No description available.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho e investigar teoricamente a variação de uma possível distribuição espacial para átomos de sódio confinados em uma armadilha magneto-ótica, quando os feixes laser aprisionantes nas direções x e y acham-se desalinhados formando um caminho fechado. Utilizamos um tratamento bastante simplificado, baseado em simulação numérica, no qual estes átomos são considerados como sistemas de dois níveis, observando estruturas em forma de anéis sem a necessidade de levar em conta efeitos coletivos. Este fato confirma os resultados experimentais obtidos por nosso grupo, onde os raios destas estruturas são independentes do número de átomos aprisionados. As simulações mostram efeitos de desbalanço de intensidade, falta de paralelismo e outros na distribuição em anel formada pelos átomos. / The main objective of this work is to investigate theoretically the variations in a possible spatial distribution for sodium atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap when the laser beams in the x and y directions are misaligned in a closed-path configuration. We employ a simplified approach, based on numerical simulation, in which these atoms are considered as two-level systems, predicting the existence of ring-shaped structures without the necessity of taking into account collective effects. This fact confirms the experimental results obtained by our group, where the radii of these structures are independent of the number of trapped atoms. These simulations also exhibit effects due to intensity imbalance and lack of parallelism of the trapping beams, as well as other effects, which influence the ring-shaped distributions of the atoms.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho e investigar teoricamente a variação de uma possível distribuição espacial para átomos de sódio confinados em uma armadilha magneto-ótica, quando os feixes laser aprisionantes nas direções x e y acham-se desalinhados formando um caminho fechado. Utilizamos um tratamento bastante simplificado, baseado em simulação numérica, no qual estes átomos são considerados como sistemas de dois níveis, observando estruturas em forma de anéis sem a necessidade de levar em conta efeitos coletivos. Este fato confirma os resultados experimentais obtidos por nosso grupo, onde os raios destas estruturas são independentes do número de átomos aprisionados. As simulações mostram efeitos de desbalanço de intensidade, falta de paralelismo e outros na distribuição em anel formada pelos átomos. / The main objective of this work is to investigate theoretically the variations in a possible spatial distribution for sodium atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap when the laser beams in the x and y directions are misaligned in a closed-path configuration. We employ a simplified approach, based on numerical simulation, in which these atoms are considered as two-level systems, predicting the existence of ring-shaped structures without the necessity of taking into account collective effects. This fact confirms the experimental results obtained by our group, where the radii of these structures are independent of the number of trapped atoms. These simulations also exhibit effects due to intensity imbalance and lack of parallelism of the trapping beams, as well as other effects, which influence the ring-shaped distributions of the atoms.

Neste trabalho demonstramos o confinamento de átomos de sódio usando a armadilha magneto-óptica, onde os átomos foram capturados diretamente a partir da distribuição inicial do vapor atômico a uma temperatura ambiente, contido em uma célula fechada. Observamos além da nuvem de átomos aprisionados, estruturas circulares em forma de anek, que surgem devido ao desalinhamento introduzido nos feixes de aprisionamento. Estudamos o comportamento do raio do anel em função de vários parâmetros utilizados na armadilha magneto-óptica como por exemplo: gradiente de campo magnético, intensidade do laser, dessintonia e desalinhamento. Os experimentos foram realizados no regime de baixa densidade (N<10s) onde o raio do anel é independente do número de átomos aprisionados. Assim, os resultados obtidos podem ser explicados utilizando um modelo simples que leva em conta a força de vórtice dependente da coordenada radial (ou macroscópica) e as forças usuais presentes na armadilha magneto-óptica / In this work we demonstrate the confinement of neutral sodium atoms using the magneto-optical trap, where the atoms were captured directly from the low velocity tail of the room-temperature atomic vapor contained in the closed vacuum cell. We observed besides the cloud shaped, circular structures like a ring of trapped atoms that apeears when we introduce a misalignment among the trapping beams. We studied the behavior of ring radius with respect to several trapping parameters as: magnetic-field gradient, laser intensity, detuning, and misalignment. The experiments were performed in the low density regime (N<10s), so the ring radius is independent of the number of trapped atoms. Hence, the results obtained can be explained using a simple model that takes into account a radial coordinate dependent (or macroscopic) vortex force and the usual magneto-optical trap forces

