This thesis reports the use of both dc and ac electric fi eld induced resonant energy transfer, RET, between cold Rydberg atoms as a useful tool for enhancement of interatomic interactions. A general technique for laser frequency stabilization and its suitability for Rydberg atom excitation is also demonstrated. RET between cold Rydberg atoms was used to determine Rydberg atom energy levels. The ⁸⁵Rb atoms are laser cooled and trapped in a magneto-optical trap. For energy level determination experiment, atoms were optically excited to 32d₅/₂ Rydberg states. The two-atom process 32d₅/₂ + 32d₅/₂ → 34p₃/₂+30g is resonant at an electric fi eld of approximately 0.3 V/cm through dipole dipole interaction. The experimentally observed resonant fi eld, together with the Stark map calculation is used to make a determination of the ⁸⁵Rb ng-series quantum defect to be ⵒg(n = 30) = 0.00405(6). The ac Stark eff ect was also used to induce RET between cold Rydberg atoms. When a 28.5 GHz dressing field was set at speci fic fi eld strengths, the two-atom dipole-dipole process 43d₅/₂ + 43d₅/₂ → 45p₃/₂ + 41f was dramatically enhanced, due to induced degeneracy of the initial and final states. This method for enhancing interactions is complementary to dc electric- field-induced RET, but has more flexibility due to the possibility of varying the applied frequency. At a dressing field of 28.5 GHz all of the participating levels (43d₅/₂, 45p₃/₂ and 41f) show signi cant shifts and these give a complicated series of resonances. An oscillating electric fi eld at 1.356 GHz was also used to promote the above RET process where the atoms are initially excited to the 43d₅/₂ Rydberg states. The ac fi eld strength was scanned to collect RET spectra. Di fferent resonances were observed for diff erent magnetic sublevels involved in the process. Compared to the higher dressing field frequency of 28.5 GHz, the choice of dressing frequency of 1.356 GHz, which is slightly blue detuned from the 41f - 41g transition, and structure of the spectra may be understood, by analogy with the dc field case.

This thesis reports the use of both dc and ac electric fi eld induced resonant energy transfer, RET, between cold Rydberg atoms as a useful tool for enhancement of interatomic interactions. A general technique for laser frequency stabilization and its suitability for Rydberg atom excitation is also demonstrated. RET between cold Rydberg atoms was used to determine Rydberg atom energy levels. The ⁸⁵Rb atoms are laser cooled and trapped in a magneto-optical trap. For energy level determination experiment, atoms were optically excited to 32d₅/₂ Rydberg states. The two-atom process 32d₅/₂ + 32d₅/₂ → 34p₃/₂+30g is resonant at an electric fi eld of approximately 0.3 V/cm through dipole dipole interaction. The experimentally observed resonant fi eld, together with the Stark map calculation is used to make a determination of the ⁸⁵Rb ng-series quantum defect to be ⵒg(n = 30) = 0.00405(6). The ac Stark eff ect was also used to induce RET between cold Rydberg atoms. When a 28.5 GHz dressing field was set at speci fic fi eld strengths, the two-atom dipole-dipole process 43d₅/₂ + 43d₅/₂ → 45p₃/₂ + 41f was dramatically enhanced, due to induced degeneracy of the initial and final states. This method for enhancing interactions is complementary to dc electric- field-induced RET, but has more flexibility due to the possibility of varying the applied frequency. At a dressing field of 28.5 GHz all of the participating levels (43d₅/₂, 45p₃/₂ and 41f) show signi cant shifts and these give a complicated series of resonances. An oscillating electric fi eld at 1.356 GHz was also used to promote the above RET process where the atoms are initially excited to the 43d₅/₂ Rydberg states. The ac fi eld strength was scanned to collect RET spectra. Di fferent resonances were observed for diff erent magnetic sublevels involved in the process. Compared to the higher dressing field frequency of 28.5 GHz, the choice of dressing frequency of 1.356 GHz, which is slightly blue detuned from the 41f - 41g transition, and structure of the spectra may be understood, by analogy with the dc field case.

