The Log-Periodic Loop Antenna with Ground Reflector (LPLA-GR) is investigated as a new type of antenna, which provides wide bandwidth, broad beamwidth, and high gain. This antenna has smaller transverse dimensions (by a factor of 2/pi) than a log-periodic dipole antenna with comparable radiation characteristics. Several geometries with different parameters are analyzed numerically using ESP code, which is based on the method of moments. A LPLA-GR with 6 turns and a cone angle of 30* offers the most promising radiation characteristics. This antenna yields 47.6 % gain bandwidth and 12 dB gain according to the numerical analysis. The LPLA-GR also provides linear polarization and unidirectional patterns. Three prototype antennas were constructed and measured in the Virginia Tech Antenna Laboratory. Far-field patterns and input impedance were measured over a wide range of frequencies. The measured results agree well with the calculated results. Because of its wide bandwidth, high gain, and small size, the LPLA is expected to find applications as feeds for reflector antennas, as detectors in EMC scattering range, and as mobile communication antennas. / Master of Science

To accurately solve the general nuclear spin state function in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), a rotation wave approach was employed, allowing the reference frame to rotate in sync with the oscillating magnetic field. The spin state system was analogously treated as a Rubik's Cube, ensuring the diagonalization of only the time-dependent part of the state function. Although Gottfried's equation (1966) aligns with transitions between specific spin states m and m′, his second rotation contradicts the conservation of angular momentum, resulting in inaccuracies for spin states with initial phase shifts or entangled states. Contrarily, Schwinger (1937) efficiently computed the coefficients for each spin state in a frequency range opposite to the Larmor frequency, using an unorthodox approach in quantum mechanics, which unfortunately led to the oversight of his work in subsequent citations. This methodology was also applied to derive the general electron spin state function in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), enabling the construction of a doubly rotated ground state for time-dependent perturbation theory. This was particularly relevant as the Hamiltonians for magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, and magnetic octupole moments incorporate powers of I · J terms, necessitating the calculation of sub-state energy levels for perturbation, including those of molecules 14N7 and 7Li3. Furthermore, the study expanded to the general Lie group for 3D rotations along three linearly independent axes, resulting in 12 distinct methods to achieve rotations in any arbitrary direction using these axes, yielding wave function with only one spin operator in each exponent. The ongoing research is now concentrated on generating NMR spectra for 14N7 in amino acids, furthering the understanding of nuclear spin dynamics in complex molecular systems.

Achieving the quantum control of ever more complex systems has been a driving force of atomic, molecular, and optical physics. This goal has materialized in the harnessing of systems with increasingly rich structures and interactions: the more sophisticated the system, the more faceted and fascinating its application to fields as varied as quantum simulation, quantum information, many body physics, metrology, and quantum chemistry. One of the current frontiers of quantum control is ultracold dipolar molecules. They present rich internal structures and long-range, anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions which promise to revolutionize AMO physics, for example by realizing realistic Hamiltonians in quantum simulation, by providing a new platform for quantum information, and by achieving a novel kind of quantum liquid. Despite its promises, the full quantum control of dipolar molecules has been over a decade in the making. The difficulties in either directly laser cooling molecules or in collisionally stabilizing their bulk samples have been major roadblocks that have hampered the development of this quantum system. The realization of a Bose-Einstein condensate of dipolar molecules has been a particularly elusive milestone. In this thesis, I report on the first observation of this quantum state of matter. The work that brought us to this achievement parallels the historical evolution of AMO physics in the last thirty years. To reach a BEC of molecules, we initially constructed a dual species experiment capable of realizing the simultaneous Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs). Individual BECs of sodium and cesium were first reported in 1995 and 2003 respectively, while our experiment was the first instance of their concurrent condensation. The study of the Na-Cs interatomic scattering properties in an homogeneous magnetic field showed us the path to the Feshbach association of loosely-bound sodium-cesium (NaCs) molecules, a technique first demonstrated in 2006 for heteronuclear molecules but never attempted on our species. Following the Feschbach association, we determined a novel pathway to the molecular electronic, vibrational and rotational ground state using STIRAP. From this point, we found ourselves at the forefront of the field: bulk samples of bosonic molecules such as NaCs had neither been stabilized against collisional losses nor evaporatively cooled. At first, we successfully applied a single-frequency microwave shielding approach to decrease in-bulk losses by a factor of 200 and reach lifetimes on the order of 2 s, allowing us to measure high elastic scattering rates and characterize their dipolar anisotropy. Moreover, we demonstrated the first evaporative cooling of a bosonic molecular gas by increasing its phase-spacedensity by a factor of 20 and reaching a temperature of 36(5) nK. Since this proved insufficient to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation due to unexpected three-body losses, we introduced an enhanced microwave shielding technique, double microwave shielding. This further decreased loss rates enabling efficient evaporative cooling of our sample to a long-lived Bose-Einstein condensate of dipolar molecules. This new double microwave shielding technique also allows the tunability of the strength of dipole-dipole interaction, establishing ultracold bosonic dipolar molecules as a new quantum liquid for the exploration of many body physics. In addition to the experimental work on dipolar NaCs, we have theoretically explored the field of direct molecular laser cooling. Our aim was twofold: we aimed to expand the category of molecules that can be laser cooled and to simplify the identification of laser cycling schemes. For the former goal, we lifted the widespread assumption that only molecules with diagonal Franck-Condon factors could be laser cooled. For the latter, we decided to employ publicly available repositories of molecular transitions. A second consequence of the use of these databases is that they contain data on molecules of interest to other scientific fields, further establishing direct laser cooling as a technique that could be of interest beyond AMO physics. Our work was successful in that we identified laser cycling schemes for C₂ and OH+. To simplify the determination of laser cycling schemes, we developed a graph-based algorithm form their identification starting from spectroscopic data.

