\mu$K. The density of trapped atoms also increases, due to reduced temperature and reduced expulsive light forces. We measure a two-body loss coefficient of $\beta =1.4\left(1\right)\times {10}^{-10}$ cm${}^3$/s near saturation intensity, and estimate an upper bound of $8\times {10}^{-18}$ cm${}^2$ for the ionization cross section of the $5P$ state at 405 nm. The combined temperature and density improvement in the 405 nm MOT is a twenty-fold increase in phase-space density over our 767 nm MOT, showing enhanced precooling for quantum gas experiments. A qualitatively similar enhancement is observed in a 405 nm MOT of bosonic ${}^{41}$K.

The $R$-matrix incorporating time (RMT) method is a method developed recently for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for multielectron atomic systems exposed to intense short-pulse laser light. We have employed the RMT method to investigate the time delay in the photoemission of an electron liberated from a $2p$ orbital in a neon atom with respect to one released from a $2s$ orbital following absorption of an attosecond xuv pulse. Time delays due to xuv pulses in the range 76–105 eV are presented. For an xuv pulse at the experimentally relevant energy of 105.2 eV, we calculate the time delay to be $10.2\pm 1.3$ attoseconds (as), somewhat larger than estimated by other theoretical calculations, but still a factor of 2 smaller than experiment. We repeated the calculation for a photon energy of 89.8 eV with a larger basis set capable of modeling correlated-electron dynamics within the neon atom and the residual Ne${}^{+}$ ion. A time delay of $14.5\pm 1.5$ as was observed, compared to a $16.7\pm 1.5$ as result using a single-configuration representation of the residual Ne${}^{+}$ ion.

A procedure is discussed for creating coherent superpositions of motional states of ion strings. The motional states are across the structural transition linear-zigzag, and their coherent superposition is achieved by means of spin-dependent forces, such that a coherent superposition of the electronic states of one ion evolves into an entangled state between the chain's internal and external degrees of freedom. It is shown that the creation of such an entangled state can be revealed by performing Ramsey interferometry with one ion of the chain.

We show experimentally and numerically that free-electron-laser (FEL) oscillators behave in a very similar way to conventional actively-mode-locked lasers. This stems from the similar structures of their underlying Haus equations. A comparative study of the temporal evolutions of the pulse train shapes and spatiotemporal regimes is performed on a Nd:YVO${}_4$ laser and a storage-ring free-electron laser. Furthermore, since direct observations of time-resolved pulse shapes and spectra are more accessible on free-electron lasers, the analogy also potentially enables one to investigate mode-locked laser dynamics using existing FEL facilities.

The possibility of controlled direct laser-nuclear excitations is considered from a quantum control perspective. The controllability of laser-driven electric dipole and magnetic dipole transitions among pure nuclear states is analyzed. Within a set of realistic and general conditions, atomic nuclei are demonstrated to possess full state controllability. Additionally, an analysis of the nuclear state excitation probability as a function of the laser control field is conducted. This control landscape is shown to possess a generic topology, which has important physical consequences for achieving optimal nuclear state excitation with laser fields. Last, an assessment is given of the technological challenges that need to be considered when implementing direct nuclear control in the laboratory.

Mutually coupled modes of a pair of active LRC circuits, one with amplification and another with an equivalent amount of attenuation, provide an experimental realization of a wide class of systems where gain and loss mechanisms break the Hermiticity while preserving parity-time $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry. For a value ${\gamma }_{\mathcal{PT}}$ of the gain and loss strength parameter the eigenfrequencies undergo a spontaneous phase transition from real to complex values, while the normal modes coalesce, acquiring a definite chirality. The consequences of the phase transition in the spatiotemporal energy evolution are also presented.

The most simple and seemingly straightforward application of the photon blockade effect, in which the transport of one photon prevents the transport of others, would be to separate two incoming indistinguishable photons to different output ports. We show that time-energy uncertainty relations inherently prevent this ideal situation when the blockade is implemented by a two-level system. The fundamental nature of this limit is revealed in the fact that photon blockade in the strong coupling regime of cavity QED, resulting from the nonlinearity of the Jaynes-Cummings energy level structure, exhibits efficiency and temporal behavior identical to those of photon blockade in the bad cavity regime, where the underlying nonlinearity is that of the atom itself. We demonstrate that this limit can be exceeded, yet not avoided, by exploiting time-energy entanglement between the incident photons. Finally, we show how this limit can be circumvented completely by using a three-level atom coupled to a single-sided cavity, enabling an ideal and robust photon routing mechanism.

