Jia Suo-Tang

Light-shift-induced quantum phase transitions of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical cavity

In this paper we reveal the rich ground-state properties induced by the strong nonlinear atom-photon interaction which has been found in the recent experiment about a Bose-Einstein condensate coupling with a high-finesse cavity [Nature (London) 464, 1301 (2010)]. Two detuning-dependent phase diagrams are revealed by investigating the experimentally measurable atomic population. In particular, two quantum phase transitions from the superradiant phase or the normal phase to a dynamically unstable phase are predicted in the blue detuning. Moreover, the three-phase coexistence points are found. It is also demonstrated that these predicted quantum phase transitions are the intrinsic transitions governed only by the second-order derivative of the ground-state energy. Finally, we also point out that the region involving coexistence of the superradiant phase and the normal phase previously predicted cannot happen in the ground state.

Analytical ground state for the Jaynes-Cummings model with ultrastrong coupling

We present a generalized variational method to analytically obtain the ground-state properties of the Jaynes-Cummings model with the ultrastrong coupling. An explicit expression for the ground-state energy, which agrees well with the numerical simulation in a wide range of the experimental parameters, is given. In particular, the introduced method can successfully solve this Jaynes-Cummings model with the positive detuning (the atomic resonant level is larger than the photon frequency), which cannot be treated in the adiabatical approximation and the generalized rotating-wave approximation. Finally, we also demonstrate analytically how to control the mean photon number by means of the current experimental parameters including the photon frequency, the coupling strength, and especially the atomic resonant level.

Systematically investigating the polarization gradient cooling in an optical molasses of ultracold cesium atoms

We systematically investigate the dependence of the temperature of cold cesium atoms of polarization gradient cooling (PGC) in optical molasses on experimental parameters, which contain changing modes of cooling laser, PGC interaction time, cooling laser frequency and its intensity. The SR mode of cooling laser, that means the cooling laser frequency is changed with step mode and cooling laser intensity is changed with ramp mode, is found to be the best for PGC comparing with other SS, RS, and RR modes. We introduce a statistical explanation and an exponential decay function to explain the variation of cold atomic temperature on time. The heating effect is observed when the cooling laser intensity is lower than the saturation intensity of cold atoms. After optimization, the lowest temperature of cold cesium atoms is observed to be about 4uK with the number of 2x10^9, a density of 1x10^11/cm^3 and the phase space density of 4.4x10^(-5). The optimization process and analysis of controllable experimental parameters are also meaningful for other cold atomic systems.We systematically investigate the polarization gradient cooling (PGC) process in an optical molasses of ultracold cesium atoms. The SR mode for changing the cooling laser, which means that the cooling laser frequency is stepped to the setting value while its intensity is ramped, is found to be the best for the PGC, compared with other modes studied. We verify that the heating effect of the cold atoms, which appears when the cooling laser intensity is lower than the saturation intensity, arises from insufficient polarization gradient cooling. Finally, an exponential decay function with a statistical explanation is introduced to explain the dependence of the cold atom temperature on the PGC interaction time.

Investigation of ultracold atoms and molecules in a dark magneto-optical trap

In this paper, ultracold atoms and molecules in a dark magneto-optical trap (MOT) are studied via depumping the cesium cold atoms into the dark hyperfine ground state. The collision rate is reduced to 0.45 s−1 and the density of the atoms is increased to 5.6 × 1011 cm−3 when the fractional population of the atoms in the bright hyperfine ground state is as low as 0.15. The vibrational spectra of the ultracold cesium molecules are also studied in a standard MOT and in a dark MOT separately. The experimental results are analyzed by using the perturbative quantum approach.

Precise measurement of the line width of the photoassociation spectra of ultracold molecules by using a frequency shifter

We propose a technique to precisely measure the line width of the photoassociation spectra of the excited cesium molecule by using a frequency shifter to generate two laser beams with a precise frequency difference. A series of photoassociation (PA) spectra are recorded with two laser beam induced molecular lines, whose peak separation serves as an accurate frequency ruler to measure the line width of the PA spectra. The full width half maximum line width was studied as a function of PA laser intensity. The extrapolated value at zero laser intensity is (34.84 ? 0.22) MHz. By analyzing other broadening mechanisms, a value of (32.02 ? 0.70) MHz was deduced. It is shown that this scheme is inexpensive, simple, robust, and is promising for applications in a variety of other atomic species.

Fast thermometry for trapped atoms using recoil-induced resonance*

We have employed recoil-induced resonance (RIR) with linewidth on the order of 10 kHz to demonstrate the fast thermometry for ultracold atoms. We theoretically calculate the absorption spectrum of RIR which agrees well with the experimental results. The temperature of the ultracold sample derived from the RIR spectrum is T = 84±4.5 μK, which is close to 85 μK that measured by the method of time-of-flight absorption imaging. To exhibit the fast measurement advantage in applying RIR to the ultracold atom thermometry, we study the dependence of ultracold sample temperature on the trapping beam frequency detuning. This method can be applied to determine the translational temperature of molecules in photoassociation dynamics.

Two-photon spectrum of 87Rb using optical frequency comb*

The high precision two-photon excitation measurements for 5S1/2 (Fg = 2) to 5D5/2 (Fe = 4 to 1) of 87Rb are performed by using an optical frequency comb. The two counter-propagating femtosecond pulses (5S1/2 → 5P3/2 at 780 nm, and 5P3/2 → 5D5/2 at 776 nm) act on 87Rb vapor, and the Doppler broadened background signal is effectively eliminated. The temperature and power dependences of the two-photon spectrum are studied in this paper.

High-resolution photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold Cs2 long-range 0−g state: The external well potential depth

High-resolution photoassociation spectroscopy is reported using a modulation spectroscopy technology in a cesium atomic magneto-optical trap. The two lowest vibrational levels have been experimentally observed which have been theoretically predicted in [Phys. Rev. A 75 052501 (2007)]. A new potential curve is obtained by using the Rydberg—Klein—Ress method with a well depth of −82.384 ± 0.026 cm−1, which is deeper than the result of previous experiment (−77.909 cm−1) and the theoretical prediction (−81.6445 cm−1).

Photoassociation of ultracold RbCs molecules into the (2)0− state (v = 189, 190) below the 5S1/2 + 6P1/2 dissociation limit

Ultracold polar RbCs molecules are produced via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of 85Rb and 133Cs atoms. The a3Σ+ state molecules which decay from electronically excited (2)0− state RbCs molecules are detected by resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization. The new rovibrational levels (v = 189, 190) in the (2)0− state are also observed, which exist in theory and have not been observed in experiments yet. The corresponding rotational constants are measured by photoassociation spectroscopy, which are consistent with theoretical calculations using a nonrigid rotor model.

High resolution photoassociation spectra of an ultracold Cs2 long-range 0u+ (6S1/2 + 6P1/2) state

In this paper, ultracold cesium molecules are formed through photoassociation technology, which is carried out in a magneto-optical trap. High resolution photoassociaion spectra with the rotational progressions up to J = 7 are obtained. Three rovibrational levels of the long-range 0u+ state of Cs2 below the (6S1/2 + 6P1/2) dissociation limit are specifically investigated. By fitting their binding energy intervals to the non-rigid rotational model, the rotational constant of the long-range 0u+ state is determined. A proportional dependence of the value of the rotational constant on the vibrational quantum number is demonstrated.