There is great interest in the development of new polar dielectric ceramics and multiferroic materials with new and improved properties. A family of tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) relaxors of composition Ba₆M³⁺Nb₉O₃₀ (M³⁺ = Ga³⁺, Sc³⁺ and In³⁺, and also their solid solutions) were studied in an attempt to understand their dielectric properties to enable design of novel polar TTB materials. A combination of electrical measurements (dielectric and impedance spectroscopy) and powder diffraction (X-ray and neutron) studies as a function of temperature was employed for characterising the dynamic dipole response in these materials. The effect of B-site doping on fundamental dipolar relaxation parameters were investigated by independently fitting the dielectric permittivity to the Vogel-Fulcher (VF) model, and the dielectric loss to Universal Dielectric Response (UDR) and Arrhenius models. These studies showed an increase in the characteristic dipole freezing temperature (T[subscript(f)]) with increase B-cation radius. Crystallographic data indicated a corresponding maximum in tetragonal strain at T[subscript(f)], consistent with the slowing and eventual freezing of dipoles. In addition, the B1 crystallographic site was shown to be most active in terms of the dipolar response. A more in-depth analysis of the relaxor behaviour of these materials revealed that, with the stepwise increase in the ionic radius of the M³⁺ cation on the B-site within the Sc-In solid solution series, the Vogel-Fulcher curves (lnf vs. T[subscript(m)]) are displaced to higher temperatures, while the degree of relaxor behaviour (frequency dependence) increases. Unfortunately, additional features appear in the dielectric spectroscopy data, dramatically affecting the Vogel-Fulcher fitting parameters. A parametric study of the reproducibility of acquisition and analysis of dielectric data was therefore carried out. The applicability of the Vogel-Fulcher expression to fit dielectric permittivity data was investigated, from the simple unrestricted (“free”) fit to a wider range of imposed values for the VF relaxation parameters that fit with high accuracy the experimental data. The reproducibility of the dielectric data and the relaxation parameters obtained by VF fitting were shown to be highly sensitive to the thermal history of samples and also the conditions during dielectric data acquisition (i.e., heating/cooling rate). In contrast, UDR analysis of the dielectric loss data provided far more reproducible results, and to an extent was able to partially deconvolute the additional relaxation processes present in these materials. The exact nature of these additional relaxations is not yet fully understood. It was concluded application of the Vogel-Fulcher model should be undertaken with great care. The UDR model may represent a feasible alternative to the evaluation of fundamental relaxation parameters, and a step forward towards the understanding of the dielectric processes in tetragonal tungsten bronzes.

