************************************ * QUANTUM OPTICS AND ATOM OPTICS * * IN AUSTRALASIA * * * * * * * * MONTHLY NEWSLETTER * * VOL VII, NO 6 * * * * June 1999 * * * * ISSN 1325-6467 * * * Edited by: Bill Munro * \ | / * Physics, University of Queensland, * \__|__/ * QLD 4072, Australia. * | * email: billm@physics.uq.edu.au * | * phone: +61 7 3365 2422 * | * fax: +61 7 3365 1242 Available on WWW at: http://www.physics.uq.edu.au/people/billm/qo.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS 0. PROBLEMS 1. ABSTRACTS 2. CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS 3. WANTED TO BUY/SELL 4. SITUATIONS VACANT 5. MISC NEWS ______________________________________________________________________________ ******************************************************************************* 0. EDITORIAL NOTE Welcome to the sixth newsletter of the new year. ******************************************************************************* 1. ABSTRACTS To be published in Journal of Optics B: Guiding of metastable helium atoms through hollow optical fibres R.G. Dall, M.D. Hoogerland, K.G.H. Baldwin and S.J. Buckman Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia email: Kenneth.Baldwin@anu.edu.au Abstract Atoms can be transported through hollow optical fibres using laser light blue-detuned from the atomic resonance, which propagates through the fibre to create a repulsive evanescent light field at the inner fibre wall. We report here the first transmission of metastable helium ($2^{3}S_{1}$) atoms through such hollow optical fibres. Using fused silica capillaries with several different geometries, laser radiation that is blue-detuned from the $2^{3}S_{1} - 2^{3}P_{2}$ transition was focused into the body of the capillary via total internal reflection from a 45 degree bevel polished at one end. Laser fields were used with both co- and counter-propagating configurations to the atomic beam. ******************************************************************************* 2. CONFERENCES / WORKSHOPS SIXTH INTERNATIONAL WIGNER SYMPOSIUM Istanbul, Turkey 16-22 August 1999 WigSym6 is a part of the ongoing biennial series of International Wigner symposia. The 1999 symposium will concentrate on quantum and conformal field theory, strings and quantum groups. We cordially invite contributions in all fields related to work in the style and spirit of Eugene P. Wigner. The symposium will be held at Bogazici University which is located on one of the marvelous hills of Bosphorus where the waters of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea mingle with each other. As being the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul offers an unmatched mix of history, art and natural beauty. It is a fascinating city with the coexistence of the relics of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, of which she has been the capital, representing a unique link between the East and the West, past and present. Organizing Committee: M. Arik (Chairman), H. Beker, C. Daskaloyannis, T. Dereli, V. K. Dobrev, I. H. Duru, A. Hacinliyan, E. Inonu, A. Ludu, R. Mir-Kasimov, F. Neyzi, O. Oguz, C. Saclioglu, M. Serdaroglu. http: //www.wigsym6.boun.edu.tr E-mail: wigsym6@boun.edu.tr For further information, visit , or contact . For an automated mail answering service, send an e-mail to with WIGSYM.99 on your Subject line. ___________________________________________________ FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT *********************** Bose-Einstein Condensation: atomic physics to quantum liquids. The ANU 13th Physics Summer School. January 17-28, 2000 A two week school aimed at PhD students. Contact: Craig Savage, Physics, Faculties, ANU, ACT 0200 http://rsphysse.anu.edu.au/~ss0105/ss2000.html ****************************************************************************** 4. SITUATIONS VACANT Subject: Postdoc in experimental quantum optics and laser cooling There will be a position available for a postdoctoral fellow in experimental laser cooling and quantum optics, ideally to start in August or September of 1999. We are looking for a creative and motivated individual with experience in these or related areas, to work on one or both of a pair of experiments underway at the University of Toronto. Information on our research can be found via the U of T web page, at http://helios.physics.utoronto.ca/people/faculty/aephraim.html, or I can be contacted at the email address given below. We have a Rubidium MOT on which we are studying supplementary cooling and velocity-selection techniques, and plan to study atom tunnelling and other atom-optical effects over the next year or two. Other possible projects include studies of quantum chaos, real-time collisional effects, and of course, Bose condensation. In addition, we have a new experiment on spontaneous parametric down-conversion, pumped by a femtosecond laser. We are setting up to study quantum phase correlations, nonlinear response of photodetectors at the single-photon level, and time-delay measurements. We naturally have interests in applications to quantum information. The ideal candidate will be prepared to be involved to varying extents in both of these projects and assume a fair degree of respons- ibility for the direction of the research. Interested parties should send a CV and have at least two letters of reference mailed or faxed to me at the address given below as soon as possible; we hope to make an appointment by early June of 1999. Aephraim M. Steinberg Department of Physics University of Toronto Toronto, ON M5S 1A7 Canada +1 (416) 978-0713 fax 416 978-2537 email: aephraim@physics.utoronto.ca web page: http://helios.physics.utoronto.ca/people/faculty/aephraim.html ****************************************************************************** 5. MISC NEWS