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This thesis describes the design, construction and optimisation of a new apparatus to produce Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of 87Rb atoms. The main aim in building this system was to include a high resolution imaging system capable of resolving single atoms. Optical access for the imaging system was created by including a stage of atom transport in which the atoms are magnetically transferred ~50 cm from a magneto-optical trap (MOT), where they are initially collected, to a glass science cell where experiments are carried out and imaging takes place. Two magnetic transport schemes have been demonstrated, based on approaches first used in other laboratories. First, a scheme in which the atoms are transferred in a moving pair of magnetic trapping coils. Second, a hybrid scheme where the atoms are translated part of the distance in the moving coils, and the rest of the way by switching the current in a chain of fixed coils. This second scheme was designed to allow optical access for a high numerical aperture microscope objective to be placed immediately next to the science cell for high resolution imaging. The atoms were first collected in a large pyramid MOT which can be loaded with 3 × 10^9 atoms in a time of 20 s. Around half of these atoms – those in the |F = 1, mF = −1> magnetic substate – were then magnetically trapped prior to transport. The typical fraction of the trapped atoms transferred to the science cell was ~30% and ~18% for the moving coils and hybrid schemes respectively. Evaporative cooling was carried out on the atom cloud following transport with the moving coils and loading into a time-orbiting potential trap. The optimised cooling sequence lasted for 28 s and consistently produced a pure condensate with 5 × 10^5 atoms. A BEC has also been produced by evaporative cooling following hybrid transport. The next experimental steps will be to optimise the hybrid transfer approach further and install the high resolution imaging system. The system is well-placed to continue an ongoing series of experiments in which ultracold atoms are trapped in RF-dressed potentials. These potentials will be used to study low-dimensional quantum gases as well as in experiments where small atom number BECs are rapidly rotated to enter the fractional quantum Hall regime.

Realizamos neste trabalho a construção de um Oscilador Paramétrico Ótico triplamente ressonante bombeado por um laser de Titânio Safira sintonizável na faixa entre 730 nm e 800 nm com potencial de extensão. Os feixes emitidos possuem comprimento de onda em torno de 1560 nm que estão na janela de transmissão das fibras óticas, com potência de saída máxima em torno de 420 mW e um limiar de oscilação mínimo de 53(3) mW quando bombeado por 780.126(0.03) nm. Para os feixes gêmeos a finesse da cavidade vale F=155 e as perdas intracavidade 0.05(0.1)%, permitindo, em tese, uma compressão de ruído próxima a 97(6)%. Esse OPO foi construído com o propósito de que o utilizemos como fonte geradora de estados triplamente emaranhados em um sistema de armazenamento e transferência de informação quântica quando em interação com um sistema atômico de rubídio. Medimos a potência de limiar e a eficiência de conversão para cada comprimento de onda do feixe de bombeio utilizado para caracterizar o sistema. / At the present work we conducted the construction of a triply resonant Optical Parametric Oscillator pumped by a Titanium-Sapphire laser, which is tunable between 730 nm to 800 nm. The emitted beams have wavelength around 1560 nm, in the optical fibers transmission window, maximum output of 420 mW and minimum oscillation threshold of 53(3) mW. For the twin beams, the cavity finesse is F=155 mW and the intracavity losses are 0.05(0.10)%, allowing, in principle, a noise compression close to 97(5)%. The present OPO was built having the purpose of being used as source of triply entangled states in a system for quantum information storage and transfer, while interacting with an atomic rubidium system. We measured the power threshold and conversion efficiency for each pump beam wavelength that we used to characterize the system.

