Single-particle Transitions Research Articles

Interplay between single-particle and plasmonic excitations in the electronic response of thin Ag films

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy is used to study the electronic properties of thin Ag layers on Ni(111). In addition to the ordinary surface plasmon at 3.8 eV, we observe a broad feature at 7–8 eV, whose nature is investigated as a function of scattering geometry and primary electron beam energy. Loss measurements unambiguously indicate that this mode has spectral components from both free-electron Ag plasmonic excitations (free-electron surface plasmons and multipole plasmons) and single-particle transitions.

Hybrid of superconducting quantum interference device and atomic Bose-Einstein condensate: An architecture for quantum information processing

A hybrid quantum system is proposed by coupling the internal hyperfine transitions of a trapped atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) via the macroscopic quantum field of the flux qubit. The presence of the condensate leads to a bosonic enhancement of the Rabi frequency over the otherwise small single-particle magnetic dipole transition matrix elements. This enhancement allows for the possibility to rapidly transfer and store qubit states in the BEC that were originally prepared in the SQUID. The fidelity of this transfer for different states is calculated, and a direct experimental protocol to determine the transfer fidelity by quantum tomography of the BEC qubit is presented.

Many-body localization in a quasiperiodic system

Recent theoretical and numerical evidence suggests that localization can survive in disordered many-body systems with very high energy density, provided that interactions are sufficiently weak. Stronger interactions can destroy localization, leading to a so-called many-body localization transition. This dynamical phase transition is relevant to questions of thermalization in extended quantum systems far from the zero-temperature limit. It separates a many-body localized phase, in which localization prevents transport and thermalization, from a conducting ("ergodic") phase in which the usual assumptions of quantum statistical mechanics hold. Here, we present numerical evidence that many-body localization also occurs in models without disorder but rather a quasiperiodic potential. In one dimension, these systems already have a single-particle localization transition, and we show that this transition becomes a many-body localization transition upon the introduction of interactions. We also comment on possible relevance of our results to experimental studies of many-body dynamics of cold atoms and non-linear light in quasiperiodic potentials.

Exotic Lepton Flavour Violating Processes in the Presence of Nuclei

The discovery of neutrino oscillations indicates the existence of massive neutrinos in contrast to the massless neutrinos predicted by the Standard Model. One of the simplest extensions of the SM obtained by adding a heavy right-handed neutrino singlet, NR, per neutrino generation is the Seesaw mechanism. Within the context of this mechanism, flavour changing neutral current neutrino-nucleus reactions of the type are predicted to occur. In this contribution, motivated by the extensive studies (theoretical and experimental) of the LFV in ν− → e− conversion in nuclei, we investigate FCNC in neutrino-nucleus reactions. From a nuclear theory point of view, the Donnelly-Walecka model for cross sections calculations is employed. To this purpose, the single-particle transition matrix elements are evaluated from a Mathematica code developed in this work. Neutrino-nucleus reactions have important impact in Astrophysics and hence a detailed study of such exotic processes is of significant importance.

Graphene applications in electronics and photonics

Abstract

Inelastic light scattering by 2D electron system with SO interaction

Inelastic light scattering by electrons of a two-dimensional system taking into account the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in the conduction band is theoretically investigated. The case of resonance scattering (frequencies of incident and scattered light are close to the effective distance between conduction and spin-split-off bands of the AIIIBV-type semiconductor) is considered. As opposed to the case of SOI absence, the plasmon peak in the scattering occurs even at strictly perpendicular polarizations of the incident and scattered waves. Under definite geometry, one can observe the spectrum features conditioned by only single-particle transitions. In the general case of elliptically polarized incident and scattered light, the amplitude of the plasmon peak turns out to be sensitive to the sign of the SOI coupling.

