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We analyze the statistics of photons originating from amplified spontaneous emission generated by a quantum dot superluminescent diode. Experimentally detectable emission properties are taken into account by parametrizing the corresponding quantum state as a multi-mode phase-randomized Gaussian density operator. The validity of this model is proven in two subsequent experiments using fast two-photon-absorption detection observing second order equal-time- as well as second order fully time-resolved intensity correlations on femtosecond timescales. In the first experiment, we study the photon statistics when the number of contributing longitudinal modes is systematically reduced by applying well-controlled optical feedback. In a second experiment, we add coherent light from a single-mode laserdiode to quantum dot superluminescent diode broadband radiation. Tuning the power ratio, we realize tailored second order correlations ranging from Gaussian to Poissonian statistics. Both experiments are very well matched by theory, thus giving first insights into quantum properties of radiation from quantum dot superluminescent diodes., Comment: submitted to New Journal of Physics

The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The STE-QUEST satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the Universality of Free Fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose-Einstein condensates of Rb85 and Rb87. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the E\"otv\"os parameter of at least 2x10E-15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources., Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures

We investigate the sympathetic relaxation of a free-standing, vibrating carbon nano-tube that is mounted on an atom chip and is immersed in a cloud of ultra-cold atoms. Gas atoms colliding with the nano-tube excite phonons via a Casimir-Polder potential. We use Fermi's Golden Rule to estimate the relaxation rates for relevant experimental parameters and develop a fully dynamic theory of relaxation for the multi-mode phononic field embedded in a thermal atomic reservoir. Based on currently available experimental data, we identify the relaxation rates as a function of atom density and temperature that are required for sympathetic ground state cooling of carbon nano-tubes., Comment: 12 pages, 3 color eps figures refereed, improved version, to be published in Phys. Rev. A

Atom interferometers covering macroscopic domains of space-time are a spectacular manifestation of the wave nature of matter. Due to their unique coherence properties, Bose-Einstein condensates are ideal sources for an atom interferometer in extended free fall. In this paper we report on the realization of an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer operated with a Bose-Einstein condensate in microgravity. The resulting interference pattern is similar to the one in the far-field of a double-slit and shows a linear scaling with the time the wave packets expand. We employ delta-kick cooling in order to enhance the signal and extend our atom interferometer. Our experiments demonstrate the high potential of interferometers operated with quantum gases for probing the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and general relativity., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; 8 pages of supporting material

We propose to create pairs of semifluxons starting from a flat-phase state in long, optical 0-pi-0 Josephson junctions formed with internal electronic states of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. In this optical system, we can dynamically tune the length of the pi-junction, the detuning of the optical transition, or the strength of the laser-coupling, to induce transitions from the flat-phase state to such a semifluxon-pair state. Similarly as in superconducting 0-pi-0 junctions, there are two, energetically degenerate semifluxon-pair states. A linear mean-field model with two internal electronic states explains this degeneracy and shows the distinct static field configuration in a phase-diagram of the junction parameters. This optical system offers the possibility to dynamically create a coherent superposition of the distinct semifluxon-pair states and observe macroscopic quantum oscillation., Comment: 5 pages latex, 4 eps figures

We examine ground state correlations for repulsive, quasi one-dimensional bosons in a harmonic trap. In particular, we focus on the few particle limit N=2,3,4,..., where exact numerical solutions of the many particle Schroedinger equation are available employing the Multi-Configuration Time-dependent Hartree method. Our numerical results for the inhomogeneous system are modeled with the analytical solution of the homogeneous problem using the Bethe ansatz and the local density approximation. Tuning the interaction strength from the weakly correlated Gross-Pitaevskii- to the strongly correlated Tonks-Girardeau regime reveals finite particle number effects in the second order correlation function beyond the local density approximation., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to NJP

Josephson junctions and junction arrays are well studied devices in superconductivity. With external magnetic fields one can modulate the phase in a long junction and create traveling, solitonic waves of magnetic flux, called fluxons. Today, it is also possible to device two different types of junctions: depending on the sign of the critical current density, they are called 0- or pi-junction. In turn, a 0-pi junction is formed by joining two of such junctions. As a result, one obtains a pinned Josephson vortex of fractional magnetic flux, at the 0-pi boundary. Here, we analyze this arrangement of superconducting junctions in the context of an atomic bosonic quantum gas, where two-state atoms in a double well trap are coupled in an analogous fashion. There, an all-optical 0-pi Josephson junction is created by the phase of a complex valued Rabi-frequency and we a derive a discrete four-mode model for this situation, which qualitatively resembles a semifluxon., Comment: 15 pages (Latex), 6 color figures (eps)

