Carrier-Envelope Phase-Dependent Strong-Field Excitation.

We present a joint experimental-theoretical study on the effect of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of a few-cycle pulse on the atomic excitation process. We focus on the excitation rates of argon at intensities in the transition between the multiphoton and tunneling regimes. Through numerical simulations, we show that the resulting bound-state population is highly sensitive to both the intensity and the CEP. The experimental data clearly agree with the theoretical prediction, and the results encourage the use of precisely tailored laser fields to coherently control the strong-field excitation process. We find a markedly different behavior for the CEP-dependent bound-state population at low and high intensities with a clear boundary, which we attribute to the transition from the multiphoton to the tunneling regime.

Laser-Based Metastable Krypton Generation.

We demonstrate the generation of metastable krypton in the long-lived 1s^{5} state using laser excitation. The atoms are excited through a two-photon absorption process into the 2p^{6} state using a pulsed optical parametric oscillator laser operating near 215 nm, after which the atoms decay quickly into the metastable state with a branching ratio of 75%. The interaction dynamics are modeled using density matrix formalism and, by combining this with experimental observations, we are able to calculate photoionization and two-photon absorption cross sections. When compared to traditional approaches to metastable production, this approach shows great potential for high-density metastable krypton production with minimal heating of the sample. Here, we show metastable production efficiencies of up to 2% per pulse. The new experimental results gained here, when combined with the density matrix model we have developed, suggest that fractional efficiencies up to 30% are possible under optimal conditions.

Fast machine-learning online optimization of ultra-cold-atom experiments.

We apply an online optimization process based on machine learning to the production of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC). BEC is typically created with an exponential evaporation ramp that is optimal for ergodic dynamics with two-body s-wave interactions and no other loss rates, but likely sub-optimal for real experiments. Through repeated machine-controlled scientific experimentation and observations our 'learner' discovers an optimal evaporation ramp for BEC production. In contrast to previous work, our learner uses a Gaussian process to develop a statistical model of the relationship between the parameters it controls and the quality of the BEC produced. We demonstrate that the Gaussian process machine learner is able to discover a ramp that produces high quality BECs in 10 times fewer iterations than a previously used online optimization technique. Furthermore, we show the internal model developed can be used to determine which parameters are essential in BEC creation and which are unimportant, providing insight into the optimization process of the system.

Accurate lineshape spectroscopy and the Boltzmann constant.

Spectroscopy has an illustrious history delivering serendipitous discoveries and providing a stringent testbed for new physical predictions, including applications from trace materials detection, to understanding the atmospheres of stars and planets, and even constraining cosmological models. Reaching fundamental-noise limits permits optimal extraction of spectroscopic information from an absorption measurement. Here, we demonstrate a quantum-limited spectrometer that delivers high-precision measurements of the absorption lineshape. These measurements yield a very accurate measurement of the excited-state (6P1/2) hyperfine splitting in Cs, and reveals a breakdown in the well-known Voigt spectral profile. We develop a theoretical model that accounts for this breakdown, explaining the observations to within the shot-noise limit. Our model enables us to infer the thermal velocity dispersion of the Cs vapour with an uncertainty of 35 p.p.m. within an hour. This allows us to determine a value for Boltzmann's constant with a precision of 6 p.p.m., and an uncertainty of 71 p.p.m.

IR-stimulated visible fluorescence in pink and brown diamond.

Irradiation of natural pink and brown diamond by middle-ultraviolet light (photon energy ϵ ≥ 4.1 eV ) is seen to induce anomalous fluorescence phenomena at N3 defect centres (structure N3-V). When diamonds primed in this fashion are subsequently exposed to infrared light (even with a delay of many hours), a transient burst of blue N3 fluorescence is observed. The dependence of this IR-triggered fluorescence on pump wavelength and intensity suggest that this fluorescence phenomena is intrinsically related to pink diamond photochromism. An energy transfer process between N3 defects and other defect species can account for both the UV-induced fluorescence intensity changes, and the apparent optical upconversion of IR light. From this standpoint, we consider the implications of this N3 fluorescence behaviour for the current understanding of pink diamond photochromism kinetics.

Photochromic charge transfer processes in natural pink and brown diamonds.

Natural pink and brown diamonds exhibit surprising photochromic phenomena when optically pumped with ultraviolet light of photon energy ϵ ≥ 4.1 eV, including a subsequent sensitivity to infrared pumps, which is not evident prior to UV exposure. In this study, we observe the dependence of photochromism on pump photon energy and intensity, for both UV and IR pumps. From these observations, we propose a model of several distinct charge transfer processes between multiple species of optically active defect centres. We show it is likely that the UV-induced behaviour of pink diamond photochromism is linked to the vacancy clusters responsible for brown colouration in diamonds.

Two-color rubidium fiber frequency standard.

