Atomic nanofabrication using an ytterbium atomic beam

Highly parallel and periodically narrow lines of ytterbium (Yb) atoms were successfully produced on a substrate using a near resonant laser light and direct-write atomic nanofabrication. Yb atoms are a promising material for nanofabrication using atom optics particularly due to their electric conductivity, the laser wavelength required for their manipulation, and the vapor pressure required for their fabrication. Collimated ¹⁷⁴Yb atoms were channeled into the nodes of an optical standing wave with dipole force and then deposited onto a substrate. We clearly observed a grating pattern of Yb atoms fabricated on a substrate with a line separation of approximately 200 nm after examining the surface of the substrate with an atomic force microscope. This is the first demonstration of nanofabrication using the atom-optical approach with Yb atoms.     

Atomic nanofabrication using an ytterbium atomic beam

Abstract

Highly parallel and periodically narrow lines of ytterbium (Yb) atoms were successfully produced on a substrate using a near resonant laser light and direct-write atomic nanofabrication. Yb atoms are a promising material for nanofabrication using atom optics particularly due to their electric conductivity, the laser wavelength required for their manipulation, and the vapor pressure required for their fabrication. Collimated ¹⁷⁴Yb atoms were channeled into the nodes of an optical standing wave with dipole force and then deposited onto a substrate. We clearly observed a grating pattern of Yb atoms fabricated on a substrate with a line separation of approximately 200 nm after examining the surface of the substrate with an atomic force microscope. This is the first demonstration of nanofabrication using the atom-optical approach with Yb atoms.     

The manipulation of carbon nanotubes on a polymer surface using a laser beam

Controlled noninvasive manipulation of porphyrin-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) by laser beam is described. SWCNT/porphyrin complexes have been deposited on a polymer surface and irradiated by a scanning beam of laser light with the wavelength of 405 nm. Laser energy was absorbed by the porphyrin and converted into heat through an energy transfer within the complexes. This led to periodical deformation of the initially flat polymer surface. As a result of the surface deformation the SWCNTs or SWCNT bundle move in the direction given by the laser scanning. It was proved that SWCNTs can be moved to a desired position using the focused laser beam.     

1D nanofabrication with a micrometer-sized laser spot

A simple laser-assisted procedure for the fabrication of functional organic nanostructures is demonstrated. Native silicon samples are coated with alkylsiloxane monolayers and patterned with a focused beam of an Ar(+) laser (lambda = 514 nm). After patterning, the coating is chemically functionalized following a robust preparation scheme. Despite a laser spot diameter of about 2.5 mum, this routine allows for the fabrication of well-confined organosiloxane stripes with widths below 100 nm. As shown, these structures provide a versatile means for building ordered surface architectures of nanoscopic components. In particular, gold nanoparticles (d = 16 nm) self-assemble into one-dimensional arrangements, such as single chains.     

A new design of a diffused laser light optically pumped small cesium beam frequency standard

A new set-up of a small Cs clock has been successfully experimentally tested. The short-term stability (2x10(-12)) and the long-term stability (3.5x10(-13) for a day sample time) have been measured. Only one laser is needed without any frequency shift device. The light frequency shift caused by diffuse light was calculated and measured.     

Synthesis of silicon nanowires using laser ablation method and their manipulation by electron beam

Size control of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) synthesized by laser ablation of a Si target with iron or nickel as catalysts were investigated by changing the synthesis parameters such as the content of catalyst in targets and laser power during synthesis. The diameter and length of SiNWs significantly depended on the synthesis parameters, i.e. the size of SiNWs can be controlled by the synthesis parameters. Manipulation of SiNWs was also performed during the observation of scanning electron microscope. By changing the degree of charge-up for free-standing adjacent intertwined SiNWs at an edge of Si substrate, the distance and speed of opening motion of them can be controlled. This motion is probably caused by the Coulomb repulsive interaction between them.     

Focused ion beam nanofabrication: a comparison with conventional processing techniques

Focused ion beam and dual platform systems are versatile tools for nanoengineering and nanoscience applications. These systems complement conventional processing methods and can be used to prototype and modify a diverse range of nano-devices and sensors. This article discusses FIB nanofabrication and compares it with other fabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. Aspects such as the minimum feature size and side wall profiles are discussed and compared. In addition, the limitations and detrimental effects of FIB processes are discussed.     