We show that dipolar interactions between ultracold polar alkali-metal dimers in optical lattices can be used to realize a highly tunable generalization of the $t$-$J$ model, which we refer to as the $t$-$J$-$V$-$W$ model. The model features long-range spin-spin interactions $J_z$ and $J_{\perp }$ of $XXZ$ type, long-range density-density interaction $V$, and long-range density-spin interaction $W$, all of which can be controlled in both magnitude and sign independently of each other and of the tunneling $t$. The “spin” is encoded in the rotational degree of freedom of the molecules, while the interactions are controlled by applied static electric and continuous-wave microwave fields. Furthermore, we show that nuclear spins of the molecules can be used to implement an additional (orbital) degree of freedom that is coupled to the original rotational degree of freedom in a tunable way. The presented system is expected to exhibit exotic physics and to provide insights into strongly correlated phenomena in condensed-matter systems. Realistic experimental imperfections are discussed.

We study a driven-dissipative system of atoms in the presence of laser excitation to a Rydberg state and spontaneous emission. The atoms interact via the blockade effect, whereby an atom in the Rydberg state shifts the Rydberg level of neighboring atoms. We use mean-field theory to study how the Rydberg population varies in space. As the laser frequency changes, there is a continuous transition between the uniform and antiferromagnetic phases. The nonequilibrium nature also leads to a novel oscillatory phase and bistability between the uniform and antiferromagnetic phases.

Motional heating of ions in microfabricated traps is one of the open challenges hindering experimental realizations of large-scale quantum processing devices. Recently, a series of measurements of the heating rates in surface-electrode ion traps characterized their frequency, distance, and temperature dependencies, but our understanding of the microscopic origin of this noise remains incomplete. In this work we develop a theoretical model for the electric field noise which is associated with a random distribution of adsorbed atoms on the trap electrode surface. By using first-principles calculations of the fluctuating dipole moments of the adsorbed atoms we evaluate the distance, frequency, and temperature dependence of the resulting electric field fluctuation spectrum. Our theory reproduces correctly the $d^{-4}$ dependence with distance of the ion from the electrode surface and calculates the noise spectrum beyond the standard scenario of two-level fluctuators by incorporating all the relevant vibrational states. Our model predicts a regime of $1/f$ noise which commences at roughly the frequency of the fundamental phonon transition rate and a thermally activated noise spectrum which for higher temperatures exhibits a crossover as a function of frequency.

We derive quantum theory from purely informational principles. Five elementary axioms—causality, perfect distinguishability, ideal compression, local distinguishability, and pure conditioning—define a broad class of theories of information processing that can be regarded as standard. One postulate—purification—singles out quantum theory within this class.

We discuss the topological $p_x+{\mathit{ip}}_y$ superfluid phase in a two-dimensional (2D) gas of single-component fermionic polar molecules dressed by a circularly polarized microwave field. This phase emerges because the molecules may interact with each other via a potential $V_0(r)$ that has an attractive dipole-dipole $1/r^3$ tail, which provides $p$-wave superfluid pairing at fairly high temperatures. We calculate the amplitude of elastic $p$-wave scattering in the potential $V_0(r)$ taking into account both the anomalous scattering due to the dipole-dipole tail and the short-range contribution. This amplitude is then used for the analytical and numerical solution of the renormalized BCS gap equation which includes the second-order Gor’kov-Melik-Barkhudarov corrections and the correction related to the effective mass of the quasiparticles. We find that the critical temperature $T_c$ can be varied within a few orders of magnitude by modifying the short-range part of the potential $V_0(r)$. The decay of the system via collisional relaxation of molecules to dressed states with lower energies is rather slow due to the necessity of a large momentum transfer. The presence of a constant transverse electric field reduces the inelastic rate, and the lifetime of the system can be of the order of seconds even at 2D densities $~{10}^9$ cm${}^{-2}$. This leads to $T_c$ of up to a few tens of nanokelvins and makes it realistic to obtain the topological $p_x+{\mathit{ip}}_y$ phase in experiments with ultracold polar molecules.

We describe the loading of laser-cooled rubidium atoms into a single-mode hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber. Inside the fiber, the atoms are confined by a far-detuned optical trap and probed by a weak resonant beam. We describe different loading methods and compare their trade-offs in terms of implementation complexity and atom-loading efficiency. The most efficient procedure results in loading of $~30$,000 rubidium atoms, which creates a medium with an optical depth of $~180$ inside the fiber. Compared to our earlier study [1] this represents a sixfold increase in the maximum achieved optical depth in this system.

We calculate the properties of a biphoton source based on resonant backward-wave spontaneous parametric down conversion. We show that the biphotons are generated in a single longitudinal mode having a subnatural linewidth and a Glauber correlation time exceeding 65 ns.