We calculate the rates of formation and detection of ultracold Cs2 molecules obtained from the photoassociation of ultracold atoms through the doublewell 0−g (6S1/2 + 6P3/2) state. We concentrate on two features previously observed experimentally and attributed to tunneling between the two wells [Vatasescu et al 2000 Phys. Rev. A 61 044701]. We show that the molecules obtained are in strongly b...

We have investigated a new radiation pressure trap which relies on optical pumping and does not require any magnetic field. It employs six circularly polarized divergent beams and works on the red of a Jg −→ Je = Jg + 1 atomic transition with Jg ≥ 1/2. We have demonstrated this trap with cesium atoms from a vapour cell using the 852 nm Jg = 4 −→ Je = 5 resonance transition. The trap contained u...

We have recently demonstrated the creation of regular strings of neutral caesium atoms in a standing wave optical dipole trap using optical tweezers [Y. Miroshnychenko et al., Nature, in press (2006)]. The rearrangement is realized atom-by-atom, extracting an atom and re-inserting it at the desired position with sub-micrometer resolution. We describe our experimental setup and present detailed ...

We have investigated a new radiation pressure trap which relies on optical pumping and does not require any magnetic field. It employs six circularly polarized divergent beams and works on the red of a Jg −→ Je = Jg + 1 atomic transition with Jg ≥ 1/2. We have demonstrated this trap with cesium atoms from a vapour cell using the 852 nm Jg = 4 −→ Je = 5 resonance transition. The trap contained u...

A continuous single-frequency tunable blue laser at 447.3 nm is developed by external-cavity frequency doubling of a tapered amplifier-boosted continuous-wave diode laser at cesium (Cs) D1 line. A maximum blue power of 178 mW with 50.8% conversion efficiency is obtained. It can be continuously tuned over a range around 1.6 GHz as the diode laser frequency is scanned across the F=4→F'...

We have prepared and detected quantum coherences of trapped cesium atoms with long dephasing times. Controlled transport by an "optical conveyor belt" over macroscopic distances preserves the atomic coherence with slight reduction of coherence time. The limiting dephasing effects are experimentally identified, and we present an analytical model of the reversible and irreversible dephasing mecha...

Cesium vapor interacting with a tightly focused, intense midinfrared s3.4 mmd source produces high harmonic radiation in the visible/UV spectral range. The measured yields of harmonic orders 9–17 are found to yield good quantitative agreement with numerical simulations that include both the single-atom and the macroscopic response. The 5th–9th harmonic orders are generated with sufficient pulse...

Recent activities in the field of time and frequency pursued at PTB were directed towards an improvement in quality and reliability of services offered by PTB. The infrastructure for realizing the time scale UTC (PTB) and the monitoring of PTB’s time services was modernized. Several calibration exercises were conducted which resulted in an improved knowledge of internal delays of PTB’s time com...

Coupling by the resonant dipole-dipole energy transfer between cold cesium Rydberg atoms is investigated using time-resolved narrow-band deexcitation spectroscopy. This technique combines the advantage of efficient Rydberg excitation with high-resolution spectroscopy at variable interaction times. Dipole-dipole interaction is observed spectroscopically as avoided level crossing. The coherent ch...

We present an alternative scheme for determining the frequencies of cesium (Cs) atom 6S-8S Doppler-free transitions. With the use of a single electro-optical crystal, we simultaneously narrow the laser linewidth, lock the laser frequency, and resolve a narrow spectrum point by point. The error budget for this scheme is presented, and we prove that the transition frequency obtained from the Cs c...