J. Grucker

Negative-index media for matter-wave optics.

We consider the extension of optical metamaterials to matter waves and then the down scaling of metaoptics to nanometric wavelengths. We show that the generic property of pulsed comoving magnetic fields allows us to fashion the wave-number dependence of the atomic phase shift. It can be used to produce a transient negative group velocity of an atomic wave packet, which results into a negative refraction of the matter wave. Application to slow metastable argon atoms Ar(3P2) shows that the device is able to operate either as an efficient beam splitter or an atomic metalens.

Atom diffraction with a ‘natural’ metastable atom nozzle beam

The resonant metastability-exchange process is used to obtain a metastable atom beam with intrinsic properties close to those of a ground-state atom nozzle beam (small angular aperture, narrow velocity distribution). The estimated effective source diameter (15 µm) is small enough to provide at a distance of 597 mm a transverse coherence radius of about 873 nm for argon, 1236 nm for neon and 1660 nm for helium. It is demonstrated both by experiment and numerical calculations with He*, Ne* and Ar* metastable atoms, that this beam gives rise to diffraction effects on the transmitted angular pattern of a silicon-nitride nano-slit grating (period 100 nm). Observed patterns are in good agreement with previous measurements with He* and Ne* metastable atoms. For argon, a calculation taking into account the angular aperture of the beam (0.35 mrad) and the effect of the van der Waals interaction—the van der Waals constant C3 = 1.83+0.1−0.15 au being derived from spectroscopic data—leads to a good agreement with experiment.

Observation of metastable hcp solid helium

We have produced and observed metastable solid helium-4 below its melting pressure between 1.1 K and 1.4 K. This is achieved by an intense pressure wave carefully focused inside a crystal of known orientation. An accurate density map of the focal zone is provided by an optical interferometric technique. Depending on the sample, minimum density achieved at focus corresponds to pressures between 2 and 4 bar below the static melting pressure. Beyond, the crystal undergoes an unexpected instability much earlier than the predicted spinodal limit. This opens a novel opportunity to study this quantum crystal in an expanded metastable state and its stability limits.

Time-resolved quantitative multiphase interferometric imaging of a highly focused ultrasound pulse

Interferometric imaging is a well-established method to image phase objects by mixing the image wavefront with a reference one on a CCD camera. It has also been applied to fast transient phenomena, mostly through the analysis of single interferograms. It is shown that, for repetitive phenomena, multiphase acquisition brings significant advantages. A 1MHz focused sound field emitted by a hemispherical piezotransducer in water is imaged as an example. Quantitative image analysis provides high resolution sound field profiles. Pressure at focus determined by this method agrees with measurements from a fiber-optic probe hydrophone. This confirms that multiphase interferometric imaging can indeed provide quantitative measurements.

Study of low-energy resonant metastability exchange in argon by a pulsed merging beam technique

The resonant metastability exchange process in low-energy collinear collisions between metastable argon atoms (Ar* 3P2) polarized in spin (M = +2) and ground-state Ar atoms from a nozzle beam is studied by means of a time-of-flight technique. A wide range of metastable atom velocities in the laboratory frame (275 m s−1 down to 50 m s−1) is obtained by use of a Zeeman slower, the counter-propagating laser beam of which is locked in frequency onto the 3P2–3D3 closed transition (λ = 811.5 nm). The accessible centre-of-mass energy range (8–27 meV) has not been explored so far, to our knowledge. Calculations based upon existing interatomic potentials of 2g and 2u symmetries are in reasonable agreement with experiment.

High resolution electron imaging system for sub-micron sized metastable atom beams produced by Stern–Gerlach interferometry

The method of modulating an atom beam profile by an immaterial magnetic mask generated in a Stern–Gerlach interferometer is recalled. A special magnetic configuration aimed at producing a single central bright interference fringe (atomic spot) was used. The effects of velocity spread, source coherence and source size on the limiting spot size at large values of the magnetic gradient are discussed. The observation of such small sizes requires a high spatial resolution of the position-sensitive detector. A new electron optical device is described, which images the secondary electron source generated by the impact of the atomic beam on a metallic electrode (detection in real time). Magnifications as high as 65 are accessible, leading to a better than 100 nm resolution of the atomic beam profile when a position-sensitive detector of a few µm resolution is used. Geometric and chromatic aberrations are discussed and, according to simulations, they do not significantly deteriorate the resolution.

A gradient and offset compensated Ioffe?Pritchard trap for Bose?Einstein condensation experiments

The Ioffe–Pritchard trap is the workhorse of modern cold atom physics. Here, we present a novel Ioffe–Pritchard trap coil configuration based purely on circular coils. By eliminating the traditional Ioffe bars one can increase the gradient and thus the radial trapping frequency by almost a factor 2. We also present a method to achieve minimal coupling between the gradient, curvature and offset fields of the trap, thus facilitating the dynamic control of the trapping frequencies and aspect ratio.

Investigating Metastable hcp Solid Helium Below Its Melting Pressure

We report a first attempt to produce metastable hcp solid helium below its melting pressure. A focused sound pulse is emitted along the c-axis of a mono-domain hcp helium-4 crystal starting from a static pressure just above the melting pressure. The sound pulse is made as simple as possible with one negative and one positive swing only. Density at focus is monitored by an optical interferometric method. Performed numerical simulations show that the crystal anisotropy splits the focused wave into two separate pulses, corresponding to a longitudinal wave along the c-axis and a radial one perpendicular to it. The amplification factor due to focusing remains nevertheless important. Negative pressure swings up to 0.9 bar have been produced, crossing the static melting pressure limit. Improvements in the detection method and in the focusing amplification are proposed.

Cavitation density of superfluid helium-4 around 1 K

Using an optical interferomertric method, the homogeneous cavitation density of superfluid helium at

Nanoscopy of Surface-Induced van der Waals-Zeeman Transitions

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