Phase correlations, density fluctuations and three-body loss rates are relevant for many experiments in quasi one-dimensional geometries. Extended mean-field theory is used to evaluate correlation functions up to third order for a quasi one-dimensional trapped Bose gas at zero and finite temperature. At zero temperature and in the homogeneous limit, we also study the transition from the weakly correlated Gross-Pitaevskii regime to the strongly correlated Tonks-Girardeau regime analytically. We compare our results with the exact Lieb-Liniger solution for the homogeneous case and find good agreement up to the cross-over regime., Comment: 36 pages, 21 color pdf/jpeg figures, submitted to NJP, corrected references

In current Bose-Einstein condensate experiments, the shot-to-shot variation of atom number fluctuates up to 10%. In here, we present a procedure to suppress such fluctuations by using a nonlinear p-pi-pbar matter wave interferometer for a Bose-Einstein condensate with two internal states and a high beam-splitter asymmetry (p, pbar not-equal 0.5). We analyze the situation for an inhomogeneous trap within the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field theory, as well as a quantum mechanical Josephson model, which addresses complementary aspects of the problem and agrees well otherwise., Comment: 7 pages Latex, 5 eps color figures

We consider Feshbach scattering of fermions in a one-dimensional optical lattice. By formulating the scattering theory in the crystal momentum basis, one can exploit the lattice symmetry and factorize the scattering problem in terms of center-of-mass and relative momentum in the reduced Brillouin zone scheme. Within a single band approximation, we can tune the position of a Feshbach resonance with the center-of-mass momentum due to the non-parabolic form of the energy band.

We describe the non-relativistic time evolution of an ultra-cold degenerate quantum gas (bosons/fermions) falling in Earth's gravity during long times (10 sec) and over large distances (100 m). This models a drop tower experiment that is currently performed by the QUANTUS collaboration at ZARM (Bremen, Germany). Starting from the classical mechanics of the drop capsule and a single particle trapped within, we develop the quantum field theoretical description for this experimental situation in an inertial frame, the corotating frame of the Earth, as well as the comoving frame of the drop capsule. Suitable transformations eliminate non-inertial forces, provided all external potentials (trap, gravity) can be approximated with a second order Taylor expansion around the instantaneous trap center. This is an excellent assumption and the harmonic potential theorem applies. As an application, we study the quantum dynamics of a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate in the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field approximation. Due to the instantaneous transformation to the rest-frame of the superfluid wave packet, the long-distance drop (100m) can be studied easily on a numerical grid., Comment: 18 pages latex, 5 eps figures, submitted

We analyse and numerically simulate the full many-body quantum dynamics of a spin-1 condensate in the single spatial mode approximation. Initially, the condensate is in a ``ferromagnetic'' state with all spins aligned along the $y$ axis and the magnetic field pointing along the z axis. In the course of evolution the spinor condensate undergoes a characteristic change of symmetry, which in a real experiment could be a signature of spin-mixing many-body interactions. The results of our simulations are conveniently visualised within the picture of irreducible tensor operators., Comment: Accepted for publication for the special issue of "Optics Communications" on Quantum Control of Light and Matter

We examine the collective scattering of a superfluid droplet impinging on a mesoscopic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) as a target. The BEC consists of an atomic gas with two internal electronic states, each of which is trapped by a finite-depth external potential. An off-resonant optical laser field provides a localized coupling between the BEC components in the trapping region. This mesoscopic scenario matches the microscopic setup for Feshbach scattering of two particles, when a bound state of one sub-manifold is embedded in the scattering continuum of the other sub-manifold. Within the mean-field picture, we obtain resonant scattering phase shifts from a linear response theory in agreement with an exact numerical solution of the real time scattering process and simple analytical approximations thereof. We find an energy-dependent transmission coefficient that is controllable via the optical field between 0 and 100%., Comment: 4 Latex pages, including 4 figures

We present measurements and a theoretical model for the interplay of spin dependent interactions and external magnetic fields in atomic spinor condensates. We highlight general features like quadratic Zeeman dephasing and its influence on coherent spin mixing processes by focusing on a specific coherent superposition state in a F=1 $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we observe the transition from coherent spinor oscillations to thermal equilibration.