We have developed a technique to produce, manipulate and trap Rb2 molecules with a single optical beam. This beam is generated by a high-power fiber amplifier (50 W of total output power) in the 1060 to 1070 nm range, which is seeded by two light sources: a sharp-band laser and a broadband superluminescent diode. The laser source is tuned to produce Rb2 molecules from an ultracold 85Rb sample via photoassociation. The broadband spectrum vibrationally cool the molecules by optical pumping. This source is spectrally shaped in order to populate the molecules at the fundamental vibrational state ν = 0. The molecular sample is probed by two-photon ionization, promoted by a pulsed dye laser in the 475 to 480 nm range. By scanning the photoassociation laser frequency, we have obtained a photoassociation spectrum of the ν\' = 138 state of the 0+u potential, confirming previous observations. We have also obtained two vibrational spectra of the molecules by varying the ionization laser frequency, in the presence and absence of the broadband source. The comparison between the two spectra, along with ab-initio data, provides evidences that the molecules are optically pumped to the fundamental vibrational state. / Desenvolvemos uma técnica para produzir, manipular e aprisional moléculas de Rb2 com um único feixe óptico. Esse feixe é gerado por um amplificador de alta potência (50 W de potência total de saída) na faixa de 1060 a 1070 nm, que é alimentado por duas fontes de luz: um laser banda estreita e um diodo superluminescente banda larga. O laser é sintonizado para produzir moléculas de Rb2 a partir de uma amostra ultrafria de 85Rb via fotoassociação. O espectro banda larga resfria vibracionalmente as moléculas, por bombeamento óptico. Essa fonte de luz tem seu espectro formatado de modo a deixar as moléculas em seu estado vibracional fundamental ν = 0. A amostra molecular é testada por ionização de dois fótons, promovida por um laser de diodo pulsado na faixa de 475 a 480 nm. Variando a frequência do laser de fotoassociação, obtivemos um espectro de fotoassociação do estado ν\' = 138 do potencial 0+u, confirmando observações anteriores. Obtivemos também dois espectros vibracionais das moléculas variando a frequência do laser de ionização, com e sem a fonte banda larga. Uma comparação entre os dois espectros, junto de dados ab-initio, fornece evidências de que as moléculas são opticamente bombeadas para o estado vibracional fundamental.

Observamos neste trabalho o processo de mudança de estrutura fina em colisões entre átomos de 85Rb resfriados e aprisionados em uma armadilha magneto-óptica. Medimos, através da fotoionização de fragmentos atômicos gerados nessas colisões, as taxas segundo as quais os átomos deixam a armadilha induzidos por esse processo colisional. Realizamos estudos das taxas de perda com relação a intensidade do laser de aprisionamento e com a freqüência, utilizando para isso a técnica de catálise. Nossos resultados indicam que a contribuição do processo de mudança de estrutura fina para a taxa de perdas total não é dominante. Constatamos que a estrutura hiperfina desempenha um papel importante na dinâmica colisional e na determinação dos valores das taxas. Interpretamos nossos resultados através de um modelo semi-clássico, sendo que este foi incapaz de explicar todos os efeitos observados. Propusemos algumas explicações qualitativas para as discrepâncias observadas. Acreditamos que nossos resultados devam servir de estímulo para novos trabalhos teóricos nesta área. / We report the observation of trap-loss collisional rates due to fine structure changing collisions between cold and trapped 85Rb atoms. We have measured, by photoionization of the atomic fragments in 5P1/2 state originated in these collisions, the rates through the atoms leave the trap induced by this loss mechanism. We carried out experiments to determine the rate dependence with the intensity of the trapping laser, and with the frequency, using the catalisys technique. We also measured the contribution of this process to the total trap-loss rate and determined that fine structure changing is not the dominant loss mechanism. It was also observed that the hyperfine structure plays an important role in the rate behavior. We compared our results with those given by a semiclassical theoretical approach, the Gallagher-Pritchard model, and some disagreements were observed. We proposed some arguments to explain these discrepancies. We believe that such results should stimulate theoretical work on this field.

To evaluate the blood-brain barrier system in the pathogenesis of an irreversible hypothermic state in dogs, concentrations of 2 4 Na and 86Rb were measured at body temperatures ranging from 37 0 C to 160 C. A suppression of transport of sodium was demonstrated, followed by an increase as the temperature was lowered. The concentration of rubidium ion increased in concentration as the temperature fell. These data indicate there may be a temperature threshold below which the blood-brain barrier system fails to maintain the internal environment of the central nervous system. The intimate relationship of several brain stem nuclei with the cerebro-spinal fluid indicates they may be at risk during profound cooling.

