Response of Bose gases in time-dependent optical superlattices

The dynamic response of ultracold Bose gases in one-dimensional optical lattices and superlattices is investigated based on exact numerical time evolutions in the framework of the Bose-Hubbard model. The system is excited by a temporal amplitude modulation of the lattice potential, as it was done in recent experiments. For regular lattice potentials, the dynamic signatures of the superfluid to Mott-insulator transition are studied and the position and the fine-structure of the resonances is explained by a linear response analysis. Using direct simulations and the perturbative analysis it is shown that in the presence of a two-colour superlattice the excitation spectrum changes significantly when going from the homogeneous Mott-insulator the quasi Bose-glass phase. A characteristic and experimentally accessible signature for the quasi Bose-glass is the appearance of low-lying resonances and a suppression of the dominant resonance of the Mott-insulator phase.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures; added references and corrected typo

Review of the Laguerre-Gauss mode technology research program at Birmingham

Gravitational wave detectors from the advanced generation onwards are expected to be limited in sensitivity by thermal noise of the optics, making the reduction of this noise a key factor in the success of such detectors. A proposed method for reducing the impact of this noise is to use higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LG) modes for the readout beam, as opposed to the currently used fundamental mode. We present here a synopsis of the research program undertaken by the University of Birmingham into the suitability of LG mode technology for future gravitational wave detectors. This will cover our previous and current work on this topic, from initial simulations and table-top LG mode experiments up to implementation in a prototype scale suspended cavity and high-power laser bench

Photon pressure induced test mass deformation in gravitational-wave detectors

A widely used assumption within the gravitational-wave community has so far been that a test mass acts like a rigid body for frequencies in the detection band, i.e. for frequencies far below the first internal resonance. In this article we demonstrate that localized forces, applied for example by a photon pressure actuator, can result in a non-negligible elastic deformation of the test masses. For a photon pressure actuator setup used in the gravitational wave detector GEO600 we measured that this effect modifies the standard response function by 10% at 1 kHz and about 100% at 2.5 kHz

Bose-Fermi mixtures in 1D optical superlattices

The zero temperature phase diagram of binary boson-fermion mixtures in two-colour superlattices is investigated. The eigenvalue problem associated with the Bose-Fermi-Hubbard Hamiltonian is solved using an exact numerical diagonalization technique, supplemented by an adaptive basis truncation scheme. The physically motivated basis truncation allows to access larger systems in a fully controlled and very flexible framework. Several experimentally relevant observables, such as the matter-wave interference pattern and the condensatefraction, are investigated in order to explore the rich phase diagram. At symmetric half filling a phase similar to the Mott-insulating phase in a commensurate purely bosonic system is identified and an analogy to recent experiments is pointed out. Furthermore a phase of complete localization of the bosonic species generated by the repulsive boson-fermion interaction is identified. These localized condensates are of a different nature than the genuine Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Triple Michelson Interferometer for a Third-Generation Gravitational Wave Detector

The upcoming European design study `Einstein gravitational-wave Telescope' represents the first step towards a substantial, international effort for the design of a third-generation interferometric gravitational wave detector. It is generally believed that third-generation instruments might not be installed into existing infrastructures but will provoke a new search for optimal detector sites. Consequently, the detector design could be subject to fewer constraints than the on-going design of the second generation instruments. In particular, it will be prudent to investigate alternatives to the traditional L-shaped Michelson interferometer. In this article, we review an old proposal to use three Michelson interferometers in a triangular configuration. We use this example of a triple Michelson interferometer to clarify the terminology and will put this idea into the context of more recent research on interferometer technologies. Furthermore the benefits of a triangular detector will be used to motivate this design as a good starting point for a more detailed research effort towards a third-generation gravitational wave detector.Comment: Minor corrections to the main text and two additional appendices. 14 pages, 6 figure

On the formation of crack networks in high cycle fatigue

International audienceA probabilistic model based on an initial distribution of sites is proposed to describe different aspects of the formation, propagation and coalescence of crack networks in thermomechanical fatigue. The interaction between cracks is modeled by considering shielding effects

Optimal time-domain combination of the two calibrated output quadratures of GEO 600

GEO 600 is an interferometric gravitational wave detector with a 600 m arm-length and which uses a dual-recycled optical configuration to give enhanced sensitivity over certain frequencies in the detection band. Due to the dual-recycling, GEO 600 has two main output signals, both of which potentially contain gravitational wave signals. These two outputs are calibrated to strain using a time-domain method. In order to simplify the analysis of the GEO 600 data set, it is desirable to combine these two calibrated outputs to form a single strain signal that has optimal signal-to-noise ratio across the detection band. This paper describes a time-domain method for doing this combination. The method presented is similar to one developed for optimally combining the outputs of two colocated gravitational wave detectors. In the scheme presented in this paper, some simplifications are made to allow its implementation using time-domain methods

Stabilized jellium model and structural relaxation effects on the fragmentation energies of ionized silver clusters

Using the stabilized jellium model in two schemes of `relaxed' and `rigid', we have calculated the dissociation energies and the fission barrier heights for the binary fragmentations of singly-ionized and doubly-ionized Ag clusters. In the calculations, we have assumed spherical geometries for the clusters. Comparison of the fragmentation energies in the two schemes show differences which are significant in some cases. This result reveals the advantages of the relaxed SJM over the rigid SJM in dynamical processes such as fragmentation. Comparing the relaxed SJM results and axperimental data on fragmentation energies, it is possible to predict the sizes of the clusters just before their fragmentations.Comment: 9 pages, 12 JPG figure

DC-readout of a signal-recycled gravitational wave detector

All first-generation large-scale gravitational wave detectors are operated at the dark fringe and use a heterodyne readout employing radio frequency (RF) modulation-demodulation techniques. However, the experience in the currently running interferometers reveals several problems connected with a heterodyne readout, of which phase noise of the RF modulation is the most serious one. A homodyne detection scheme (DC-readout), using the highly stabilized and filtered carrier light as local oscillator for the readout, is considered to be a favourable alternative. Recently a DC-readout scheme was implemented on the GEO 600 detector. We describe the results of first measurements and give a comparison of the performance achieved with homodyne and heterodyne readout. The implications of the combined use of DC-readout and signal-recycling are considered.Comment: 11 page

The upgrade of GEO600

The German / British gravitational wave detector GEO 600 is in the process of being upgraded. The upgrading process of GEO 600, called GEO-HF, will concentrate on the improvement of the sensitivity for high frequency signals and the demonstration of advanced technologies. In the years 2009 to 2011 the detector will undergo a series of upgrade steps, which are described in this paper.Comment: 9 pages, Amaldi 8 conference contributio