Neste trabalho demonstramos o confinamento de átomos de sódio usando a armadilha magneto-óptica, onde os átomos foram capturados diretamente a partir da distribuição inicial do vapor atômico a uma temperatura ambiente, contido em uma célula fechada. Observamos além da nuvem de átomos aprisionados, estruturas circulares em forma de anek, que surgem devido ao desalinhamento introduzido nos feixes de aprisionamento. Estudamos o comportamento do raio do anel em função de vários parâmetros utilizados na armadilha magneto-óptica como por exemplo: gradiente de campo magnético, intensidade do laser, dessintonia e desalinhamento. Os experimentos foram realizados no regime de baixa densidade (N<10s) onde o raio do anel é independente do número de átomos aprisionados. Assim, os resultados obtidos podem ser explicados utilizando um modelo simples que leva em conta a força de vórtice dependente da coordenada radial (ou macroscópica) e as forças usuais presentes na armadilha magneto-óptica / In this work we demonstrate the confinement of neutral sodium atoms using the magneto-optical trap, where the atoms were captured directly from the low velocity tail of the room-temperature atomic vapor contained in the closed vacuum cell. We observed besides the cloud shaped, circular structures like a ring of trapped atoms that apeears when we introduce a misalignment among the trapping beams. We studied the behavior of ring radius with respect to several trapping parameters as: magnetic-field gradient, laser intensity, detuning, and misalignment. The experiments were performed in the low density regime (N<10s), so the ring radius is independent of the number of trapped atoms. Hence, the results obtained can be explained using a simple model that takes into account a radial coordinate dependent (or macroscopic) vortex force and the usual magneto-optical trap forces

The behavior of the electric and magnetic fields in the upper atmosphere of the Earth is scientifically interesting but difficult to study, since balloons and aircraft are unable to fly high enough to measure it directly. Sounding rockets, which make a one-time flight carrying instruments that measure the environment around them, have been successfully used to study the upper atmosphere. As the rocket flies through the upper atmosphere, it radios down data about the environment. When scientists on the ground use this data to construct a picture of the upper atmosphere, they run into a problem: the fields reported by the rocket change over time, but it is not clear whether this is because these fields are actually changing in time, or just because the rocket has moved to a different place where the fields are different. This inability to determine whether changes are happening in time or space is called the temporal-spatial ambiguity. This thesis describes the Auroral Spatial Structures Probe (ASSP), a sounding rocket mission that attempts to resolve the temporal-spatial ambiguity by using multiple payloads flying in formation. Several payloads will pass through and measure the same point in space one after another, which will enable us to see how the fields are changing over time.

No description available.

In a quest to design novel deployable structures, flexible polyhedra provide interesting insights. This work follows the discovery of flexible polyhedra and aims to make flexible polyhedra more useful. The dissertation describes how flexible polyhedra can be made. The flexible polyhedra first considered in this dissertation have a rotational degree of freedom. The range of this rotational movement is measured and maximised in this work by numerical maximisation. All polyhedra are established computationally: an iterative solution method is used to find vertex coordinates; several clash detecting methods are described to define whether each rotational position of a flexible polyhedron is physically possible; then a range of motion is defined between occurrences of clashes at the two ends; finally, an optimisation tool is used to maximise the range of motion. By using these tools, the range of motion of two types of simplest flexible polyhedra are maximised. The first type is a series of flexible polyhedra generalised from the Steffen flexible polyhedron. The range of motion of this type is improved to double that of Steffen’s original, from 27° to 59°. Another type of flexible polyhedron is expanded from a model provided by Tachi. Based on the understanding of Steffen’s flexible polyhedron, optimisation parameters are carefully given. This new type has achieved a wider range of motion, so now the range of motion of flexible polyhedron is tripled to 80°. After enlarging the range of motion of the degree of freedom in the 1-dof systems, the dissertation found multiple degrees of freedom in one polyhedron. The multiple mechanisms can be even repetitive, so that an n-dof polyhedron is found. A polyhedron of two degrees of freedom is first presented. Then, a unit cell for any number of mechanisms is found. As a repetitive structure, a 3-dof polyhedron is presented. Finally, this work presents the possibility of configuring a flexible polyhedral torus and a closed polyhedral surface that is able to flex without the need to stop.