A blue sky, a white cloud or a red sunset are explained by classical multiple scattering theory of light. However, these phenomena neglect interference occurrence. Once it is taken into account, interference in a disordered medium may actually put a halt to the propagation of light, an effect known as Anderson Localization. Until now, experimental reports of Anderson Localization of light in 3D systems have not been conclusive. Our goal is to understand what are the underlying obstacles, and look for new insights from a theoretical point of view. In this dissertation, the properties of a cloud of two-level atoms scattering light are investigated. The dipole-dipole interaction generates collective modes, some of them, being localized. We found that finite-size effects dominate the lifetime of the localized modes, specifically by the ratio of localization length to their distance to the system boundaries. Localized modes saturates at maximum of 20% even above phase transition. Studying the steady-state regime, the coupling between localized modes and light is weak. Both results agrees with the difficulty of experimental evidence of light localization and promote the link of experiments and theory. / Um céu azul, uma nuvem branca ou um por do sol vermelho são explicados pela teoria clássica de espalhamento múltiplo da luz. No entanto, esses fenômenos negligenciam a ocorrência de interferências. Uma vez levada em conta, a interferência em um meio desordenado pode interromper a propagação da luz, um efeito conhecido como Localização de Anderson. Até agora, relatos experimentais de Anderson Localização de luz em sistemas 3D não foram conclusivos. Nosso objetivo é entender quais são os obstáculos fundamentais, e buscar novos insights do ponto de vista teórico. Nesta dissertação, as propriedades de uma nuvem de átomos de dois níveis espalhando luz de é investigado. A interação dipolo-dipolo gera modos coletivos, alguns deles, sendo localizados. Descobrimos que os efeitos de tamanho finito dominam o tempo de vida dos modos localizados, especificamente pela razão entre o comprimento da localização e sua distância até os limites do sistema. Os modos localizados saturam no máximo 20%, mesmo acima da transição de fase. Estudando o regime de estado estacionário, o acoplamento entre modos localizados e luz é fraco. Ambos os resultados concordam com a dificuldade da evidência experimental da localização da luz e promovem a ligação entre experimentos e teoria.

No description available.

Cette thèse couvre l'auto-assemblage de particules dipolaires (magnétiques/électriques). Ces systèmes sont abondants en physique de la matière condensée (molécules et nanoparticules magnétiques, particules colloïdales magnétiques, bactérie magnétotactique, etc.). Sur un plan fondamental, ils représentent un défi important en raison de l'anisotropie et de la longue portée de l'interaction de paire. Le principal objectif de ce travail de recherche est de prédire les microstructures de ces systèmes en tenant compte de façon adéquate de l'interaction complexe dipôle-dipôle ainsi que des effets stériques et ceux dus à un éventuel confinement. Comprendre et revisiter les interactions de filaments dipolaires tels que des aiguilles et des chaînes faites de billes dipolaires est une première étape importante de cette thèse. En effet, les chaînes sont les constituants élémentaires de nombreux systèmes dipolaires, notamment sous l'effet d'un champ magnétique extérieur appliqué. Ensuite, l'agrégation colonnaire des chaînes dipolaires est examinée, ce qui conduit aussi naturellement à l'étude des cristaux dipolaires massifs où une nouvelle phase est découverte. Le cas plus générique des chaînes hélicoïdales est discuté en considérant les situations limites que sont les chaînes linéaires droites et en zigzag. L'association des chaînes dipolaires, dans le cas bidimensionnel, forme des rubans, puis une monocouche avec un réseau hexagonal. La réponse non triviale d'un tel réseau à un champ magnétique perpendiculaire imposé est aussi étudiée. Il est démontré qu'un réseau rhombique peut être induit de cette façon. Finalement, la sédimentation de particules paramagnétiques dans une monocouche inclinée en présence d'un champ magnétique est explorée via une étude mêlant expériences, théorie et simulations. L'ordre induit par gravité s'avère être une voie prometteuse pour l'élaboration contrôlée de réseaux bidimensionnels / This thesis covers the self-assembly of dipolar (magnetic/dielectric) particles. These systems are abundant in condensed matter physics (magnetic molecules and nanoparticles, magnetic colloidal particles, magnetotactic bacteria, etc). They also represent a fundamental challenge owing to the both long range and anisotropic nature of the pair interaction. The main objective of this research work is to predict the microstructures of these systems by properly handling the intricate dipole-dipole interaction combined with steric and possibly confinement effects. Understanding and revisiting the interaction of dipolar filaments such as needles or chains made up of dipolar beads is a first important achievement in this thesis. Indeed, the chains are the fundamental building blocks of many dipolar systems especially under applied external magnetic field. Then, the columnar aggregation of dipolar chains is investigated which naturally leads to the study of the bulk dipolar crystals. A new phase is discovered there. The more generic case of helical chains is discussed by considering limiting situations such as straight linear chains and zigzag chains. The association of dipolar chains in two-dimensions forms ribbons then a monolayer with triangular lattice symmetry. The interesting response of such a layer to an imposed perpendicular magnetic is addressed as well. It is demonstrated that rhombicity can be induced that way. Finally, sedimenting paramagnetic particles in a tilted monolayer in presence of a magnetic field are investigated by experiments, theory and simulations. The gravity-mediated ordering is found to be a promising route to elaborate tailored two-dimensional patterns

Lorsque l’on place des atomes suffisamment proches les uns des autres, l’interaction dipôle-dipôle résonante entre les atomes modifie leurs propriétés. Les atomes se comportent alors de manière collective. Ces effets collectifs se produisent lorsque les distances interparticulaires sont de l’ordre de l/(2Pi), où l est la longueur d’onde de la transition atomique. La densité atomique est alors de l’ordre de 10^14 at/cm^3. Afin de créer des échantillons d’atomes froids présentant des densités aussi élevées, nous avons mis en place plusieurs méthodes de chargement de nos pinces optiques de taille micrométrique. L’une d’elles utilise un processus d’évaporation forcée qui amène les atomes proches de la dégénérescence quantique. En utilisant des nuages denses contenant quelques centaines d’atomes à des densités spatiales élevées, et en étudiant les modifications de la diffusion de la lumière qui en résultent, nous avons pu mettre en évidence des effets collectifs entre les atomes. Nous avons par ailleurs mesuré le retard de Wigner associé à la diffusion élastique de la lumière par un atome unique de rubidium. Nous avons mesuré un retard proche de la valeur théorique, c’est-à-dire deux fois la durée de vie de la transition atomique (52 ns). / When several atoms are placed close to each other, the resonant dipole-dipole interactionbetween atoms modifies the atomic properties and atoms behave collectively. These collective effects occur for interatomic distances on the order of l/(2Pi) where l is the wavelength of the atomic transition. The atomic density is then on the order of 10^14 at/cm^3. To create such cold atomic samples, we load optical tweezers with a microscopic size according to several loading schemes. One of them uses forced evaporative cooling and brings the atoms close to quantum degeneracy. We have used dense clouds containing a few hundred atoms with a high spatial density to demonstrate collective effects between the atoms. In particular, we have studied how these effects modify the scattering of light by the cloud. Besides, we have also measured for the first time the time-delay associated to the elastic scattering of light by a single rubidium atom, the so-called Wigner delay. We have shown that this delay is close to the theoretical prediction of twice the lifetime of the atomic transition (52 ns).

