Dynamic spin response of a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We present an experimental investigation of the dynamic spin response of a strongly interacting Fermi gas using Bragg spectroscopy. By varying the detuning of the Bragg lasers, we show that it is possible to measure the response in the spin and density channels separately. At low Bragg energies, the spin response is suppressed due to pairing, whereas the density response is enhanced. These experiments yield the first independent measurements of the spin-parallel and spin-antiparallel dynamic and static structure factors, which provide insight into the different features of density and spin response functions. At high momentum the spin-antiparallel dynamic structure factor displays a universal high frequency tail, proportional to ω(-5/2), where ℏω is the probe energy.

Crossover from 2D to 3D in a weakly interacting Fermi gas

We have studied the transition from two to three dimensions in a low temperature weakly interacting 6Li Fermi gas. Below a critical atom number N(2D) only the lowest transverse vibrational state of a highly anisotropic oblate trapping potential is occupied and the gas is two dimensional. Above N(2D) the Fermi gas enters the quasi-2D regime where shell structure associated with the filling of individual transverse oscillator states is apparent. This dimensional crossover is demonstrated through measurements of the cloud size and aspect ratio versus atom number.

Focusing Optics for High-Energy X-ray Diffraction

Novel focusing optical devices have been developed for synchrotron radiation in the energy range 40-100 keV. Firstly, a narrow-band-pass focusing energy-tuneable fixed-exit monochromator was constructed by combining meridionally bent Laue and Bragg crystals. Dispersion compensation was applied to retain the high momentum resolution despite the beam divergence caused by the focusing. Next, microfocusing was achieved by a bent multilayer arranged behind the crystal monochromator and alternatively by a bent Laue crystal. A 1.2 micro m-high line focus was obtained at 90 keV. The properties of the different set-ups are described and potential applications are discussed. First experiments were performed, investigating with high spatial resolution the residual strain gradients in layered polycrystalline materials. The results underline that focused high-energy synchrotron radiation can provide unique information on the mesoscopic scale to the materials scientist, complementary to existing techniques based on conventional X-ray sources, neutron scattering or electron microscopy.

X-ray magnetic reflectometry using circularly polarized radiation

Magnetic reflectometry experiments have been performed in the X-ray range at the L(2,3) edges of rhodium. What makes these experiments original is the insertion of a very compact double-bounce reflectometer upstream of the monochromator. This configuration makes full use of the high polarization rate of the helical undulator source. This advantage is reflected in the high quality of the data obtained after only a few accumulations. It is also shown that, by properly selecting the angle of incidence, one may obtain experimental differential X-ray reflectivity spectra dominated either by the dispersion or the absorption terms.