The effect of core polarization on longitudinal form factors in 10B

Electron scattering Coulomb form factors for the single-particle quadrupole transitions in the p-shell 10B nucleus have been studied. Core polarization effects are included through a microscopic theory that includes excitations from the core orbits up to higher orbits with 2ℏω excitations. The modified surface delta interaction is employed as a residual interaction. The effect of core polarization is found essential in both the transition strengths and momentum transfer dependence of form factors, and gives remarkably good agreement with the measured data with no adjustable parameters.

Inelastic light scattering by a two-dimensional electron system with Rashba spin-orbit coupling

Inelastic light scattering by a two-dimensional system of electrons in a conduction band with Rashba spinorbit coupling is studied theoretically for the resonance case where the frequencies of the incident and scattered light are close to the effective distance between the conduction band and spin-split band in a III–V semiconductor. It is shown that, in contrast to the case of no spin-orbit coupling, the spectrum of the scattered light exhibits a plasmon peak even for strictly perpendicular polarizations of the incident and scattered light. There exists a configuration where the scattering spectrum exhibits features originating from single-particle transitions only. Furthermore, it is shown that, for the general case of elliptic polarizations of the incident and scattered light, the amplitude of the plasmon peak depends on the sign of the effective Rashba spinorbit coupling constant and the signs of the phases of the polarization vectors. This fact can be used to determine the sign of the Rashba constant.

Dipole response of238U to polarized photons below the neutron separation energy

1) dipole strengths in nuclei[1]. Observation of dipole states are important because theycharacterize the various collective and single-particle nuclearexcitation modes, in particular, the scissors mode, the spin-flip mode, and the pygmy dipole resonance. These differentexcitation modes are prominent in various regions below ornear the neutron separation energy and represent importantnuclear structure phenomena. For

Optical Excitations and Field Enhancement in Short Graphene Nanoribbons.

The optical excitations of elongated graphene nanoflakes of finite length are investigated theoretically through quantum chemistry semiempirical approaches. The spectra and the resulting dipole fields are analyzed, accounting in full atomistic details for quantum confinement effects, which are crucial in the nanoscale regime. We find that the optical spectra of these nanostructures are dominated at low energy by excitations with strong intensity, comprised of characteristic coherent combinations of a few single-particle transitions with comparable weight. They give rise to stationary collective oscillations of the photoexcited carrier density extending throughout the flake and to a strong dipole and field enhancement. This behavior is robust with respect to width and length variations, thus ensuring tunability in a large frequency range. The implications for nanoantennas and other nanoplasmonic applications are discussed for realistic geometries.

Coherent X-ray diffraction radiation produced by microbunched beams passing close to the edge of a slab

With use of formulas for single-particle X-ray transition and diffraction radiation (XTR and XDR), we obtain expressions for spectral-angular distributions and total numbers of emitted quanta in coherent X-ray transition radiation (CXTR2) and coherent X-ray diffraction radiation (CXDR) arising when a microbunched beam of electrons, respectively, intersects the interfaces of a slab or flies at small distance from the edge of the slab. Comparison of obtained results with those known for CXTR from a single interface is performed. It is shown on the basis of numerical calculations that experimental study of CXDR is at present possible on the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS, SLAC).

Two mode theory of Bose–Einstein condensates: interferometry and the Josephson model

