Objective Comprehensive studies of resonant interaction of laser radiation with sub-millimetre and sub-micron- thin atomic vapour layers are planned. Under these experimental conditions, all the known resonant optical processes exhibit new and attractive peculiarities and features caused by boundary-conditioned atomic velocity and interaction time anisotropy, dimensional effects arising when the cell thickness L is comparable with the radiation wavelength lambda, enhanced contribution of atom-dielectric surface interaction, etc.More specifically, the following applied, experimental and theoretical work will be done.- Development and fabrication of unique optical nano-cells containing alkali metal vapours with smoothly variable thickness in 30-2000nm range and sub-millimetre thin cells, filled with alkali metal, with or without buffer gas, as well as fabrication of special cells with CaF2 (BaF2) windows. These cells and their accessories will be used in all experimental studies throughout the project.- Development and use in the following studies of a new atomic frequency reference technique based on alkali metal vapour nano-cell. This single-beam method, which fully exploits the sharp sub-Doppler nature of the atomic spectra at L = lambda/2 and the narrow pumping features at L = lambda, will be free of the drawbacks of the conventional saturated absorption technique.- Development of a new, high spectral resolution "L= lambda Zeeman technique" based on nano-cell, and usage of this method for studies of Zeeman effect for hyperfine levels of alkali atoms, including transition from linear to non-linear regime in an external magnetic field (0.1 - 200 Gs).- Study of coherent population trapping (CPT) phenomenon in nano- and micro- cells, prepared by monochromatic and frequency modulated (in kHz and GHz regions) laser radiations. These studies will be aimed to revealing and understanding the optimum experimental parameters in order to achieve a minimum FWHM and a maximum contrast of the CPT profile.- Experimental and theoretical study of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and velocity-selective optical pumping (VSOP) in alkali metal nano- and micro- cells and comparison with the corresponding processes in the conventional cells of centimetre-range thickness.- Study of the atom-surface interaction in a selective reflection experiment, depending on the material of the dielectric window. In particular, the expected turning universal van der Waals interaction from attraction to repulsion by temperature control will be investigated for the case of high-lying excited Cs(8P) atom and CaF2 or BaF2 window.Besides the fundamental interest, the expected results of the project will be useful for a number of scientific and technological applications, among which are: development of a new atomic frequency reference, development of compact optical magnetometer schemes with a sub-micrometer spatial resolution, development of new atomic clocks, etc. Keywords Atomic & Molecular Spectroscopy Interfaces & Microstructures Nanostructures Quantum Dots Surfaces Programme(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONICS (BAS) EU contribution No data Address TZARIGRADSKO CHAUSSEE, 72 SOFIA Bulgaria See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL RESEARCH Armenia EU contribution No data Address ASHTARAK-2 ASHTARAK See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA Latvia EU contribution No data Address RAINIS BOULEVARD, 19 RIGA See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITÀ DI SIENA Italy EU contribution No data Address VIA ROMA, 56 SIENA See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITÉ DE BOURGOGNE France EU contribution No data Address AVENUE ALAIN SAVARY, 9 DIJON See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS XIII & CNRS France EU contribution No data Address AV. J. B. CLÉMENT, 99 VILLETANEUSE See on map Total cost No data