In the experiments detailed in this thesis, a series of scattering experiments were conducted in a versatile scattering chamber. In order to conduct these experiments, various electronic equipment was designed and built, including new computer controlled electron analyser power supplies. This new equipment was tested, adopted in this work, and is described in this thesis. The superelastic scattering technique was used on magnesium atoms to obtain a set of atomic collision parameters (ACPs), which describe the interaction. This was achieved by exciting a beam of magnesium atoms to the 3(1)P(1) excited state using resonant laser radiation around 285 nm, and using an electron beam with well defined momentum to de-excite the atoms. The momentum of the outgoing electrons was measured as the polarisation and scattering angle were varied, to obtain the ACPs. These measurements were carried out over an angular range of 30 degrees to 120 degrees and with incident energies equivalent to 35 eV, 40 eV, 45 eV, and 55 eV. A set of theoretical data was compared to the experimental results and found to be reasonably accurate at describing the interaction. Laser-aligned and ground-state (e,2e) ionisation measurements were taken from the 4(1)S(0) and 4(1)P(1) states of calcium. The measurements were taken with the energy of the scattered and ejected electrons set at 30 eV, and with one outgoing electron angle set to 45 degrees. The differential cross section was determined for a range of angles of the second electron, ranging from 30 degrees to 65 degrees. The incident and outgoing electron momenta were all defined in the same plane with the laser polarisation being in a plane perpendicular to the incident electron. The laser aligned (e,2e) measurements were compared to two theoretical models, one of which (a 3DW model) predicted an identically zero cross section when the laser polarisation was perpendicular to the scattering plane. The other model (a TDCC model) predicted a non-zero cross section, in agreement with the experiment. Simultaneous time-resolved two-colour photoionisation from the 5(2)P(3/2) and 6(2)P(3/2) states of rubidium was also conducted. These experiments investigated two pathways to creating 0.36 eV photoelectrons from rubidium. Photoelectrons were produced by either using laser radiation at ~780 nm to resonantly excite atoms to the 5(2)P(3/2) state followed by laser radiation at ~420 nm to ionise the atoms, or laser radiation at ~420 nm was used to resonantly excite atoms to the 6(2)P(3/2) state followed by radiation at ~780 nm which then ionised the atoms. Ionisation differential cross sections were measured over a full 360 degrees by rotating the laser polarisation vectors. By selectively detuning the laser beam so as to select individual ionisation pathways, and then by tuning both lasers to resonance, quantum interferences between the pathways that lead to ionisation were observed.

Deux ondes électromagnétiques intenses de même fréquence et de même polarisation se propageant dans des sens opposés dans un milieu non-linéaire génèrent au dessus d'une certaine intensité seuil, des nouvelles ondes appelées instabilités qui sont émises spontanément dans des directions différentes de celles des pompes. Ce travail de thèse a consisté en l'étude des instabilités générées dans une vapeur de Rubidium dans deux situations expérimentales différentes. Dans la première expérience, une onde pompe intense se propage dans le milieu non-linéaire, se réfléchit sur un miroir de rétroaction et est alors réinjectée dans le milieu non-linéaire. Pour une intensité suffisante et une fréquence adaptée de l'onde pompe, des instabilités sont émises. Elles pourront se réfléchir sur le miroir de rétroaction et être réinjectées dans le milieu non-linéaire. Leur structure transverse en champ lointain est alors constituée de diverses figures telles que des anneaux concentriques, deux points diamétralement opposés ou des figures comportant un nombre pair de taches réparties sur un cercle et appelées 'marguerites'. L'étude théorique de ces instabilités associée à une étude expérimentale a permis de prédire et de décrire le comportement des différentes instabilités émises en fonction des différents paramètres du système. En particulier ces études ont montré que l'intensité des instabilités pouvait être statique, périodique ou chaotique. La deuxième expérience ne comporte pas de miroir de rétroaction et le faisceau laser est séparé en deux ondes pompes se contrepropageant dans le milieu non-linéaire. En champ lointain, les instabilités transverses sont constituées par un seul anneau, deux points diamétralement opposés ou des hexagones. L'intensité de ces instabilités peut être chaotique et l'étude de ce chaos été réalisée.