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.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:38:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Engelbert de Souza Folkuenig.pdf: 8804704 bytes, checksum: 956aed781c64725afe3d6dc23b53947c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-10 / Several electrochemical processes, such as electrocatalysis of organic substrates, make use of mediators. One of the mediators is the most commonly used anion methanesulfonate, CH3SO3, which has several advantages for such use, and chemical stability considered one of them. However, experimental studies indicate the possibility of this compound suffer the adsorption and decomposition on platinum electrodes. To get an understanding at the molecular level these processes, computer simulations were performed with the aid of the semi-empirical PM6. The cluster approach was used in the modeling of platinum surfaces with crystallographic orientations (111) and (100). The symmetries of most stable adsorption calculated for the anion in these areas correspond to the experimental data: C3V symmetry in (111) surface and C1 in (100) surface. To simulate the potential applied to the electrode, external electric fields with a positive sign and perpendicular to the surface of the clusters were applied. Changes in the lengths and angles of bonds adsorbed anion, as well as its values of dipole moment were observed. The infrared spectra of the systems anion-clusters were calculated and the values for the Stark tunning rate (Δstark) of mode δs CH3 were compared with the experimental value. Both for the free anion and for systems where the anion is adsorbed, it was found that the values of Δstark assumed negative values (indicating that the frequency of the vibrational mode δs CH3 diminished with increasing external eletric field), opposite to the experimental positive value (frequency mode δs CH3 increases with the increase in potential). Only with the addition of water molecules in the systems studied, in order to simulate the aqueous solvent is that the values of Δstark started to assume a positive value. The comparison showed the importance of the presence of water molecules in the simulation of an electrochemical system and prompted a detailed analysis of the frontier orbitals involved in this process. It was found that the dipole-dipole coupling between water molecules and the adsorbed anion is responsible for the Stark effect, while the electrostatic interactions between various molecules adsorbed anion affect the intensity of the absorption band mode δs CH3 in the spectra calculated. In (100) surfaces, the joint action of external field and water molecules, lead the anion molecule to adopt the adsorption geometries more inclined to systems without water molecules, indicating that this may be an important factor in explaining the greater reactivity of the anion on the surface. / Vários processos eletroquímicos, como por exemplo a eletrocatálise de substratos orgânicos, fazem uso de mediadores. Um dos mediadores mais utilizados é o ânion metanossulfonato, CH3SO3¯, que apresenta várias vantagens para tal uso, sendo a estabilidade química considerada uma delas. No entanto, estudos experimentais apontam para a possibilidade desse ânion sofrer processos de adsorção e decomposição em eletrodos de platina. Para se obter uma compreensão em nível molecular desses processos, simulações computacionais foram efetuadas com auxílio do método semi-empírico PM6. A aproximação de cluster foi utilizada na modelagem de superfícies de platina com orientações cristalográficas (111) e (100). As simetrias de adsorção mais estáveis calculadas para o ânion nessas superfícies correspondem aos dados experimentais: simetria C3v em superfície (111) e C1 em superfície (100). Para simular o potencial aplicado ao eletrodo, campos elétricos externos de sinal positivo e perpendiculares à superfície dos clusters foram aplicados. Alterações nos comprimentos e ângulos de ligações do ânion adsorvido, bem como em seus valores de momento dipolar foram observados. Os espectros de infravermelho dos sistemas ânion-clusters foram calculados e os valores para a taxa de variação Stark (Δstark) do modo δs CH3 foram comparados com o valor experimental. Tanto para o ânion livre quanto para os sistemas onde o ânion se encontra adsorvido, verificou-se que os valores de Δstark assumiam valores negativos (indicando que a frequência vibracional do modo δs CH3 diminuía com o aumento da intensidade do campo externo), ao contrário do valor experimental, positivo (frequência do modo δs CH3 aumenta com o aumento do potencial). Apenas com a adição de moléculas de água aos sistemas estudados, de modo a simular o solvente aquoso, é que os valores de Δstark passaram a assumir um valor positivo. Essa comparação revelou a importância da presença de moléculas de água na simulação de um sistema eletroquímico e motivou uma análise pormenorizada dos orbitais de fronteira envolvidos nesse processo. Verificou-se que a interação dipolo-dipolo entre as moléculas de água e o ânion adsorvido é o responsável pelo efeito Stark, enquanto as interações eletrostáticas entre várias moléculas do ânion adsorvidas afetam a intensidade da banda de absorção do modo δs CH3 nos espectros calculados. Nas superfícies (100), a ação conjunta do campo externo e das moléculas de água, levam a molécula do ânion a adotar geometrias de adsorção mais inclinadas em relação aos sistemas sem as moléculas de água, indicando que este pode ser um fator importante para explicar a maior reatividade do ânion sobre esse tipo de superfície.

