************************************ * QUANTUM OPTICS AND ATOM OPTICS * * IN AUSTRALASIA * * * * * * * * MONTHLY NEWSLETTER * * VOL V, NO 7 * * * * July 1997 * * * * ISSN 1325-6467 * * * Edited by: Murray Hamilton * \ | / * Physics, University of Adelaide, * \__|__/ * SA 5005, Australia. * | * email: mwh@physics.adelaide.edu.au Available on WWW at: * | * phone: +61 8 8303 5322 http://www.anu.edu.au * | * fax: +61 8 8232 6541 /Physics/newsletter * * ___________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS 0. PROBLEMS 1. ABSTRACTS 2. CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS 3. WANTED TO BUY/SELL 4. SITUATIONS VACANT 5. MISC NEWS (real news if you like!) ______________________________________________________________________________ 0. DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS The newsletters to the following addresses are bouncing. Does anyone know the whereabouts of ... Juergen.Eschner@anu.edu.au Thanks (ed.) ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. ABSTRACTS (A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR... Would contributors please email their abstracts with the following information and in the following format (or very similar). In particular, when supplying multiple abstracts, please put this information by each one. It is easier to read on a screen and easier to compose the newsletter if you do. Thanks.) Title: Authors: Email: Address: Abstract: Journal: Location: (preprint server) Status: unpublished? _________________________________________________________________________ Title: Quasiprobability Functions Measured by Photon Statistics of Amplified Signal Fields Author: M. S. Kim Address: Max-Planck-Institut f\"ur Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1 Garching, D-85748, Germany (on leave from Department of Physics, Sogang University, CPO Box 1142, Seoul, Korea) Email: msk@mpq.mpg.de Status: To appear in Phys.Rev.A Abstract: A quantum state can be described by its quasiprobability functions or by its density matrix. The quasiprobability functions and density matrix for nonclassical fields have been measured by making use of homodyne detection schemes. We suggest direct photodetection of the amplified signal fields for the quasiprobability function measurements. Linear amplification is described in phase space by a convolution of the signal field to the idler field, which normally determines added noise during amplification. Taking the coherent idler field and using the convolution relation, we show that the direct photodetection of the amplified field results in a quasiprobability function for the signal field. In particular, the probability of there being no photons in the amplified field is the scaled Q function for the signal field. _____________________________________________________________________________ Title: Pumping two dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensates with Raman light scattering Authors: C. M. Savage, Janne Ruostekoski, Dan F. Walls Address: Department of Physics, University of Auckland, and Department of Physics and Theoretical Physics The Australian National university ACT 0200, Australia Contact: craig.savage@anu.edu.au Abstract: We propose an optical method for increasing the number of atoms in a pair of dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensates. The method uses laser-driven Raman transitions which scatter atoms between the condensate and non-condensate atom fractions. For a range of condensate phase differences there is destructive quantum interference of the amplitudes for scattering atoms out of the condensates. Because the total atom scattering rate into the condensates is unaffected the condensates grow. This mechanism is analogous to that responsible for optical lasing without inversion. Growth using macroscopic quantum interference may find application as a pump for an atom laser. Location: http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/cond-mat/9705027 Submitted for publication _____________________________________________________________________________ ******************************************************************************* 2. CONFERENCES / WORKSHOPS --------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________________ The Eleventh Conference of the Australian Optical Society The University of Adelaide 10-12 December 1997. First Call for Papers Contributions are now invited in any area of optics. * There will be a number of invited talks (30min.) as well as contributed talks (15min.) and poster sessions. * The majority of presentations will be posters. * Contributed papers to the AOS conference, and the associated workshops, can be submitted for publication in a special issue of Optical and Quantum Electronics. * A trade exhibit is planned. INVITED PLENARY SPEAKERS Confirmed invited speakers are listed below within broad subject areas. The sessions will be tentatively organised around these areas. * GENERAL OPTICS o Prof. Duncan Moore, University of Rochester "Gradient Index Optics ( natural and manmade)" o Prof. Michael. Roggemann, Wright-Patterson/ Michigan Technological Univ. "Improvement of ground-based telescope resolution using micro-electro-mechanical deformable mirrors" * LASERS AND PHOTONICS o Prof. Wilson Sibbet, St Andrews University title to be announced * SPECTROSCOPY AND ATOM OPTICS o Dr Neil Manson, ANU "Concepts of NMR in nonlinear and quantum optics" o Dr Peter Hannaford, CSIRO "Magnetostatic Optics for Ultracold Atoms" * FOURIER OPTICS AND HOLOGRAPHY o Prof. Henri Arsenault, Universite Laval "Invariant pattern recognition:scale and out-of-plane rotations" * INTERFEROMETRY o Prof. Barry Barish, Caltech/LIGO title to be announced * MEDICAL OPTICS o Prof Ian Hodgkinson, Otago University "Photoscreening the young and the elderly -- detecting refractive errors and mapping cataracts" o Prof. Doug Coster, Flinders University Optics and lasers in the preservation of vision * NONLINEAR OPTICS AND APPLICATIONS o Prof. Barry Luther-Davies, ANU "Optical Spatial Solitons in Saturating Nonlinear Media" ASSOCIATED WORKSHOPS Three workshops associated with the conference are planned: * Quantum Coherence and Information Processing homepage http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~mwh/qip/qiproc.html * Propagation and Imaging Science homepage http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~mwh/prop/ws-hom~1.htm * Thermal Noise Limitations in Gravitational Wave Interferometry homepage http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~jmunch/thermal.html PUBLIC LECTURE A public lecture associated with the AOS conference and the Quantum Coherence and Information Processing workshop is also planned: the speaker will be Dr Dave Wineland, NIST, on "Quantum computation", ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS A special issue of the journal Optical and Quantum Electronics is scheduled to appear in 1998, devoted to this conference. All submissions will be refereed and should conform to the journal