11,487 research outputs found
Statistical phase estimation and error mitigation on a superconducting quantum processor
Quantum phase estimation (QPE) is a key quantum algorithm, which has been
widely studied as a method to perform chemistry and solid-state calculations on
future fault-tolerant quantum computers. Recently, several authors have
proposed statistical alternatives to QPE that have benefits on early
fault-tolerant devices, including shorter circuits and better suitability for
error mitigation techniques. However, practical implementations of the
algorithm on real quantum processors are lacking. In this paper we practically
implement statistical phase estimation on Rigetti's superconducting processors.
We specifically use the method of Lin and Tong [PRX Quantum 3, 010318 (2022)]
using the improved Fourier approximation of Wan et al. [PRL 129, 030503
(2022)], and applying a variational compilation technique to reduce circuit
depth. We then incorporate error mitigation strategies including zero-noise
extrapolation and readout error mitigation with bit-flip averaging. We propose
a simple method to estimate energies from the statistical phase estimation
data, which is found to improve the accuracy in final energy estimates by one
to two orders of magnitude with respect to prior theoretical bounds, reducing
the cost to perform accurate phase estimation calculations. We apply these
methods to chemistry problems for active spaces up to 4 electrons in 4
orbitals, including the application of a quantum embedding method, and use them
to correctly estimate energies within chemical precision. Our work demonstrates
that statistical phase estimation has a natural resilience to noise,
particularly after mitigating coherent errors, and can achieve far higher
accuracy than suggested by previous analysis, demonstrating its potential as a
valuable quantum algorithm for early fault-tolerant devices.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figure
Cumulant expansion framework for internal gradient distributions tensors
Magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful, non invasive tool for medical
diagnosis. The low sensitivity for detecting the nuclear spin signals,
typically limits the image resolution to several tens of micrometers in
preclinical systems and millimeters in clinical scanners. Other sources of
information, derived from diffusion processes of intrinsic molecules as water
in the tissues, allow getting morphological information at micrometric and
submicrometric scales as potential biomarkers of several pathologies. Here we
consider extracting this morphological information by probing the distribution
of internal magnetic field gradients induced by the heterogeneous magnetic
susceptibility of the medium. We use a cumulant expansion to derive the
dephasing on the spin signal induced by the molecules that explore these
internal gradients while diffuse. Based on the cumulant expansion, we define
internal gradient distributions tensors (IGDT) and propose modulating gradient
spin echo sequences to probe them. These IGDT contain microstructural
morphological information that characterize porous media and biological
tissues. We evaluate the IGDT effects on the magnetization decay with typical
conditions of brain tissue and show their effects can be experimentally
observed. Our results thus provide a framework for exploiting IGDT as
quantitative diagnostic tools
Quasi-coherent noise-like pulses in a mode-locked fiber laser with 3D rotatable polarization beam splitter
Funding. National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (61805281); Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2019A1515010732).Peer reviewedPostprin
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Superfluidity and Superconductivity in Body-centred-cubic and Face-centred-cubic Systems
The microscopic description of phases in strongly correlated systems such as the fullerides (A3C60) is a challenge. In particular, how these strong interactions become attraction leading to a superconducting state remains a mystery. Understanding the mechanism(s) that drive(s) unconventional superconductivity is one of the most sought-after goals in many-body physics and indeed very complex to solve.
The aim of this thesis is, firstly, to investigate the conditions in which pairing may take place between two electrons in both body-centred cubic (BCC) and face-centred cubic (FCC) systems, and secondly, to examine the possibility for the emergence of a superconducting or superfluid state from paired electrons in three-dimensional (3D) systems. Here, pair properties are studied both in the anti-adiabatic and adiabatic limits.
In the anti-adiabatic limit, we use a symmetrised approach, group theory analysis, and perturbation theory to exactly solve the two-body problem and analyse the properties of the electron pair. We also examine, using a continuous-time Monte Carlo algorithm (CTQMC), the effects of retarded electron-phonon interactions on the pair properties away from the anti-adiabatic limit. In the high-phonon frequency limit, the CTQMC also serves as a validation check for the anti-adiabatic analytic result and vice-versa (with both results showing perfect agreement).