SENA FILHO, Roberto Ferreira. Teoria microscópica de ondas de spin em nanofios magnéticos. 2007. 74 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Física) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Física, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2007. / Submitted by Edvander Pires (edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T19:45:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_rfsenafilho.pdf: 3612063 bytes, checksum: 5cbe75be9b4bf3c77cd9b1136fad2a2a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edvander Pires(edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T19:46:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_rfsenafilho.pdf: 3612063 bytes, checksum: 5cbe75be9b4bf3c77cd9b1136fad2a2a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-22T19:46:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_rfsenafilho.pdf: 3612063 bytes, checksum: 5cbe75be9b4bf3c77cd9b1136fad2a2a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / The dynamical behavior of spins in magnetic materials is affected by its geometry and dimensionality. One can find several new results in the literature exploiting the magnetic properties of low dimension systems with different geometries, since the development of new devices such as: nanosensors, high density magnetic storage, etc., is closely related to new geometries. In this piece of work, we study the propagation of spin waves on cylindrical magnetic nanowires described by a microscopic theory through the Heisenberg Hamiltonian, where we consider the spins fixed at the sites lattice and the transversal section of the wire is hexagonal. Our model takes into account the exchange interaction between the spins that can be ferromagnetic or antifferomagnetic, the interaction of an external field with the spins (Zeeman interaction), anisotropic interactions due to a preferred direction of magnetization, and finally dipole-dipole interactions. The spins are described by boson operators through Holstein-Primakoff representation. The equations of motion for the spins are written in terms of these operators and translational symmetry in a preferential direction allows us to calculate several excitations spectra. / O comportamento dinâmico de spins em materiais magnéticos é influenciado pela geometria que eles apresentam. Além disso, outro aspecto relevante é a dimensionalidade do sistema. Trabalhos recentes comprovam o interesse do estudo das propriedades magnéticas em sistemas de baixa dimensionalidade, que é devido em grande parte as aplicações tecnológicas, tais como: nanosensores, gravadores magnéticos de alta densidade, dispositivos magneto-eletrônicos, etc. Neste trabalho estudamos a propagação de ondas de spin em nanofios magnéticos cilíndricos, onde a abordagem é feita utilizando teoria microscópica, através do Hamiltoniano de Heisenberg, em que os spins são considerados fixos nos sítios da rede e cuja geometria da seção transversal dos cilindros é hexagonal. Entre as interações magnéticas estudadas consideramos: a interação de troca que pode ser ferromagnética se os primeiros vizinhos dos spins estão numa configuração paralela, ou antiferromagnética se estiverem antiparelelos; a interação Zeeman que é devido ao campo magnético externo aplicado ao sistema; a interação de Anisotropia, esta sendo responsável pela direção de magnetização preferida que diversos sistemas magnéticos reais apresentam e a interação dipolar de natureza magnetostática, presente em todos os materiais. O formalismo leva em consideração a dependência espacial dos spins no sistema, onde os operadores de spin do hamiltoniano são escritos em termos de operadores bosônicos de criação e aniquilação através da Representação de Holstein-Primakoff. Em seguida, aproveitando-se da simetria translacional em uma direção devido a periodicidade da rede, realizamos a transformada de Fourier para estes operadores fornecendo um sistema de equações matriciais no espaço dos vetores de onda. A partir desse sistema de equações obtemos vários espectros de excitação como: a relação de dispersão para as ondas de spin, que é o gráfico onde mostra como a frequência de ondas de spin varia em função do vetor de onda e a variação da energia do sistema com o campo aplicado.