We consider a system of two semifluxons of opposite polarity in a 0-pi-0 long Josephson junction, which classically can be in one of two degenerate states: up-down or down-up. When the distance $a$ between the 0-pi boundaries (semifluxon's centers) is a bit larger than the crossover distance $a_c$, the system can switch from one state to the other due to thermal fluctuations or quantum tunneling. We map this problem to the dynamics of a single particle in a double well potential and estimate parameters for which quantum effects emerge. We also determine the classical-to-quantum crossover temperature as well as the tunneling rate (energy level splitting) between the states up-down and down-up., Comment: submitted to PRB, comments/questions are welcome

We review the basic concepts of a non-equilibrium kinetic theory of a trapped bosonic gas. By extending the successful mean-field concept of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with the effects of non-local, two particle quantum correlations, one obtains a renormalized binary interaction and allows for the dynamic establishment of non-classical many-particle quantum correlations. These concepts are illustrated by self-consistent numerical calculations of the first and second order ground state quantum correlations of a harmonically trapped, quasi one-dimensional bosonic gas. We do find a strong suppression of the density fluctuations or, in other words, an enhanced number squeezing with decreasing particle density., Comment: 19 pages LaTeX, 19 color figures, to be published in the special issue on "Degenerate Quantum Gases" in Opt. Com. (2004)

We present exact expressions for the Sagnac effect of Goedel's Universe. For this purpose we first derive a formula for the Sagnac time delay along a circular path in the presence of an arbitrary stationary metric in cylindrical coordinates. We then apply this result to Goedel's metric for two different experimental situations: First, the light source and the detector are at rest relative to the matter generating the gravitational field. In this case we find an expression that is formally equivalent to the familiar nonrelativistic Sagnac time delay. Second, the light source and the detector are rotating relative to the matter. Here we show that for a special rotation rate of the detector the Sagnac time delay vanishes. Finally we propose a formulation of the Sagnac time delay in terms of invariant physical quantities. We show that this result is very close to the analogous formula of the Sagnac time delay of a rotating coordinate system in Minkowski spacetime., Comment: 26 pages, including 4 figures, corrected typos, changed references

We examine a scheme for the optical creation of a superfluid vortex in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), using the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) technique. By exposing an oblate, axis-symmetric condensate to two co-propagating laser pulses, one can transfer external angular momentum from the light field to the matter wave, if one of the beams is the fundamental Gaussian mode and the other is a Gauss-Laguerre mode of angular momentum $1\hbar$. We demonstrate the complete transfer efficiency by numerical integration of the multi-component Gross-Pitaevskii equation and explain the results with an intuitive and accurate approximation within the Thomas-Fermi limit. In addition, we discuss residual excitations (breathing modes) which occur in the two-dimensional regime and present the Bogoliubov excitation spectrum., Comment: 8 pages, 10 eps-figures, slightly revised and resubmitted to PRA

VWV's inhomogeneous wave solution to Maxwell equations in NIM are correct. In NIM, the modulations do not propagate along the Poynting vector., Comment: 1 page, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in PRL

We present a unified kinetic theory that describes the finite-temperature, non-equilibrium dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensed gas interacting with a thermal cloud. This theory includes binary interactions to second order in the interaction potential and reduces to a diagonal quantum Boltzmann equation for Bogoliubov quasiparticles. The Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov interactions include the pairing field and are expressed as many-body $T$ matrices to second order. The interactions thus include the correct renormalized scattering physics. This renormalized theory is automatically gapless. Thus, the excited Bogoliubov modes are naturally orthogonal to the condensate ground state., Comment: 12 pgs, 3 figs, RevTeX4, submitted to PRA

Using the prescription of the nonequilibrium statistical operator method, we derive a non-Markovian generalization to the kinetic theory described by Walser {\sl et al.} [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 59}, 3878 (1999)]. Quasi-particle damping and effects arising from the finite duration of a collision are introduced to include terms beyond the Born approximation. Such a self-consistent theory is shown to conserve energy to second order in the interaction strength, even in the Markov limit. This kinetic theory is applied to a simple model of a Bose gas confined in a spherical trap to study the full real-time evolution towards equilibrium. A modified form for the damping function, is seen to strongly improve the energy conservation. Based on a linear response calculation, we predict the damping rates and frequencies of the collective excitations. We demonstrate the emergence of differing time scales for damping and equilibration., Comment: 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. A

We derive a theory of superfluidity for a dilute Fermi gas that is valid when scattering resonances are present. The treatment of a resonance in many-body atomic physics requires a novel mean-field approach starting from an unconventional microscopic Hamiltonian. The mean-field equations incorporate the microscopic scattering physics, and the solutions to these equations reproduce the energy-dependent scattering properties. This theory describes the high-$T_c$ behavior of the system, and predicts a value of $T_c$ which is a significant fraction of the Fermi temperature. It is shown that this novel mean-field approach does not break down for typical experimental circumstances, even at detunings close to resonance. As an example of the application of our theory we investigate the feasibility for achieving superfluidity in an ultracold gas of fermionic $^6$Li., Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures

We discuss the equivalence of two non-equilibrium kinetic theories that describe the evolution of a dilute, Bose-Einstein condensed atomic gas in a harmonic trap. The second-order kinetic equations of Walser et al. [PRA 63, 013607 (2001)] reduce to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and the quantum Boltzmann equation in the low and high temperature limits, respectively. These kinetic equations can thus describe the system in equilibrium (finite temperature) as well as in non-equilibrium (real time). We have found this theory to be equivalent to the non-equilibrium Green's function approach originally proposed by Kadanoff and Baym and more recently applied to inhomogeneous trapped systems by M. Imamovi\'c-Tomasovi\'c and A. Griffin [arXiv:cond-mat/9911402]., Comment: REVTeX3, 6 pages, 2 eps figures, published version, minor changes

We consider the superfluid phase transition that arises when a Feshbach resonance pairing occurs in a dilute Fermi gas. We apply our theory to consider a specific resonance in potassium-40, and find that for achievable experimental conditions, the transition to a superfluid phase is possible at the high critical temperature of about 0.5 T_F. Observation of superfluidity in this regime would provide the opportunity to experimentally study the crossover from the superfluid phase of weakly-coupled fermions to the Bose-Einstein condensation of strongly-bound composite bosons., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

In this paper, we show that pair-correlations may play an important role in the quantum statistical properties of a Bose-Einstein condensed gas composed of an atomic field resonantly coupled with a corresponding field of molecular dimers. Specifically, pair-correlations in this system can dramatically modify the coherent and incoherent transfer between the atomic and molecular fields., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We have formulated a kinetic theory for a condensed atomic gas in a trap, i.e., a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, as well as a quantum-Boltzmann equation for the normal and anomalous fluctuations [R. Walser et al., Phys. Rev. A, 59, 3878 (1999)]. In this article, the theory is applied to the case of an isotropic configuration and we present numerical and analytical results for the reversible real-time propagation, as well as irreversible evolution towards equilibrium., Comment: 15 pages RevTeX, 8 figures, reviewed PRA resubmission

Two internal hyperfine states of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a dilute magnetically trapped gas of ${}^{87}$Rb atoms are strongly coupled by an external field that drives Rabi oscillations between the internal states. Due to their different magnetic moments and the force of gravity, the trapping potentials for the two states are offset along the vertical axis, so that the dynamics of the internal and external degrees of freedom are inseparable. The rapid cycling between internal atomic states in the displaced traps results in an adiabatic transfer of population from the condensate ground state to its first antisymmetric topological mode. This has a pronounced effect on the internal Rabi oscillations, modulating the fringe visibility in a manner reminiscent of collapses and revivals. We present a detailed theoretical description based on zero-temperature mean-field theory., Comment: 10 pages, 8 eps figures included; submitted to PRA

We present a kinetic theory for Bose-Einstein condensation of a weakly interacting atomic gas in a trap. Starting from first principles, we establish a Markovian kinetic description for the evolution towards equilibrium. In particular, we obtain a set of self-consistent master equations for mean fields, normal densities, and anomalous fluctuations. These kinetic equations generalize the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field equations, and merge them consistently with a quantum-Boltzmann equation approach., Comment: 15 pages, no figures; reviewed version; to be published in PRA

We propose an experiment that would demonstrate nonlinear Josephson-type oscillations in the relative population of a driven, two-component Bose-Einstein condensate. An initial state is prepared in which two condensates exist in a magnetic trap, each in a different hyperfine state, where the initial populations and relative phase between condensates can be controlled within experimental uncertainty. A weak driving field is then applied, which couples the two internal states of the atom and consequently transfers atoms back and forth between condensates. We present a model of this system and investigate the effect of the mean field on the dynamical evolution., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs

A method to determine the state of a single quantized cavity mode is proposed. By adiabatic passage, the quantum state of the field is transfered completely onto an internal Zeeman sub-manifold of an atom. Utilizing a method of Newton and Young, we can determine this angular momentum state uniquely, by a finite number of magnetic dipole measurements with Stern-Gerlach analyzers. An example illustrates the influence of dissipation., Comment: 4 pages (LateX209 src), 3 figures(.eps), to be published in PRL

A method for the experimental reconstruction of the quantum state of motion for a single trapped ion is proposed. It is based on the measurement of the ground state population of the trap after a sudden change of the trapping potential. In particular, we show how the Q function and the quadrature distribution can be measured directly. In an example we demonstrate the principle and analyze the sensibility of the reconstruction process to experimental uncertainties as well as to finite grid limitations. Our method is not restricted to the Lamb-Dicke Limit and works in one or more dimensions., Comment: 4 pages, Revtex format, 4 postscript figures, changed typographical errors