Our result predicts that superfluidity can occur in BCC optical lattices up to a few tens of nanokelvin for fermionic lithium-6 atoms. Additionally, we found that, in the high-frequency limit, a paired state in an FCC lattice can be extremely light and small as compared to paired states on other 3D lattices. Such superlight states are expected to yield high transition temperatures under favourable circumstances. However, when the retardation effects arising from the electron-phonon interaction become important, bound pairs in the BCC lattice become lighter by orders of magnitude in a wide region of the parameter space. We also found significant long-range effects due to the vibration of the alkali ions in the cesium-doped fulleride systems leading to the creation of light pairs in its BCC structure
Targeting Fusion Proteins of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2
Viruses are disease-causing pathogenic agents that require host cells to replicate. Fusion of host and viral membranes is critical for the lifecycle of enveloped viruses. Studying viral fusion proteins can allow us to better understand how they shape immune responses and inform the design of therapeutics such as drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. This thesis discusses two approaches to targeting two fusion proteins: Env from HIV-1 and S from SARS-CoV-2. The first chapter of this thesis is an introduction to viruses with a specific focus on HIV-1 CD4 mimetic drugs and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. It discusses the architecture of these viruses and fusion proteins and how small molecules, peptides, and antibodies can target these proteins successfully to treat and prevent disease. In addition, a brief overview is included of the techniques involved in structural biology and how it has informed the study of viruses. For the interested reader, chapter 2 contains a review article that serves as a more in-depth introduction for both viruses as well as how the use of structural biology has informed the study of viral surface proteins and neutralizing antibody responses to them. The subsequent chapters provide a body of work divided into two parts. The first part in chapter 3 involves a study on conformational changes induced in the HIV-1 Env protein by CD4-mimemtic drugs using single particle cryo-EM. The second part encompassing chapters 4 and 5 includes two studies on antibodies isolated from convalescent COVID-19 donors. The former involves classification of antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 S receptor-binding domain (RBD). The latter discusses an anti-RBD antibody class that binds to a conserved epitope on the RBD and shows cross-binding and cross-neutralization to other coronaviruses in the sarbecovirus subgenus.</p
Application of advanced fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy in live-cell imaging
Since its inception, fluorescence microscopy has been a key source of discoveries in cell biology. Advancements in fluorophores, labeling techniques and instrumentation have made fluorescence microscopy a versatile quantitative tool for studying dynamic processes and interactions both in vitro and in live-cells. In this thesis, I apply quantitative fluorescence microscopy techniques in live-cell environments to investigate several biological processes. To study Gag processing in HIV-1 particles, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and single particle tracking are combined to follow nascent HIV-1 virus particles during assembly and release on the plasma membrane of living cells. Proteolytic release of eCFP embedded in the Gag lattice of immature HIV-1 virus particles results in a characteristic increase in its fluorescence lifetime. Gag processing and rearrangement can be detected in individual virus particles using this approach. In another project, a robust method for quantifying Förster resonance energy transfer in live-cells is developed to allow direct comparison of live-cell FRET experiments between laboratories. Finally, I apply image fluctuation spectroscopy to study protein behavior in a variety of cellular environments. Image cross-correlation spectroscopy is used to study the oligomerization of CXCR4, a G-protein coupled receptor on the plasma membrane. With raster image correlation spectroscopy, I measure the diffusion of histones in the nucleoplasm and heterochromatin domains of the nuclei of early mouse embryos. The lower diffusion coefficient of histones in the heterochromatin domain supports the conclusion that heterochromatin forms a liquid phase-separated domain. The wide range of topics covered in this thesis demonstrate that fluorescence microscopy is more than just an imaging tool but also a powerful instrument for the quantification and elucidation of dynamic cellular processes
Underwater optical wireless communications in turbulent conditions: from simulation to experimentation
Underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) is a technology that aims to apply high speed optical wireless communication (OWC) techniques to the underwater channel. UOWC has the potential to provide high speed links over relatively short distances as part of a hybrid underwater network, along with radio frequency (RF) and underwater acoustic communications (UAC) technologies. However, there are some difficulties involved in developing a reliable UOWC link, namely, the complexity of the channel. The main focus throughout this thesis is to develop a greater understanding of the effects of the UOWC channel, especially underwater turbulence. This understanding is developed from basic theory through to simulation and experimental studies in order to gain a holistic understanding of turbulence in the UOWC channel.
This thesis first presents a method of modelling optical underwater turbulence through simulation that allows it to be examined in conjunction with absorption and scattering. In a stationary channel, this turbulence induced scattering is shown to cause and increase both spatial and temporal spreading at the receiver plane. It is also demonstrated using the technique presented that the relative impact of turbulence on a received signal is lower in a highly scattering channel, showing an in-built resilience of these channels. Received intensity distributions are presented confirming that fluctuations in received power from this method follow the commonly used Log-Normal fading model. The impact of turbulence - as measured using this new modelling framework - on link performance, in terms of maximum achievable data rate and bit error rate is equally investigated.