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O comportamento dinÃmico de spins em materiais magnÃticos à influenciado pela geometria que eles apresentam. AlÃm disso, outro aspecto relevante à a dimensionalidade do sistema. Trabalhos recentes comprovam o interesse do estudo das propriedades magnÃticas em sistemas de baixa dimensionalidade, que à devido em grande parte as aplicaÃÃes tecnolÃgicas, tais como: nanosensores, gravadores magnÃticos de alta densidade, dispositivos magneto-eletrÃnicos, etc. Neste trabalho estudamos a propagaÃÃo de ondas de spin em nanofios magnÃticos cilÃndricos, onde a abordagem à feita utilizando teoria microscÃpica, atravÃs do Hamiltoniano de Heisenberg, em que os spins sÃo considerados fixos nos sÃtios da rede e cuja geometria da seÃÃo transversal dos cilindros à hexagonal. Entre as interaÃÃes magnÃticas estudadas consideramos: a interaÃÃo de troca que pode ser ferromagnÃtica se os primeiros vizinhos dos spins estÃo numa configuraÃÃo paralela, ou antiferromagnÃtica se estiverem antiparelelos; a interaÃÃo Zeeman que à devido ao campo magnÃtico externo aplicado ao sistema; a interaÃÃo de Anisotropia, esta sendo responsÃvel pela direÃÃo de magnetizaÃÃo preferida que diversos sistemas magnÃticos reais apresentam e a interaÃÃo dipolar de natureza magnetostÃtica, presente em todos os materiais. O formalismo leva em consideraÃÃo a dependÃncia espacial dos spins no sistema, onde os operadores de spin do hamiltoniano sÃo escritos em termos de operadores bosÃnicos de criaÃÃo e aniquilaÃÃo atravÃs da RepresentaÃÃo de Holstein-Primakoff. Em seguida, aproveitando-se da simetria translacional em uma direÃÃo devido a periodicidade da rede, realizamos a transformada de Fourier para estes operadores fornecendo um sistema de equaÃÃes matriciais no espaÃo dos vetores de onda. A partir desse sistema de equaÃÃes obtemos vÃrios espectros de excitaÃÃo como: a relaÃÃo de dispersÃo para as ondas de spin, que à o grÃfico onde mostra como a frequÃncia de ondas de spin varia em funÃÃo do vetor de onda e a variaÃÃo da energia do sistema com o campo aplicado. / The dynamical behavior of spins in magnetic materials is affected by its geometry and dimensionality. One can find several new results in the literature exploiting the magnetic properties of low dimension systems with different geometries, since the development of new devices such as: nanosensors, high density magnetic storage, etc., is closely related to new geometries. In this piece of work, we study the propagation of spin waves on cylindrical magnetic nanowires described by a microscopic theory through the Heisenberg Hamiltonian, where we consider the spins fixed at the sites lattice and the transversal section of the wire is hexagonal. Our model takes into account the exchange interaction between the spins that can be ferromagnetic or antifferomagnetic, the interaction of an external field with the spins (Zeeman interaction), anisotropic interactions due to a preferred direction of magnetization, and finally dipole-dipole interactions. The spins are described by boson operators through Holstein-Primakoff representation. The equations of motion for the spins are written in terms of these operators and translational symmetry in a preferential direction allows us to calculate several excitations spectra.

