High-resolution ultra-short optical pulse shaping and coherent control over the photoasociation of ultra-cold atoms [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Terence Gerald Mullins

High-Resolution Ultra-short Optical PulseShaping and Coherent Control over thePhotoassociation of Ultra-Cold AtomsTerence Gerald MullinsFakult¨at fu¨r Mathematik und PhysikAlbert-Ludwigs-Universita¨t FreiburgHigh-Resolution Ultra-short OpticalPulse Shaping and CoherentControl over the Photoassociationof Ultra-Cold AtomsInaugural-DissertationzurErlangung des Doktorgradesder Fakulta¨t fu¨r Mathematik und Physikder Albert-Ludwigs-Universit¨atFreiburg im Breisgauvorgelegt vonTerence Gerald Mullins BSc., P.G.Dip.Sci., MSc. (hons.)aus Wanganuiim Oktober 2010Dekan: Prof. Kay Ko¨nigsmannLeiter der Arbeit: Prof. Dr. Matthias Weidemu¨llerReferent: Prof. Dr. Matthias Weidemu¨llerKoreferent:Pru¨fer: Prof. Dr. Frank StienkemeierProf. Dr. Andreas BuchleitnerTag der mu¨ndlichen Pru¨fung 12. November 2010AcknowledgementsIwould like to thankthefollowing people for their help, support,encourage-ment, money, time, company, suggestions, discussions, beer, humour (goodand bad), and general presence during the time I worked on this PhD:First I would like to thank the person who influenced me most duringmytimeinFreiburg: mysupervisor,MatthiasWeidemulle¨ r,whosenever-endingquestfor“ein einfachesBild”forcesyou toactually thinkaboutwhatyou are doing. Luckily my artistic ability only extends as far as stick figuresanyway.A big thank-you to Roland Wester for all his tips and great adviceover the last few years.