42,718 research outputs found
The integration of on-line monitoring and reconfiguration functions using IEEE1149.4 into a safety critical automotive electronic control unit.
This paper presents an innovative application of IEEE 1149.4 and the integrated diagnostic reconfiguration (IDR) as tools for the implementation of an embedded test solution for an automotive electronic control unit, implemented as a fully integrated mixed signal system. The paper describes how the test architecture can be used for fault avoidance with results from a hardware prototype presented. The paper concludes that fault avoidance can be integrated into mixed signal electronic systems to handle key failure modes
Quantum Analogue Computing
We briefly review what a quantum computer is, what it promises to do for us,
and why it is so hard to build one. Among the first applications anticipated to
bear fruit is quantum simulation of quantum systems. While most quantum
computation is an extension of classical digital computation, quantum
simulation differs fundamentally in how the data is encoded in the quantum
computer. To perform a quantum simulation, the Hilbert space of the system to
be simulated is mapped directly onto the Hilbert space of the (logical) qubits
in the quantum computer. This type of direct correspondence is how data is
encoded in a classical analogue computer. There is no binary encoding, and
increasing precision becomes exponentially costly: an extra bit of precision
doubles the size of the computer. This has important consequences for both the
precision and error correction requirements of quantum simulation, and
significant open questions remain about its practicality. It also means that
the quantum version of analogue computers, continuous variable quantum
computers (CVQC) becomes an equally efficient architecture for quantum
simulation. Lessons from past use of classical analogue computers can help us
to build better quantum simulators in future.Comment: 10 pages, to appear in the Visions 2010 issue of Phil. Trans. Roy.
Soc.
Highly tunable repetition-rate multiplication of mode-locked lasers using all-fibre harmonic injection locking
Higher repetition-rate optical pulse trains have been desired for various
applications such as high-bit-rate optical communication, photonic
analogue-to-digital conversion, and multi- photon imaging. Generation of multi
GHz and higher repetition-rate optical pulse trains directly from mode-locked
oscillators is often challenging. As an alternative, harmonic injection locking
can be applied for extra-cavity repetition-rate multiplication (RRM). Here we
have investigated the operation conditions and achievable performances of
all-fibre, highly tunable harmonic injection locking-based pulse RRM. We show
that, with slight tuning of slave laser length, highly tunable RRM is possible
from a multiplication factor of 2 to >100. The resulting maximum SMSR is 41 dB
when multiplied by a factor of two. We further characterize the noise
properties of the multiplied signal in terms of phase noise and relative
intensity noise. The resulting absolute rms timing jitter of the multiplied
signal is in the range of 20 fs to 60 fs (10 kHz - 1 MHz) for different
multiplication factors. With its high tunability, simple and robust all-fibre
implementation, and low excess noise, the demonstrated RRM system may find
diverse applications in microwave photonics, optical communications, photonic
analogue-to-digital conversion, and clock distribution networks.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure
What is a quantum simulator?
Quantum simulators are devices that actively use quantum effects to answer
questions about model systems and, through them, real systems. Here we expand
on this definition by answering several fundamental questions about the nature
and use of quantum simulators. Our answers address two important areas. First,
the difference between an operation termed simulation and another termed
computation. This distinction is related to the purpose of an operation, as
well as our confidence in and expectation of its accuracy. Second, the
threshold between quantum and classical simulations. Throughout, we provide a
perspective on the achievements and directions of the field of quantum
simulation.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
Turning Optical Complex Media into Universal Reconfigurable Linear Operators by Wavefront Shaping
Performing linear operations using optical devices is a crucial building
block in many fields ranging from telecommunication to optical analogue
computation and machine learning. For many of these applications, key
requirements are robustness to fabrication inaccuracies and reconfigurability.
Current designs of custom-tailored photonic devices or coherent photonic
circuits only partially satisfy these needs. Here, we propose a way to perform
linear operations by using complex optical media such as multimode fibers or
thin scattering layers as a computational platform driven by wavefront shaping.
Given a large random transmission matrix (TM) representing light propagation in
such a medium, we can extract a desired smaller linear operator by finding
suitable input and output projectors. We discuss fundamental upper bounds on
the size of the linear transformations our approach can achieve and provide an
experimental demonstration. For the latter, first we retrieve the complex
medium's TM with a non-interferometric phase retrieval method. Then, we take
advantage of the large number of degrees of freedom to find input wavefronts
using a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) that cause the system, composed of the
SLM and the complex medium, to act as a desired complex-valued linear operator
on the optical field. We experimentally build several
complex-valued operators, and are able to switch from one to another at will.
Our technique offers the prospect of reconfigurable, robust and
easy-to-fabricate linear optical analogue computation units
Evolution of the SPS Power Converter Controls towards the LHC Era
By the end of the nineties, the power converter control system (Mugef) of the
CERN proton accelerator (SPS) had undergone a complete modernization. This
resulted in newly developed hardware for function generation, measurement and
I/O in a VME environment, under the LynxOS real-time operating system. This has
provided a platform on which extensions can be developed for future operation
in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) era. This paper describes some of these
extensions, in particular a fast Surveillance and Interlock system for
monitoring the power converter output currents. This will be mandatory for the
safe operation of the SPS transfer lines TI2 & TI8 to LHC and for similar
applications in the future. The strategies employed to cope with various
failure modes of the power converters and the timely activation of the
interlock are outlined. The new SPS controls infrastructure now under
development, will give rise to new modes of operation for the Mugef systems.
Integration with the proposed middleware must be undertaken in a structured
evolution, while retaining compatibility with the current usage.Comment: Paper is 3 pages for ICAPEPCS 01 27 - 30 November 2001 San Jose. John
C L Brazier is the principal author and a consultant to CERN (hence the CERN
Email address but UK Organisation
Universal Continuous Variable Quantum Computation in the Micromaser
We present universal continuous variable quantum computation (CVQC) in the
micromaser. With a brief history as motivation we present the background theory
and define universal CVQC. We then show how to generate a set of operations in
the micromaser which can be used to achieve universal CVQC. It then follows
that the micromaser is a potential architecture for CVQC but our proof is
easily adaptable to other potential physical systems.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted for a presentation at the 9th
International Conference on Unconventional Computation (UC10) and LNCS
proceedings
Space qualified nanosatellite electronics platform for photon pair experiments
We report the design and implementation of a complete electronics platform
for conducting a quantum optics experiment that will be operated on board a 1U
CubeSat (a 10 x 10 x 10 cm satellite). The quantum optics experiment is
designed to produce polarization-entangled photon pairs using non-linear
optical crystals and requires opto-electronic components such as a pump laser,
single photon detectors and liquid crystal based polarization rotators in
addition to passive optical elements. The platform provides mechanical support
for the optical assembly. It also communicates autonomously with the host
satellite to provide experiment data for transmission to a ground station. A
limited number of commands can be transmitted from ground to the platform
enabling it to switch experimental modes. This platform requires less than 1.5W
for all operations, and is space qualified. The implementation of this
electronics platform is a major step on the road to operating quantum
communication experiments using nanosatellites.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figure
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