We demonstrate an optical frequency standard based on rubidium vapor loaded within a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. We use the 5S(1/2)→5D(5/2) two-photon transition, excited with two lasers at 780 and 776 nm. The sum-frequency of these lasers is stabilized to this transition using modulation transfer spectroscopy, demonstrating a fractional frequency stability of 9.8×10(-12) at 1 s. The current performance limitations are presented, along with a path to improving the performance by an order of magnitude. This technique will deliver a compact, robust standard with potential applications in commercial and industrial environments.

Optical-fiber pulse rate multiplier for ultralow phase-noise signal generation.

In this Letter we report on an all optical-fiber approach to the synthesis of ultralow-noise microwave signals by photodetection of femtosecond laser pulses. We use a cascade of Mach-Zehnder fiber interferometers to realize stable and efficient repetition rate multiplication. This technique increases the signal level of the photodetected microwave signal by close to 18 dB. That in turn allows us to demonstrate a residual phase-noise level of -118 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz and -160 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz from a 12 GHz signal. The residual noise floor of the fiber multiplier and photodetection system alone is around -164 dBc/Hz at the same offset frequency, which is very close to the fundamental shot-noise floor.

A simple technique for accurate and complete characterisation of a Fabry-Perot cavity.

It has become a significant challenge to accurately characterise the properties of recently developed very high finesse optical resonators (F > 10(6)). A similar challenge is encountered when trying to measure the properties of cavities in which either the probing laser or the cavity length is intrinsically unstable. We demonstrate in this article the means by which the finesse, mode-matching, free spectral range, mirror transmissions and dispersion may be measured easily and accurately even when the laser or cavity has a relatively poor intrinsic frequency stability.

Ultra-low-noise microwave extraction from fiber-based optical frequency comb.

In this Letter we report on an all-optical-fiber approach to the generation of ultra-low-noise microwave signals. We make use of two erbium fiber mode-locked lasers phase locked to a common ultrastable laser source to generate an 11.55 GHz signal with an unprecedented relative phase noise of -111 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz from the carrier. The residual frequency instability of the microwave signals derived from the two optical frequency combs is below 2.3x10(-16) at 1 s and about 4x10(-19) at 6.5x10(4) s (in 5 Hz bandwidth, three days of continuous operation).

Frequency stabilisation of a fibre-laser comb using a novel microstructured fibre.

There is great interest in developing high performance optical frequency metrology based around mode-locked fibre lasers because of their low cost, small size and long-term turnkey operation when compared to the solid-state alternative. We present a method for stabilising the offset frequency of a fibre-based laser comb using a 2 f - 3 f technique based around a unique fibre that exhibits strong resonant dispersive wave emission. This fibre requires lower power than conventional highly non-linear fibre to generate a suitable signal for offset frequency stabilisation and this in turn avoids the complexity of additional nonlinear steps. We generate an offset frequency signal from the mixing of a wavelength-shifted second harmonic comb with a third harmonic of the comb. Additionally, we have stabilised the repetition rate of the laser to a level better than 10(-14)/ radicaltau , limited by the measurement system noise floor.We present the means for complete and precise measurement of the transfer function of the laser frequency controls.

Electromagnetically induced transparency in Rb-filled coated hollow-core photonic crystal fiber.

We report the observation of lambda-configuration electromagnetically induced transparency as well as optical pumping in rubidium-filled kagome-structure hollow-coated-core photonic crystal fiber. We show that a polydimethylsiloxane coating of the fiber core reduces the linewidth of the transparency below that which could be expected for an uncoated fiber. The measured 6 MHz linewidth was dominated by optical broadening.

Optical frequency synthesis from a cryogenic microwave sapphire oscillator.

We demonstrate an optical frequency comb with fractional frequency instability of

Long-distance frequency dissemination with a resolution of 10(-17).

We use a new technique to disseminate microwave reference signals along ordinary optical fiber. The fractional frequency resolution of a link of 86 km in length is 10(-17) for a one day integration time, a resolution higher than the stability of the best microwave or optical clocks. We use the link to compare the microwave reference and a CO2/OsO4 frequency standard that stabilizes a femtosecond laser frequency comb. This demonstrates a resolution of 3 x 10(-14) at 1 s. An upper value of the instability introduced by the femtosecond laser-based synthesizer is estimated as 1 x 10(-14) at 1 s.

Efficient continuous-wave ultraviolet generation in LiB3O5 and RbD2AsO4.

We have demonstrated two continuous-wave nonlinear processes: third-harmonic generation (THG) of 1064-nm radiation with a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal, and second-harmonic generation of 696-nm radiation in deuterated rubidium dihydrogen arsenate. With 34 mW of 1064-nm and 25 mW of 532-nm radiation incident upon the LBO crystal, as much as 60 nW of third-harmonic power has been produced. We present the characteristics that optimize the production of nonlinear power in this sum-frequency generation process. In the second experiment, 15 nW of radiation at 348 nm was produced with 9 mW of 696-nm incident radiation. Both processes will play an important role in the new generation of optical synthesis techniques.