************************************ * QUANTUM OPTICS AND ATOM OPTICS * * IN AUSTRALASIA * * * * * * * * MONTHLY NEWSLETTER * * VOL VIII, NO 11 * * * * November 2000 * * * * 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 November newsletter. Sorry for the slightly late posting. ******************************************************************************* 1. ABSTRACTS TITLE: Geometric Phase of Three-level Systems in Interferometry AUTHORS: Barry C. Sanders[1], Hubert de Guise[1,2], Stephen D. Bartlett[1] and Weiping Zhang[1] ADDRESSES: [1] Department of Physics and Centre for Lasers and Applications, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia, [2] Centre de Recherche Mathematique, Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128-A, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada JOURNAL: Physical Review Letters STATUS: Submitted ARCHIVE: quant-ph/0010068 ABSTRACT: We present the first scheme for producing and measuring an Abelian geometric phase shift in a three-level system where states are invariant under a non-Abelian group. In contrast to existing experiments and proposals for experiments, based on U(1)-invariant states, our scheme geodesically evolves U(2)-invariant states in a four-dimensional SU(3)/U(2) space and is physically realized via a three-channel optical interferometer. ____________________________________________________________________ TITLE: Unitary transformations for testing Bell inequalities AUTHORS: S. D. Bartlett[1], D. A. Rice[1], Barry C. Sanders[1,2], J. Daboul[1,3] and Hubert de Guise[1,4] ADDRESSES: [1] Department of Physics and Centre for Lasers and Applications, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia, [2] Erwin Schrodinger International Institute for Mathematical Physics, Boltzmanngasse 9, A-1090 Vienna, Austria [3] Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel [4] Centre de Recherche Mathematique, Universite de Montreal, C.P. 6128-A, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada JOURNAL: Physical Review A STATUS: Submitted ARCHIVE: quant-ph/0010049 ABSTRACT: It is shown that optical experimental tests of Bell inequality violations can be described by SU(1,1) transformations of the vacuum state, followed by photon coincidence detections. The set of all possible tests are described by various SU(1,1) subgroups of Sp(8,R). In addition to establishing a common formalism for physically distinct Bell inequality tests, the similarities and differences of post-selected tests of Bell inequality violations are also made clear. A consequence of this analysis is that Bell inequality tests are performed on a very general version of SU(1,1) coherent states, and the theoretical violation of the Bell inequality by coincidence detection is calculated and discussed. This group theoretical approach to Bell states is relevant to Bell state measurements, which are performed, for example, in quantum teleportation. ******************************************************************************* 2. CONFERENCES / WORKSHOPS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EXPERIMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION OF QUANTUM COMPUTATION (IQC 01) IQC 01 will be held in Sydney, Australia 16-19 January 2001. The objective of the conference is to provide an international forum to review the latest developments in the experimental implementation of quantum computer proposals worldwide. This will also include theoretical investigations relevant to the various computer architectures, implementation strategies and computer operation. Information can be found at __________________________ CLEO/QELS 2001, May 6-11, 2001 Baltimore, Maryland, USA CALL FOR PAPERS AVAILABLE ONLINE http://www.osa.org/mtg_conf/cleo Deadline for Submissions: November 14, 2000 Submissions will only be accepted electronically. For more information contact: CLEO/QELS Conference Management c/o OSA Customer Service Department 2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036 Telephone: (202) 416-1907 Fax: (202) 416-6140 Email: cust.serv@osa.org ******************************************************************************* 4. SITUATIONS VACANT POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN QUANTUM CHAOS WITH COLD ATOMS Department of Physics, University of Auckland, New Zealand Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Atom Trapping Group at the University of Auckland. The principal project associated with the fellowship is the investigation of the quantum-classical boundary in the context of quantum chaos with an atom-optics-based realisation of the kicked rotor. Planned extensions of present work include the realisation of kicking processes with added noise of arbitrary statistics and the implementation of two-dimensional optical lattice configurations for studies of nonlinear dynamics and atomic state manipulation. The Department of Physics also has strong research programmes in Theoretical Quantum Optics and Experimental Nonlinear Optics. Applicants should have PhD (or postdoctoral) research experience in experimental/theoretical laser and atomic physics, and preference will be given to candidates with expertise in atom trapping. A strong theoretical/experimental background is also desirable. The fellowship is for a period of two years (with a possibility of a further extension), and is available immediately. Inquiries should be directed to: Dr Rainer Leonhardt in the Department of Physics, Phone: +64-9-373-7599x8835, Fax: +64-9-373-7445, Email: r.leonhardt@auckland.ac.nz Applicants should send a copy of their curriculum vitae together with the names and contact details of three referees. Closing date: 6 October 2000 ________________________________________________ Australian National University INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES RESEARCH SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS LABORATORIES RESEARCH FELLOW/FELLOW (LEVEL B/C) (fixed term appointment) Atom Optics, Nanotechnology, Atomic Collisions Applications are invited for a Research Fellowship in the Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratories, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering. The position is for an experimentalist who can make major contributions to the Department's experimental activities based on the laser control of metastable helium atoms for experiments in atom optics, nanotechnology and atomic collision physics. The research program is centred around a state-of-the-art "bright" metastable helium beam line, a cryogenic source of metastable helium atoms and a metastable helium atom trap facility. Experiments are conducted in a range of areas including atom lithography, atom waveguides, atom-atom and electron-atom collisions and atomic spectroscopy. The applicant would be expected to assume the day-to-day responsibilities for the operation of the beam line and associated experiments as well as providing high level input to the scientific direction of the project and supervision of research students. A preference will be given to applicants with specific experience in laser cooling and trapping techniques and experience in several of the other project fields would be a distinct advantage. The position will be available in early 2001 for a fixed term of up to five years. Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Stephen Buckman, Head, Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratories, Ph: (02) 6249 2484, FAX: (02) 6249 2452, email: stephen.buckman@anu.edu.au or from Dr. Kenneth Baldwin, email: Kenneth.Baldwin@anu.edu.au. Or visit our Web site at http://rsphysse.anu.edu.au/ampl Intending applicants must obtain the further particulars and selection criteria for the position from hr.rsphysse@anu.edu.au. Closing date: 24 November 2000 Reference: PSE 13/2000