Studies of the 1^{1}S0_{0}--3^3P0_0 transition in atomic ytterbium for optical clocks and qubit arrays

We report an observation of the weak $6^{1}$S$_{0}$-$6^3$P$_0$ transition in $^{171,173}$Yb as an important step to establish Yb as a primary candidate for future optical frequency standards, and to open up a new approach for qubits using the $^{1}$S$_{0}$ and $^3$P$_0$ states of Yb atoms in an optical lattice.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Laser Cooling and Trapping of Neutral Strontium for Spectroscopic Measurements of Casimir-Polder Potentials

Casimir and Casimir-Polder effects are forces between electrically neutral bodies and particles in vacuum, arising entirely from quantum fluctuations. The modification to the vacuum electromagnetic-field modes imposed by the presence of any particle or surface can result in these mechanical forces, which are often the dominant interaction at small separations. These effects play an increasingly critical role in the operation of micro- and nano-mechanical systems as well as miniaturized atomic traps for precision sensors and quantum-information devices. Despite their fundamental importance, calculations present theoretical and numeric challenges, and precise atom-surface potential measurements are lacking in many geometric and distance regimes. The spectroscopic measurement of Casimir-Polder-induced energy level shifts in optical-lattice trapped atoms offers a new experimental method to probe atom-surface interactions. Strontium, the current front-runner among optical frequency metrology systems, has demonstrated characteristics ideal for such precision measurements. An alkaline earth atom possessing ultra-narrow intercombination transitions, strontium can be loaded into an optical lattice at the “magic” wavelength where the probe transition is unperturbed by the trap light. Translation of the lattice will permit controlled transport of tightly-confined atomic samples to well-calibrated atom- surface separations, while optical transition shifts serve as a direct probe of the Casimir-Polder potential. We have constructed a strontium magneto-optical trap (MOT) for future Casimir-Polder experiments. This thesis will describe the strontium apparatus, initial trap performance, and some details of the proposed measurement procedure

The Astropy Problem

The Astropy Project (http://astropy.org) is, in its own words, "a community effort to develop a single core package for Astronomy in Python and foster interoperability between Python astronomy packages." For five years this project has been managed, written, and operated as a grassroots, self-organized, almost entirely volunteer effort while the software is used by the majority of the astronomical community. Despite this, the project has always been and remains to this day effectively unfunded. Further, contributors receive little or no formal recognition for creating and supporting what is now critical software. This paper explores the problem in detail, outlines possible solutions to correct this, and presents a few suggestions on how to address the sustainability of general purpose astronomical software

The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook. A practical guide for improving vaccine communication and fighting misinformation

This handbook is for journalists, doctors, nurses, policy makers, researchers, teachers, students, parents – in short, it’s for everyone who wants to know more about the COVID-19 vaccines, how to talk to others about them, how to challenge misinformation about the vaccines. This handbook is self-contained but additionally provides access to a “wiki” of more detailed information

First Nation involvement in renewable energy projects in BC

First Nations in BC are participating in diverse and sustainable renewable energy projects and are interested in expanding their involvement. First Nations are using renewable energy projects to achieve economic, social, political, and environmental objectives. However, barriers, such as a lack of financing and community readiness, make it difficult for them to expand their participation in the industry.FacultyUnreviewe

First Nations and Renewable Energy Development in British Columbia

Although First Nations in British Columbia are active participants in the renewable energy sector, very little research has been conducted to assess the scope and implications of their involvement. Seeking to address this knowledge gap, the BC First Nations Clean Energy Working Group partnered with researchers at the University of Victoria’s School of Environmental Studies to conduct a province-wide survey. The survey asked respondents whether they were involved or interested in being involved in the industry, whether they had projects in operation or development, and whether they wished to be further involved. It also asked respondents to identify barriers to involvement and capacity building activities to date. The research team contacted 203 First Nations across the province from October 2016 to February 2017. In total, we received responses from 102 First Nations and 3 Tribal Councils. Our findings suggest that there is widespread involvement and interest in renewable energy among First Nations in BC, with 98% of respondents indicating they are already involved and/or wish to be more involved in the sector. The results identify a wide variety of projects, differing in size, technology, and application. Ownership, involvement and benefits also vary considerably depending on whether First Nations are the project proponents or joining projects proposed by others. Despite this multifaceted involvement and interest, 68% of respondents indicated they are experiencing substantial barriers to entry and expansion in renewable energy development. The three most common barriers included lack of opportunity in BC Hydro programs, financing, and community readiness.Prepared for B.C. First Nations Clean Energy Working GroupFacultyUnreviewe

Resonant Two-Photon Spectroscopy of the 2s3d \u3csup\u3e1\u3c/sup\u3eD\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e level of neutral \u3csup\u3e9\u3c/sup\u3eBe

We report an absolute frequency measurement of the 2s3d 1 D2 state in neutral 9Be using two-photon spectroscopy with a resonant intermediate state. The absolute center-of-gravity energy is determined to be 64 428.40 321(55) cm−1, a factor of 180 more precise than the previous experimental measurement. We also confirm our previous result for the energy of the intermediate 2s2p 1 P1 level. Precision is limited by unresolved hyperfine structure and the complications of performing resonant two-photon spectroscopy on an atomic beam. A three-level rate-equation analysis is presented to explore, and minimize, systematic uncertainties arising from small deviations of the angle between the atomic and optical beams off-perpendicular

Black Summer Arson: Examining the Impact of Climate Misinformation and Corrections on Reasoning

Climate misinformation has been identified as a barrier to mitigative action. One prominent example occurred when the 2019/2020 “Black Summer” bushfires in Australia were blamed on arson. This claim is cognitively attractive because of its simplicity and was widely publicised at the time, but also thoroughly debunked. In two experiments, we examined the impact of a misleading article implicating arson as the primary cause of the Black Summer fires on Australian (Exp. 1, N = 509) and Canadian (Exp. 2, N = 506) participants’ reasoning, associated donation behaviour, and climate change attitudes. The misinformation significantly influenced reasoning about the Black Summer and future fires in both experiments; it also reduced the donations of Australian participants to a local climate organisation and impacted Canadian participants’ reasoning about a novel, conceptually related (but fictional) flooding event. Corrections were largely effective at mitigating misinformation impact. A bolstered correction that portrayed climate change as an important causal factor through its impact on risks and emphasised the multicausality of natural disasters was more effective than a simple correction that merely refuted the misinformation. Climate change attitudes were largely unaffected by the misinformation and interventions. Our findings demonstrate that event-specific climate misinformation can influence reasoning beyond a specific event, and that corrections are broadly useful for combatting its effects