This topical review provides an overview of the key theoretical features of Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) in cold atomic gases at near zero temperature in the situation where all the bosons occupy at most two single particle states or modes. This situation applies to single-component BECs in double well trap potentials and to two-component BEC in single well trap potentials, such as occur when BEC are used in interferometry experiments. The Hamiltonian is introduced in terms of field operators and mode expansions are restricted to a total of two modes. Spin operators and their eigenstates are introduced as the fundamental basis states for describing the two-mode N boson quantum system. The spin states have a macroscopic angular momentum quantum number of N/2 and the magnetic quantum number k specifies the relative number of bosons in the two modes. The treatment presented involves an extensive use of angular momentum theory, including unitary rotation operators. Important states of the two-mode system such as binomial or coherent states, relative phase eigenstates are discussed. Boson position measurements are specified via quantum correlation functions, and the use of these functions in describing coherence properties, interference patterns and fragmentation effects in BECs is presented. The Bloch vector is defined and related to the quantum correlation functions, with quantum fluctuations of the Bloch vector being treated in terms of the covariance matrix. Applications to important two-mode states are made. Spin squeezing is discussed. Based on applying variational principles, the general dynamical behaviour of the two-mode BEC is determined via generalised Gross–Pitaevskii equations for the modes and matrix mechanics equations for the probability amplitudes of the relative number basis states, the mode and amplitude equations being coupled and self-consistent. The single mode equations are also presented. The Hamiltonian is written in terms of the spin operators and the Josephson Hamiltonian obtained as a simplification in which the dynamical behaviour of the mode functions is ignored – for the one-component case the mode functions are also required to be localised and separate. Coefficients in the Josephson Hamiltonian describe tunneling/intercomponent coupling, asymmetry and collisions and these are defined via integrals involving the mode functions. The Josephson model involves using the Josephson Hamiltonian to give simple predictions of the energy states and dynamical behaviour of the two-mode system, dynamical effects on the mode functions being ignored. The three regimes – Rabi, Josephson and Fock are described, and the energy states obtained for the Fock and Rabi regimes. Dynamical behaviour treatments based on the Josephson model are outlined. In the situation where all bosons are in the same single particle state, semi-classical Bloch equations are derived and their solutions given in terms of elliptic functions. The quantum regime is treated using matrix mechanics equations for the probability amplitudes. Two representative applications of the Josephson model dynamics are treated, with graphs showing the results of numerical work being displayed. The first is in describing Heisenberg limited BEC interferometry for a single-component BEC in a double well, the treatment showing collapses and revivals in the probability distribution for the relative phase. The second treats Ramsey interferometry for a two-component BEC in a single well, the study revealing that oscillations of the Bloch vector collapse and revive, with the Bloch vector's departure from the Bloch sphere during the collapse period revealing that the BEC has fragmented. In both cases collisions cause the dephasing effects that result in the collapse, revival phenomena. The review ends with a brief outline of phase space and other approaches that extend the treatment beyond the two-mode theory, enabling decoherence effects associated with bosons in non-condensate modes to be studied. A summary of the review contents is included. Detailed mathematical derivations are included in several appendices, available as online supplementary material.

Macroscopic superposition states of ultracold bosons in a double-well potential

We present a thorough description of the physical regimes for ultracold bosons in double wells, with special attention paid to macroscopic superpositions (MSs). We use a generalization of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick Hamiltonian of up to eight single particle modes to study these MSs, solving the Hamiltonian with a combination of numerical exact diagonalization and high-order perturbation theory. The MS is between left and right potential wells; the extreme case with all atoms simultaneously located in both wells and in only two modes is the famous NOON state, but our approach encompasses much more general MSs. Use of more single particle modes brings dimensionality into the problem, allows us to set hard limits on the use of the original two-mode LMG model commonly treated in the literature, and also introduces a new mixed Josephson-Fock regime. Higher modes introduce angular degrees of freedom and MS states with different angular properties.

Inelastic light scattering by 2D electron system with SO interaction

Inelastic light scattering by electrons of a two-dimensional system taking into account the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in the conduction band is theoretically investigated. The case of resonance scattering (frequencies of incident and scattered light are close to the effective distance between conduction and spin-split-off bands of the AIIIBV-type semiconductor) is considered. As opposed to the case of SOI absence, the plasmon peak in the scattering occurs even at strictly perpendicular polarizations of the incident and scattered waves. Under definite geometry, one can observe the spectrum features conditioned by only single-particle transitions. In the general case of elliptically polarized incident and scattered light, the amplitude of the plasmon peak turns out to be sensitive to the sign of the SOI coupling.

Plasmonic Properties of Metallic Nanoparticles: The Effects of Size Quantization

We examine the size quantization of plasmons in metallic nanoparticles using time-dependent density functional theory. For small particles in the quantum limit, we identify "quantum core plasmons" and "classical surface plasmons", both of which are collective oscillations comprised of multiple single-particle transitions. As particle size increases, the response of the classical surface plasmons becomes much larger than that of the quantum core plasmons.