Frequency shifts in cesium beam clocks induced by microwave leakages

The anomalous sensitivity of an optically pumped cesium beam clock to microwave power and the unexpected frequency shifts observed are demonstrated to result from microwave leakages outside the arms of the Ramsey cavity. A new design of the cavity associated with a careful realisation provides very weak microwave leakages and negligible related frequency offsets. We have established a theoretical model that allows us to calculate the frequency shifts due to microwave field components propagating along the beam axis in regions which are free-field in an ideal Ramsey cavity. This results in first order Doppler effect shifts. The order of magnitude of the frequency shift can be predicted and agrees with the measured one when the amplitude of the leakage magnetic field is about a 1000 times smaller than the amplitude of the microwave interrogation field in the cavity.     

Frequency performances of a miniature optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard

The optically pumped cesium beam clock named Cs IV is operated with a new short Ramsey cavity satisfying strict requirements on the microwave leakage level. The most relevant characteristics of the device are presented. Cs IV is presently driven by standard electronics coming from a HP 5061 B clock that provides a sinusoidal modulation of the interrogation microwave signal and a microwave power stability of about 1% at a temperature of 20+/-1 degrees C. The short- and medium-term frequency stability measurement gives sigma(y)(1 day)=2x10(-14): this value holds up to 3 days. The accuracy evaluation results in an uncertainty of 10(-12), and the repeatability is evaluated to 3x10(-13). It appears that the flicker floor is beginning at 2x10(-14) and is mainly due to both the power fluctuations of the free running microwave interrogating signal and the fluctuations of the external static magnetic field. The accuracy is limited by the lack of knowledge of the end-to-end cavity phase shift.     

Ultraviolet HeCd laser pumped by a high-frequency electron beam

An electron beam with a large cross section and with a repetition rate of 3×10⁵ pulses per second in a packet has been obtained for the first time. With this beam a HeCd high-pressure laser has been developed and high-frequency lasing on the Cd ion at a wavelength of 325 nm has also been achieved for the first time. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 44–47 (March 26, 1997)     

Effects of a static magnetic field on sub-Doppler molasses:manipulation of cesium atoms

An experimental investigation of the effects of magnetic field on cooling and trapping of neutral atoms is presented. Applied to optical molasses, a static magnetic field often produces spectacular effects. It can either induce a sub-Doppler cooling effect or shift a sub-Doppler-cooled atomic sample away from its zero-velocity position. Some of the effects have potential applications in the manipulation of cesium atoms (deflecting an atomic beam or launching an optical molasses into an atomic fountain) and can probably be used in the development of a future cesium atomic frequency standard. The observed experimental effects are interpreted by simple physical models and calculations     

Photobleaching of a solid photochromic medium by a Gaussian laser beam

Equations that describe the photobleaching of photochromic layers illuminated by Gaussian laser beams are given. The photochromic samples are made of thionine, triethanolamine, and polyvinyl alcohol and follow simple kinetics law. Spatial absorbance and time-dependent power transmittance are well described by the developed equations. The model is used to calculate the Gaussian dimension of helium-neon laser beams from kinetics data.     

New design for a high performance optically pumped cesium beam tube

An optically pumped cesium beam resonator has been designed including three successive magnetic field regions. The optical interactions take place in the first and third regions, where the magnetic field has the required value of 3x10(-5) T. The microwave interaction occurs in the intermediate region, where the value of the C-field is typically set to 4x10(-6) T. It has been verified that the magnetic field profile along the cesium beam does not induce Majorana transitions. Using a single laser diode emitting at 852 nm with a linewidth of about 30 MHz, the resonator gives an excellent amplitude signal to noise ratio equal to 20000 in a 1-Hz bandwidth.     

Light caustics of hydrodynamic solitons illuminated by a laser beam

Properties of caustics of plane curves are used for interpretation of optical experiments with hydrodynamic solitons in a one-dimensional water channel. The water-free surface acts as a curvilinear plane mirror for incoming light beams. Experiments with single solitons and with couples of colliding solitons are presented and discussed within the framework of geometrical optics.     

Collision cross section of fast beam by neutral gas target

Effective deexcitation cross sections of fast beams of Na, Ne, and Li+ in the excited P state at energies of -160 keV with a N2 gas target are reported. These cross sections are obtained from analysis of the dependence of the effective lifetime on the gas pressure. Results for neon indicate small variations of deexcitation cross section for the different 3p fine structure levels.     

Strong extinction of a far-field laser beam by a single quantum dot

Through the utilization of index-matched GaAs immersion lens techniques, we demonstrate a record extinction (12%) of a far-field focused laser beam by a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot. This contrast level enables us to report for the first time resonant laser transmission spectroscopy on a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot without the need for phase-sensitive lock-in detection.