Des atomes individuels piégés dans des matrices de pinces optiques et excités vers des états de Rydberg forment une plateforme expérimentale prometteuse pour la simulation quantique de modèles de spins. Lors de cette thèse, nous avons d’abord résolu le problème du chargement aléatoire des pièges, seulement 50 % d’entre eux étant chargés avec un atome. Nous avons développé une technique pour préparer des matrices 2D, puis 3D, d’atomes de 87Rb en les déplaçant un par un avec une pince optique mobile contrôlée par ordinateur. Nous avons ensuite réalisé le modèle d’Ising en excitant de manière cohérente les atomes depuis leur état électronique fondamental vers un niveau de Rydberg. Après avoir trouvé un régime optimal où l’interaction dipolaire entre deux atomes de Rydberg se réduit à une énergie de van der Waals, nous avons tenté de préparer adiabatiquement l’état de Néel qui minimise l’énergie d’interaction. Nous avons montré que l’efficacité de préparation étaitlimitée par la décohérence induite par les lasers d’excitation. Nous avons ensuite utilisé un autre régime d’interaction, le couplage dipolaire résonant, pour étudier des modèles de spins de type XY, dont le modèle Su-Schrieffer-Heeger, connu pour sa phase fermionique topologique protégée par une symétrie chirale. Ici, nous avons remplacé les fermions par des particules effectives de type `boson de cœur dur’, ce qui modifie les propriétés de cette phase. Nous avons d’abord retrouvé les propriétés à une particule, comme l’existence d’états de bords à énergie nulle. Nous avons ensuite préparé l’état fondamental à N corps pour un remplissage moitié, et observé sa dégénérescence causée par les états de bords, même en présence d’une perturbation qui lèverait cette dégénérescence dans le cas fermionique. Nous avons expliqué ce résultat par l’existence d’une symétrie plus générale, qui protège la phase bosonique. / Single atoms trapped in arrays of optical tweezers and excited to Rydberg states are a promising experimental platform for the quantum simulation of spin models. In this thesis, we first solved a long-standing challenge to this approach caused by the random loading of the traps, with only 50% of them filled with single atoms. We have engineered a robust and easy-to-use method to assemble perfectly filled two-dimensional arrays of 87Rb atoms by moving them one by one with a moveable optical tweezers controlled by computer, a technique further enhanced to trap, image and assemble three-dimensional arrays. We then implemented the quantum Ising model by coherently coupling ground-state atoms to a Rydberg level. After finding experimental parameters where the dipole-dipole interaction takes the ideal form of a van der Waals shift, we performed adiabatic preparation of the Néel state. We showed that the coherence time of our excitation lasers limited the efficiency of this technique. We then used a different type of interaction, a resonant dipolar coupling, to implement XY spin models and notably the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, known for its fermionic topological phase protected by the chiral symmetry. Here, we used effective hard-core bosons, which modify the properties of the topological phase. We first recovered known properties at the single particle level, such as the existence of localized zero-energy edge-states. Then, preparing the many-body ground state at half-filling, we observed a surprising robustness of its four-fold degeneracy upon applying a perturbation. This result was explained by the existence of a more general symmetry protecting the bosonic phase.

Cette thèse porte sur l’étude des interactions dipôle-dipôle entre des atomes de Rydberg froids formés au sein d'un jet supersonique, en particulier sur l'étude des transitions Landau-Zener autour d'une résonance de Förster dans des sytèmes de paires d'atomes de Rydberg. L'adiabaticité de la transition dépend de la distance entre les atomes de la paire et est contrôlée par l'application d'un champ électrique homogène dépendant du temps. L'étude des processus binaires, non collisionnels et dont l'efficacité est contrôlé par l'expérimentateur, permet de sonder l'environnement de chaque atome et constitue une mesure de la distribution de plus proches voisins. Nous en déduisons une méthode originale de mesure directe et précise de la densité d'un gaz de Rydberg. Cette méthode ne nécessite ni la connaissance du nombre d'atomes de Rydberg ni celle du volume du gaz. Après un passage adiabatique de paire, les atomes de Rydberg constituant cette paire se trouvent dans un état intriqué. Nous proposons une méthode pour prouver leur intrication, fondée sur la mesure de la fluctuation quantique au cours d'oscillations de Rabi entre des états de paire. / This thesis deals with the study of dipole-dipole interaction between Rydberg atoms, in particular of Landau-Zener transitions around a Förster resonance for Rydberg atoms pairs. The adiabaticity of the transition depends of the interatomic distance and is controlled by a time-dependant electric field. The adiabatic transition efficiency is the control knob to probe the nearest neighbour distribution. We infer a new and original method to measure the density of a gas very accurately by probing the nearest neighbour distibution in the gas, which depends parametrically on its density. Such adiabatic transitions should leave the pair of Rydberg atoms in an entangled state. We investigated how quantum fluctuations could reveal the atom entanglement, in two-atom Rabi oscillation measurements.