Phonon arithmetic in a trapped ion system

Single-quantum level operations are important tools to manipulate a quantum state. Annihilation or creation of single particles translates a quantum state to another by adding or subtracting a particle, depending on how many are already in the given state. The operations are probabilistic and the success rate has yet been low in their experimental realization. Here we experimentally demonstrate (near) deterministic addition and subtraction of a bosonic particle, in particular a phonon of ionic motion in a harmonic potential. We realize the operations by coupling phonons to an auxiliary two-level system and applying transitionless adiabatic passage. We show handy repetition of the operations on various initial states and demonstrate by the reconstruction of the density matrices that the operations preserve coherences. We observe the transformation of a classical state to a highly non-classical one and a Gaussian state to a non-Gaussian one by applying a sequence of operations deterministically

On the S-wave piD-scattering length in the relativistic field theory model of the deuteron

The S-wave scattering length of the strong pion-deuteron (pi D) scattering is calculated in the relativistic field theory model of the deuteron suggested in [1,2].The theoretical result agrees well with the experimental data. The important role of the Delta-resonance contribution to the elastic pi D-scattering is confirmed.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in Z. Phys.

Neural correlates of auditory pattern learning in the auditory cortex

Learning of new auditory stimuli often requires repetitive exposure to the stimulus. Fast and implicit learning of sounds presented at random times enables efficient auditory perception. However, it is unclear how such sensory encoding is processed on a neural level. We investigated neural responses that are developed from a passive, repetitive exposure to a specific sound in the auditory cortex of anesthetized rats, using electrocorticography. We presented a series of random sequences that are generated afresh each time, except for a specific reference sequence that remains constant and re-appears at random times across trials. We compared induced activity amplitudes between reference and fresh sequences. Neural responses from both primary and non-primary auditory cortical regions showed significantly decreased induced activity amplitudes for reference sequences compared to fresh sequences, especially in the beta band. This is the first study showing that neural correlates of auditory pattern learning can be evoked even in anesthetized, passive listening animal models

Extracting non-linear integrate-and-fire models from experimental data using dynamic I–V curves

The dynamic I–V curve method was recently introduced for the efficient experimental generation of reduced neuron models. The method extracts the response properties of a neuron while it is subject to a naturalistic stimulus that mimics in vivo-like fluctuating synaptic drive. The resulting history-dependent, transmembrane current is then projected onto a one-dimensional current–voltage relation that provides the basis for a tractable non-linear integrate-and-fire model. An attractive feature of the method is that it can be used in spike-triggered mode to quantify the distinct patterns of post-spike refractoriness seen in different classes of cortical neuron. The method is first illustrated using a conductance-based model and is then applied experimentally to generate reduced models of cortical layer-5 pyramidal cells and interneurons, in injected-current and injected- conductance protocols. The resulting low-dimensional neuron models—of the refractory exponential integrate-and-fire type—provide highly accurate predictions for spike-times. The method therefore provides a useful tool for the construction of tractable models and rapid experimental classification of cortical neurons

Non-Newtonian gravity in finite nuclei

In this talk, we report our recent study of constraining the non-Newtonian gravity at femtometer scale. We incorporate the Yukawa-type non-Newtonian gravitational potential consistently to the Skyrme functional form using the exact treatment for the direct contribution and density-matrix expansion method for the exchange contribution. The effects from the non-Newtonian potential on finite nuclei properties are then studied together with a well-tested Skyrme force. Assuming that the framework without non-Newtonian gravity can explain the binding energies and charge radii of medium to heavy nuclei within 2% error, we set an upper limit for the strength of the non-Newtonian gravitational potential at femtometer scale.Comment: Talk given at the 11th International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (NN2012), San Antonio, Texas, USA, May 27-June 1, 2012. To appear in the NN2012 Proceedings in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS

Neutron and proton drip lines using the modified Bethe-Weizsacker mass formula

Proton and neutron separation energies have been calculated using the extended Bethe-Weizsacker mass formula. This modified Bethe-Weizsacker mass formula describes minutely the positions of all the old and the new magic numbers. It accounts for the disappearance of some traditional magic numbers for neutrons and provides extra stability for some new neutron numbers. The neutron and proton drip lines have been predicted using this extended Bethe-Weizsacker mass formula. The implications of the proton drip line on the astrophysical rp-process and of the neutron drip line on the astrophysical r-process have been discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

The OH Megamaser Emission in Arp\,220: the rest of the story

The OH Megamaser emission in the merging galaxy Arp220 has been re-observed with the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) and the European VLBI Network (EVN). Imaging results of the OH line emission at the two nuclei are found to be consistent with earlier observations and confirm additional extended emission structures surrounding the nuclei. Detailed information about the distributed emission components around the two nuclei has been obtained using a concatenated MERLIN and EVN database with intermediate (40 mas) spatial resolution. Continuum imaging shows a relatively compact West nucleus and a more extended East nucleus in addition to an extended continuum ridge stretching below and beyond the two nuclei. Spectral line imaging show extended emission regions at both nuclei together with compact components and additional weaker components north and south of the West nucleus. Spectral line analysis indicates that the dominant OH line emission originates in foreground molecular material that is part of a large-scale molecular structure that engulfs the whole nuclear region. Compact OH components are representative of star formation regions within the two nearly edge-on nuclei and define the systemic velocities of East and West as 5425 km/s and 5360 km/s. The foreground material at East and West has a 100 km/s lower velocity at 5314 and 5254 km/s. These emission results confirm a maser amplification scenario where the background continuum and the line emission of the star formation regions are amplified by foreground masering material that is excited by the FIR radiation field originating in the two nuclear regions.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figure

Synchronization in a neuronal feedback loop through asymmetric temporal delays

We consider the effect of asymmetric temporal delays in a system of two coupled Hopfield neurons. For couplings of opposite signs, a limit cycle emerges via a supercritical Hopf bifurcation when the sum of the delays reaches a critical value. We show that the angular frequency of the limit cycle is independent of an asymmetry in the delays. However, the delay asymmetry determines the phase difference between the periodic activities of the two components. Specifically, when the connection with negative coupling has a delay much larger than the delay for the positive coupling, the system approaches in-phase synchrony between the two components. Employing variational perturbation theory (VPT), we achieve an approximate analytical evaluation of the phase shift, in good agreement with numerical results.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Postharvest loss in the supply chain for vegetables – The case of chili and tomato in Viet Nam

AVRDC Publication 06-685Christian Genova II, Katinka Weinberger, Hoang Bang An, Dang Dinh Dam, Nguyen Thi Tan Loc, Le Nhu Thinh, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thu