Gamma-ray fast-timing coincidence measurements from the 18O+18O fusion–evaporation reaction using a mixed LaBr3-HPGe array

We report on a gamma-ray coincidence analysis using a mixed array of hyperpure germanium and cerium-doped lanthanum tri-bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillation detectors to study nuclear electromagnetic transition rates in the pico-to-nanosecond time regime in 33,34P and 33S following fusion–evaporation reactions between an 18O beam and an isotopically enriched 18O implanted tantalum target. Energies from decay gamma-rays associated with the reaction residues were measured in event-by-event coincidence mode, with the measured time difference information between the pairs of gamma-rays in each event also recorded using the ultra-fast coincidence timing technique. The experiment used the good full-energy peak resolution of the LaBr3:Ce detectors coupled with their excellent timing responses in order to determine the excited state lifetime associated with the lowest lying, cross-shell, Iπ=4− “intruder” state previously reported in the N=19 isotone 34P. The extracted lifetime is consistent with a mainly single-particle M2 multipolarity associated with a f7/2→d5/2 single particle transition.

Finite temperature effects on monopole and dipole excitations

The relativistic random phase approximation based on effective Lagrangian with density dependent meson-nucleon couplings has been extended to finite temperature and employed in studies of multipole excitations within the temperature range T = 1 − 2 MeV. The model calculations showed that isoscalar giant monopole and isovector giant dipole resonances are only slightly modified with temperature, but additional transition strength appears at low energies because of thermal unblocking of single-particle orbitals close to the Fermi level. The analysis of low-lying states shows that isoscalar monopole response in 132Sn results from single particle transitions, while the isovector dipole strength for 60Ni, located around 10 MeV, is composed of several single particle transitions, accumulating a small degree of collectivity.

In-beam fast-timing measurements inCd103,105,107

Fast-timing measurements were performed recently in the region of the medium-mass 103,105,107Cd isotopes, produced in fusion evaporation reactions. Emitted gamma-rays were detected by eight HPGe and five LaBr3:Ce detectors working in coincidence. Results on new and re-evaluated half-lives are discussed within a systematic of transition rates. The $7/2_1^+$ states in 103,105,107Cd are interpreted as arising from a single-particle excitation. The half-life analysis of the $11/2_1^-$ states in 103,105,107Cd shows no change in the single-particle transition strength as a function of the neutron number.

Intersubband plasmons in a quasi-one-dimensional system

It has been shown that plasma oscillations in quasi-one-dimensional systems feature the presence of two branches of intersubband plasmons for each pair of subbands. The second (low-frequency) branch lies in the region of the frequency-momentum plane, where a plasma-wave-induced single-particle transition is allowed but there is no Landau damping.

First principles study of the optical properties of alkaline-earth metal nitrides

A detailed analysis of the optical properties of alkaline-earth metal nitrides (Be 3N 2, Mg 3N 2 and Ca 3N 2) has been performed, using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within density functional theory. The exchange correlation potential is treated by the generalized gradient approximation within Perdew et al. scheme. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function ϵ( ω), the optical absorption coefficient I( ω) the refractive index n( ω), the extinction coefficient k( ω) and the electron energy loss function are calculated within the random phase approximation (RPA). The calculated results show a qualitative agreement with the available experimental results in the sense that we can recognize some peaks qualitatively, that is, ones that are due to single particle transitions. Furthermore, the interband transitions responsible for the structures in the spectra are specified. The metal s states and nitrogen p states play the major role in these optical transitions as initial and final states, respectively, for Mg 3N 2 and Be 3N 2. In the case of Ca 3N 2, where Ca has d levels lying near the Fermi level, the Ca d states are mostly final states. The effect of the spin–orbit coupling on the optical properties is also investigated, and it is found to be quite small, especially in the low energy region. The dielectric constants are calculated and compared with the available experimental results.