Events
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| 9
Start: 2009-02-09 16:00
End: 2009-02-09 18:00
The optical response of semiconductor quantum-wells often displays excitonic resonances with a typical energy spacing of 1 to 100 meV. To directly access transitions between these resonances, one can apply electro�magnetic fields in the terahertz frequency range. The resulting quantum dynamics and associated nonlinear optical effects are of great interest. They both manifest fundamental physical processes, such as many-body interactions and Coulomb correlations; and also have broad applications for optoelectronic devices. | 10
| 11
Start: 2009-02-11 16:00
End: 2009-02-11 18:00
I will describe recent experimental results, where we realize an asymmetric optical potential barrier for ultracold Rb 87 atoms using laser light tuned near the D2 optical transition. Such a one-way barrier, where atoms impinging on one side are transmitted but reflected from the other, is a realization of Maxwell's demon and has important implications for cooling atoms and molecules not amenable to standard laser-cooling techniques. In our experiment, atoms are confined to a far-detuned dipole trap consisting of a single focused Gaussian beam, which is divided near the focus by the barrier. | 12
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