Following that, experimental studies comparing both the relative impact of turbulence induced scattering on coherent and non-coherent light propagating through water and the relative impact of turbulence in different water conditions are presented. It is shown that the scintillation index increases with increasing temperature inhomogeneity in the underwater channel. These results indicate that a light beam from a non-coherent source has a greater resilience to temperature inhomogeneity induced turbulence effect in an underwater channel. These results will help researchers in simulating realistic channel conditions when modelling a light emitting diode (LED) based intensity modulation with direct detection (IM/DD) UOWC link.
Finally, a comparison of different modulation schemes in still and turbulent water conditions is presented. Using an underwater channel emulator, it is shown that pulse position modulation (PPM) and subcarrier intensity modulation (SIM) have an inherent resilience to turbulence induced fading with SIM achieving higher data rates under all conditions. The signal processing technique termed pair-wise coding (PWC) is applied to SIM in underwater optical wireless communications for the first time. The performance of PWC is compared with the, state-of-the-art, bit and power loading optimisation algorithm. Using PWC, a maximum data rate of 5.2 Gbps is achieved in still water conditions
Exploring the Structure of Scattering Amplitudes in Quantum Field Theory: Scattering Equations, On-Shell Diagrams and Ambitwistor String Models in Gauge Theory and Gravity
In this thesis I analyse the structure of scattering amplitudes in super-symmetric gauge and gravitational theories in four dimensional spacetime, starting with a detailed review of background material accessible to a non-expert. I then analyse the 4D scattering equations, developing the theory of how they can be used to express scattering amplitudes at tree level. I go on to explain how the equations can be solved numerically using a Monte Carlo algorithm, and introduce my Mathematica package treeamps4dJAF which performs these calculations. Next I analyse the relation between the 4D scattering equations and on-shell diagrams in N = 4 super Yang-Mills, which provides a new perspective on the tree level amplitudes of the theory. I apply a similar analysis to N = 8 supergravity, developing the theory of on-shell diagrams to derive new Grassmannian integral formulae for the amplitudes of the theory. In both theories I derive a new worldsheet expression for the 4 point one loop amplitude supported on 4D scattering equations. Finally I use 4D ambitwistor string theory to analyse scattering amplitudes in N = 4 conformal supergravity, deriving new worldsheet formulae for both plane wave and non-plane wave amplitudes supported on 4D scattering equations. I introduce a new prescription to calculate the derivatives of on-shell variables with respect to momenta, and I use this to show that certain non-plane wave amplitudes can be calculated as momentum derivatives of amplitudes with plane wave states
Interference mitigation in LiFi networks
Due to the increasing demand for wireless data, the radio frequency (RF) spectrum has
become a very limited resource. Alternative approaches are under investigation to support
the future growth in data traffic and next-generation high-speed wireless communication
systems. Techniques such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), millimeter
wave (mmWave) communications and light-fidelity (LiFi) are being explored. Among
these technologies, LiFi is a novel bi-directional, high-speed and fully networked wireless
communication technology. However, inter-cell interference (ICI) can significantly restrict the
system performance of LiFi attocell networks. This thesis focuses on interference mitigation
in LiFi attocell networks.
The angle diversity receiver (ADR) is one solution to address the issue of ICI as well as
frequency reuse in LiFi attocell networks. With the property of high concentration gain and
narrow field of view (FOV), the ADR is very beneficial for interference mitigation. However,
the optimum structure of the ADR has not been investigated. This motivates us to propose the
optimum structures for the ADRs in order to fully exploit the performance gain. The impact
of random device orientation and diffuse link signal propagation are taken into consideration.
The performance comparison between the select best combining (SBC) and maximum ratio
combining (MRC) is carried out under different noise levels. In addition, the double source
(DS) system, where each LiFi access point (AP) consists of two sources transmitting the same
information signals but with opposite polarity, is proven to outperform the single source (SS)
system under certain conditions.
Then, to overcome issues around ICI, random device orientation and link blockage, hybrid
LiFi/WiFi networks (HLWNs) are considered. In this thesis, dynamic load balancing (LB)
considering handover in HLWNs is studied. The orientation-based random waypoint (ORWP)
mobility model is considered to provide a more realistic framework to evaluate the performance
of HLWNs. Based on the low-pass filtering effect of the LiFi channel, we firstly propose
an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based resource allocation (RA)
method in LiFi systems. Also, an enhanced evolutionary game theory (EGT)-based LB scheme
with handover in HLWNs is proposed.
Finally, due to the characteristic of high directivity and narrow beams, a vertical-cavity
surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array transmission system has been proposed to mitigate
ICI. In order to support mobile users, two beam activation methods are proposed. The
beam activation based on the corner-cube retroreflector (CCR) can achieve low power
consumption and almost-zero delay, allowing real-time beam activation for high-speed users.
The mechanism based on the omnidirectional transmitter (ODTx) is suitable for low-speed
users and very robust to random orientation
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