Laser physics

We are studying the atom optics kicked rotor and the way it gains momentum after being kicked by standing-wave pulses. For certain sets of experimental parameters quantum resonances can be observed. For a quantum system, these resonances are astonishingly robust when noise is introduced. We have found a novel way of explaining this stability: the ε-classical theory, an approach that is based on the standard classical map. It is the first time that the ε-classical theory was verified experimentally for a quantum system. Further more, this approach leads to a 'scaling function' that combines all relevant experimental parameters to one variable, leading to greatly reduced computation time for our numeric simulations.

For more information on the research area above, please contact:

Associate Professor Rainer Leonhardt
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88835
Email: r.leonhardt@auckland.ac.nz

Or visit the profile of Associate Professor Rainer Leonhardt.
 

We are developing a tunable continuous-wave THz system based on the use of two laser diodes to generate THz amplitude-modulated light. The use of aspheric polyethylene lenses will make the whole system more compact and more user-friendly. We hope to be able to achieve with these large-aperture lenses a spatial resolution in the order of one wavelength (~0.3mm) so that the system can be used for the imaging of different samples (eg, biological, electronic) in a wavelength region that was very difficult to access up to now.

For more information on the research area above, please contact:

Associate Professor Rainer Leonhardt
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88835
Email: r.leonhardt@auckland.ac.nz

Or visit the profile of Associate Professor Rainer Leonhardt.

A prototype of the fluorescence probe being developed with the Physiology Department has been sent to Brussels to be tested. The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to confirm the effectiveness of the cellular therapy in healing the heart, and overall to improve knowledge of heart physiology. Part of this project will be funded by a recently awarded Marsden grant. The skin deformation measurement setup developed in collaboration with the bioengineering institute is now almost up and running. A European summer student is currently working on this project. Our collaboration with Professor David Sampson from the University of Western Australia is still active and Andy Chen as part of his PhD thesis has participated in an experiment on the measurement of the refractive index of the crystalline lens using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

We are currently working on improving the light source for this setup with Doctor Stephane Coen from the Physics department. A new PhD student, Sairam Iyer, has taken over the work on the fiber OCT setup initiated last year. This work is part of the Marsden application and should complement the fluorescence probe. Research in nonlinear optics involved refining last year's results on pump incoherence, super-continuum coherence, stimulated Raman scattering and on high repetition laser source. Part of this work has been published.

For more information on the research area above, please contact:

Doctor Frederique Vanholsbeeck
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88881
Email: f.vanholsbeeck@auckland.ac.nz

Or visit the profile of Doctor Frederique Vanholsbeeck.
 

Research has centered on obtaining and improving a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). The BEC was reached in April. We have about 104-105 atoms at temperature of 30nK. After the BEC was reached initially, an effort was undertaken to ensure the BEC is produced reproducibly. Collaboration with the physics faculties at ANU (Canberra) has continued.

For more information on the research area above, please contact:

Doctor Maarten Hoogerland
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86291
Email: m.hoogerland@auckland.ac.nz

Or visit the profile of Doctor Maarten Hoogerland.