Measuring the Density Matrix by Local Addressing

We introduce a procedure to measure the density matrix of a material system. The density matrix is addressed locally in this scheme by applying a sequence of delayed light pulses. The procedure is based on the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) technique. It is shown that a series of population measurements on the target state of the population transfer process yields unambiguous information about the populations and coherences of the addressed states, which therefore can be determined.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Baryonic Regge trajectories with analyticity constraints

A model for baryonic Regge trajectories compatible with the threshold behavior required by unitarity and asymptotic behavior in agreement with analyticity constraints is given in explicit form. Widths and masses of the baryonic resonances on the N and $\Delta$ trajectories are reproduced. The MacDowell symmetry is exploited and an application is given.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Inversionless gain in a three-level system driven by a strong field and collisions

Inversionless gain in a three-level system driven by a strong external field and by collisions with a buffer gas is investigated. The mechanism of populating of the upper laser level contributed by the collision transfer as well as by relaxation caused by a buffer gas is discussed in detail. Explicit formulae for analysis of optimal conditions are derived. The mechanism developed here for the incoherent pump could be generalized to other systems.Comment: RevTeX, 9 pages, 4 eps figure

Microstructural influence on the cyclic electro mechanical behaviour of ductile films on polymer substrates

When ductile metal films on compliant polymer substrates are strained in tension catastrophic failure can be suppressed by the substrate, thus allowing for their use in flexible electronics and sensors. However, the charge carrying ductile films must be of an optimum thickness and microstructure for the suppression of cracking to occur. Studies of strained films on polymer substrates tend to have more emphasis on the electrical properties and thickness effects than on the film microstructure or deformation behaviour. To address both the electrical degradation and deformation behaviour of metal films supported by polymer substrates two types of combined electro-mechanical in-situ tests were performed. First, is a combination of in-situ resistance measurements with in-situ confocal scanning laser microscopy imaging of the film surface during cycling. The 4 point probe resistance measurements allow for the examination of the changes in resistance with strain, while the surface imaging permits the visualization of extrusion and crack formation. Second, is the combination of in-situ resistance with in-situ X-ray diffraction measurements of the film stresses during cycling. The combination of electrical measurements, surface imaging, and stress measurements allow for a complete picture of electromechanical behaviour needed for the improvement and future success of flexible electronic devices

Service Interaction Flow Analysis Technique for Service Personalization

Abstract Service interaction flows are difficult to capture, analyze, outline, and represent for research and design purposes. We examine how variation of personalized service flows in technology-mediated service interaction can be modeled and analyzed to provide information on how service personalization could support interaction. We have analyzed service interaction cases in a context of technology-mediated car rental service. With the analysis technique we propose, inspired by Interaction Analysis method, we were able to capture and model the situational service interaction. Our contribution regarding technology-mediated service interaction design is twofold: First, with the increased understanding on the role of personalization in managing variation in technology-mediated service interaction, our study contributes to designing service management information systems and human-computer interfaces that support personalized service interaction flows. Second, we provide a new analysis technique for situated interaction analysis, particularly when the aim is to understand personalization in service interaction flows

Multi-factor service design: identification and consideration of multiple factors of the service in its design process

Service design is a multidisciplinary area that helps innovate services by bringing new ideas to customers through a design-thinking approach. Services are affected by multiple factors, which should be considered in designing services. In this paper, we propose the multi-factor service design (MFSD) method, which helps consider the multi-factor nature of service in the service design process. The MFSD method has been developed through and used in five service design studies with industry and government. The method addresses the multi-factor nature of service for systematic service design by providing the following guidelines: (1) identify key factors that affect the customer value creation of the service in question (in short, value creation factors), (2) define the design space of the service based on the value creation factors, and (3) design services and represent them based on the factors. We provide real stories and examples from the five service design studies to illustrate the MFSD method and demonstrate its utility. This study will contribute to the design of modern complex services that are affected by varied factors

Exploring the design space of metadata-focused file management systems

Operating systems both old and new are reliant on the venerable hierarchical file system. For some time now, however, attempts have been made to either define new file systems or to bolt on applications that offer much improved functionality to attach and use metadata. This is because researchers have shown that traditional file systems are not able to meet users' needs in terms of organising large numbers of files effectively, and to support expeditious retrieval of those files when they are needed at a later time. Numerous proposals for post-hierarchical file management systems have been described in the literature; researchers focus on different dimensions of such systems in order to solve or reduce identified limitations. In some cases this leads to significantly different file system architectures, while in other cases new functionality is added on top of a traditional system through special purpose user-space applications. Orthogonally, some proposals focus on tags while others favour named attribute-value pairs. Still other choices are, seemingly, made in an ad hoc and often implicit manner. This paper investigates the different dimensions and associated choices that participate in the proposal of new approaches and that affect their ability to improve on current systems. The Cartesian product of those dimensions and options forms a large design space; we map some of the existing literature onto that design space and discuss approaches to evaluate new proposals

An Integrative Design Framework for New Service Development

Service innovation is focused on customer value creation. At its core, customer-centric service innovation in an increasingly digital world is technology-enabled, human-centered, and process-oriented. This requires a cross-disciplinary, holistic approach to new service design and development (NSD). This paper proposes a new service strategy-aligned integrative design framework for NSD. It correlates the underlying theories and principles of disparate but interrelated aspects of service design thinking: service strategy, concept, design, experience and architecture into a coherent framework for NSD, consistent with the service brand value. Application of the framework to NSD is envisioned to be iterative and holistic, accentuated on continuous organizational and customer learning. The preliminary framework's efficacy is illustrated using a simplified telecom case example. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014