The 87Rb-86Sr system is a widely used long-lived isotope geochronometer. 87Rb, the naturally occurring radioactive isotope of Rb, undergoes beta-decay to stable 87Sr with a half-life of approximately 50 Ga. Decay of 87Rb to 87Sr results in variable 87Sr/86Sr in minerals with different Rb/Sr, and measurement of 87Rb/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr allows for the determination of the age of the rock. Accurate ages depend both on the quality of the isotopic analysis and on the accuracy of the 87Rb decay constant, lambda87. Although the currently accepted value for lambda87 of 1.42 × 10-11a-1 has been in use for over 30 years, there is growing evidence that it is not accurate. Recent attempts to refine lambda87 and its precision have not reached a consensus. This thesis describes a new experiment to measure lambda87 by 87Sr accumulation over a period of about 30 years, and the preparation of a 84-86Sr double-spike in conjunction with that experiment. Radiogenic 87Sr produced in aliquots of a RbClO4 salt was measured by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry. An average of 31 measurements yields a value of 1.398 ± 0.003 × 10-11a-1 . This requires a substantial revision from the previously accepted decay constant and makes Rb-Sr ages calculated with it 1.5% older. A Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotopic chronometry study was carried out on thirteen ordinary chondrites – the most common type of meteorite, the origin and history of which are still unclear. Some meteorites appear disturbed, possibly by recent shock during breakup of the parent body, whereas others yielded accurate and precise U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages. For example, L5 Elenovka yielded distinct ages for silicates (4555 Ma) and phosphates (4535 Ma), allowing the cooling rate of this meteorite from approximately 1055 K to 759 K to be constrained to 15 ± 3 K/Ma. Rb-Sr yielded less precise ages than U-Pb, but using the new decay constant allows accurate comparison between the two methods. This study creates a firm foundation for future studies in thermal history of chondrites and terrestrial metamorphic complexes using Rb-Sr together with other isotopic chronometers.

The 87Rb-86Sr system is a widely used long-lived isotope geochronometer. 87Rb, the naturally occurring radioactive isotope of Rb, undergoes beta-decay to stable 87Sr with a half-life of approximately 50 Ga. Decay of 87Rb to 87Sr results in variable 87Sr/86Sr in minerals with different Rb/Sr, and measurement of 87Rb/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr allows for the determination of the age of the rock. Accurate ages depend both on the quality of the isotopic analysis and on the accuracy of the 87Rb decay constant, lambda87. Although the currently accepted value for lambda87 of 1.42 × 10-11a-1 has been in use for over 30 years, there is growing evidence that it is not accurate. Recent attempts to refine lambda87 and its precision have not reached a consensus. This thesis describes a new experiment to measure lambda87 by 87Sr accumulation over a period of about 30 years, and the preparation of a 84-86Sr double-spike in conjunction with that experiment. Radiogenic 87Sr produced in aliquots of a RbClO4 salt was measured by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry. An average of 31 measurements yields a value of 1.398 ± 0.003 × 10-11a-1 . This requires a substantial revision from the previously accepted decay constant and makes Rb-Sr ages calculated with it 1.5% older. A Rb-Sr and U-Pb isotopic chronometry study was carried out on thirteen ordinary chondrites – the most common type of meteorite, the origin and history of which are still unclear. Some meteorites appear disturbed, possibly by recent shock during breakup of the parent body, whereas others yielded accurate and precise U-Pb and Pb-Pb ages. For example, L5 Elenovka yielded distinct ages for silicates (4555 Ma) and phosphates (4535 Ma), allowing the cooling rate of this meteorite from approximately 1055 K to 759 K to be constrained to 15 ± 3 K/Ma. Rb-Sr yielded less precise ages than U-Pb, but using the new decay constant allows accurate comparison between the two methods. This study creates a firm foundation for future studies in thermal history of chondrites and terrestrial metamorphic complexes using Rb-Sr together with other isotopic chronometers.