Les atomes neutres sont des candidats prometteurs pour la réalisation et l’étude d’états intriqués à quelques dizaines de particules. Pour générer de tels états, une approche consiste à utiliser le mécanisme de blocage dipolaire résultant des fortes interactions dipôle-dipôle entre atomes de Rydberg.Suivant cette approche, cette thèse présente la conception et la caractérisation d’un dispositif expérimental permettant de manipuler des atomes de 87Rb individuels piégés dans des pinces op- tiques microscopiques, et à les exciter vers des états de Rydberg. Un environnement électrostatique stable et des électrodes de contrôle permettent une manipulation fine de ces états. Avec deux pinces optiques séparées de quelques microns, nous démontrons le blocage de Rydberg entre deux atomes, et nous observons leur excitation collective.Enfin, en opérant en régime de blocage partiel, nous développons une méthode permettant de mesurer l’interaction de van der Waals ∆E = C6 /R6 entre deux atomes séparés par une distance R contrôlée. Les coefficients C6 obtenus pour différents états de Rydberg sont en bon accord avec des calculs théoriques ab initio, et nous observons l’augmentation spectaculaire de l’interaction en fonction du nombre quantique principal n de l’état de Rydberg. / Neutral atoms are promising candidates for the realization of entangled states involving up to a few tens of particles. To generate such states, one approach consists in using the dipole blockade mechanism, which results from the strong dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms.Following this approach, this thesis describes the design and the characterization of an experimental apparatus allowing to manipulate single 87Rb atoms trapped in microscopic optical tweezers, and to excite them towards Rydberg states. A stable electrostatic environment and controlled electrodes enable the fine manipulation of these states. Using two optical tweezers separated by a few microns, we demonstrate the Rydberg blockade between two single atoms, and we observe their collective excitation.Finally, by operating in the partial blockade regime, we develop a method allowing to measure the van der Waals interaction ∆E = C6 /R6 between two atoms separated by a controlled distance R. The C6 coefficients obtained for various Rydberg states agree well with ab initio theoretical calculations, and we observe the dramatic increase of the interaction with the principal quantum number n of the Rydberg state.

Fundamental features of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems used in different application areas will be reviewed. Techniques used in realizing RFID antenna systems will be studied and the procedure to realize a specific RFID antenna type possessing desired characteristics will be described. Electrical properties such as radiation pattern, impedance will be predicted using analytical and/or computer simulation techniques. Experimental investigations will be carried out to complement the theoretical work.

No description available.

We give a brief introduction to atomic physics and the motivation behind our experiments in the first chapter. The electron’s electric dipole moment is an interesting quantity which is yet to be measured. In the 3rd Chapter, we use the technique of chopped non-linear magneto-optic rotation (NMOR) in a room temperature Cs vapor cell to measure the permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) in the atom. The cell has paraffin coating on the walls to increase the relaxation time. The signature of the EDM is a shift in the Larmor precession frequency correlated with the application of an E field. We analyze errors in the technique, and show that the main source of systematic error is the appearance of a longitudinal magnetic field when an electric field is applied. This error can be eliminated by doing measurements on the two ground hyperfine levels. Using an E field of 2.6 kV/cm, we place an upper limit on the electron EDM of 2.9 × 10−22 e-cm with 95% confidence. This limit can be increased by 7 orders-of-magnitude—and brought below the current best experimental value. We give future directions for how this may be achieved. In chapter 4, we examine the Hanle effect for linear and circularly polarized light for different ground states and we find opposite behavior in the transmission signal. In one case, it shifts from enhanced transmission to enhanced absorption and vice-versa in the other case. In Chapter 5, we study the transmission spectrum at different temperatures and device a way to find the number density. We then verify the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and also find the latent heat of vaporization of Cs. Finally, we wrap up with conclusions and future directions.