format. If you intend to make use of this opportunity, you should prepare the typed manuscript in advance and hand in four copies (including the original) at either the AOS conference registration desk or the workshop registration desk. The requirements of the journal for the preparation of typescripts are given in these instructions to authors (http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~mwh/prop/autho.htm) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- VENUE The conference will be held at The University of Adelaide. ACCOMMODATION Low cost accommodation has been reserved at the residential wing of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, next to the University of Adelaide campus on North Tce. A wide variety of hotels is available close to the University for those participants who opt to make their own arrangements. Further information is to be found on the accommodation booking form via the conference homepage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCE FEES * AOS Member $190 ($170*) * Non-member $220 ($200*) * Students $90 ($80*) * The discount fee applies for registration payments received by 1 September 1997. (The fee for non-members includes membership of the AOS for one year.) * There will be a limited amount of travel assistance available for students. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORGANISING COMMITTEE * J Munch (chair), M Hamilton (sec'y), P Veitch (treas.), D McCoy, University of Adelaide * P Teubner, Flinders University * N Jones, A Masters, Coherent Scientific Pty. Ltd. * J Hermann (journal liason), R Seymour, A-M Grisogono (trade exhibit), DSTO ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT DATES * Aug 15 1997 second call for papers * October 1 deadline for submission of papers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE Registration and submission of papers will be conducted as far as possible through the internet; please get the appropriate forms through the conference home-page. (http://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~mwh/aosmeet/aosmeet.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For further information please contact:- Jesper Munch, University of Adelaide Tel: (08) 8303 4749 Fax: (08) 8232 6541 Email: jmunch@physics.adelaide.edu.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________________ Workshop on QUANTUM COHERENCE AND INFORMATION PROCESSING UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE 8,9 DECEMBER 1997 Webpage: http://bragg.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~mwh/qiproc/qiproc.html (The first call for papers is now out!) _________________________________________________________________________ 1998 SPIE QUANTUM COMPUTATION CONFERENCE Chairs: Dr. Steven P. Hotaling and MR. Andrew R. Pirich, USAF Where: Orlando Mariott World Center, Orlando FL,USA Dates: 13-17 April 1998 Sessions: Experimental Quantum Computation Studies Quantum Noise and Decoherence in Quantum Computation Quantum Structures/Logics NMR Based Quantum Computation Quantum Communications Quantum Cryptography e-mail preliminary titles/abstracts to: drsteve@rl.af.mil DR. STEVEN P. HOTALING Chief, NonTraditional Sciences USAF Rome Laboratory/OC-1 26 Electronic Parkway Rome, NY 13441-4514 Phone(STU III): 315-330-2487 FAX: (315)330-7899 ______________________________________________________________________________ 22nd International Colloquium on Group Theoretical Methods in Physics Location: Hobart, Australia Date: 13th - 18th of July, 1998 Homepage URL: http://oberon.phys.utas.edu.au/ICGTMP98/ email address: Group22info@oberon.phys.utas.edu.au~ Blurb: The 22nd biennial meeting in the ICGTMP series will be held in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. These meetings exist to highlight areas of mutual interaction between experimental and theoretical physics on the one hand, and mathematical aspects of group theory and symmetries on the other. They are organized thematically, with plenary sessions providing topical reviews and recent advances, and a number of parallel sessions. For the 1998 ICGTMP Colloquium (Group22) in Hobart these will include: nuclear and particle physics; atomic and molecular physics; solid state and condensed matter physics; quantum optics; relativity and gravitation; dynamical systems, integrable systems, partial differential equations; foundations of quantum physics; quantum field theory, statistical mechanics; as well as Lie (super) algebras and groups, and related structures in mathematical physics. Local Organising Comittee: Prof Bob Delbourgo Dr. Peter Jarvis Speakers are still to be finalised. _____________________________________________________________________________ For other interesting conferences, send an e-mail to with CONFMENU on your Subject line, or web . ****************************************************************************** 3. ****************************************************************************** 4. SITUATIONS VACANT Australian National University Canberra, ACT Australia Lecturer Faculty of Science DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS The Department seeks to appoint a Continuing Level B Lecturer to support its teaching and research in physics. We wish to employ a physicist who will contribute to, and develop, our teaching program in theoretical and computational physics, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. The successful applicant will be part of an enthusiastic team of academics who provide a complete teaching program in physics for both scientists and engineers. The Department is committed to increasing the proportion of female academics on the staff. The successful applicant will help to maintain and extend our achievements in encouraging female students to study physics. Applicants must have a PhD in Physics, or a related discipline and should be active in an area of research which builds on and extends those already existing in the Department, in particular: the foundations of quantum mechanics, atom optics, quantum optics, gravitational waves and their detection, observational astronomy, and nuclear physics. The successful applicant will be expected, either individually, or as a part of a research team, to actively seek funding from external sources. Enquiries: Professor Hans-A. Bachor, Tel: (06) 249 2747, Fax: (06) 249 0741, Email: physics.faculties@anu.edu.au Contact: Further particulars and selection criteria are available from the Secretary, Tel: (06) 249 4566; Fax: (06) 249 5011; Email: academic.staffing.appointments@anu.edu.au For current information on research activities see our home page. Salary: Lecturer (Level B) $46,043 - $54,324 pa. Closing date: 13 August 1997. Ref: FS 10.6.1. Information on how to apply for positions may be obtained from the ANU Web Page or by telephoning/emailing the Contact. ****************************************************************************** 5. MISC NEWS ****************************************************************************** The end.