Precision measurement of charge number with optomechanically induced transparency

We propose a potentially practical scheme to precisely measure the charge numbers of small charged objects by optomechanical systems using optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT). In contrast to the conventional measurements based on the noise backaction on the optomechanical systems, our scheme makes use of the small deformation of the mechanical resonator sensitive to the charge number of the nearby charged object, which could achieve the detection of a single charge. The relationship between the charge number and the window width of the OMIT is investigated and the feasibility of the scheme is justified by numerical simulation using currently available experimental values.Comment: 6 pages,4 figure

Quantitative Test of SO(5) Symmetry in the Vortex State of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_4

By numerically solving models with competing superconducting and antiferromagnetic orders, we study the magnetic field dependence of the antiferromagnetic moment in both the weak and strong field regimes. Through a omparison with the neutron scattering results of Kang et al and Matsuura et al.on $Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_4$, we conclude that this system is close to a SO(5) symmetric critical point. We also make a quantitative prediction on increasing the upper critical field $B_{c2}$ and the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ by applying an in-plane magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures v3: final version PRL 92, 107002 (2004

Spin correlations in the electron-doped high-transition-temperature superconductor Nd{2-x}Ce{x}CuO{4+/-delta}

High-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductivity develops near antiferromagnetic phases, and it is possible that magnetic excitations contribute to the superconducting pairing mechanism. To assess the role of antiferromagnetism, it is essential to understand the doping and temperature dependence of the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin correlations. The phase diagram is asymmetric with respect to electron and hole doping, and for the comparatively less-studied electron-doped materials, the antiferromagnetic phase extends much further with doping [1, 2] and appears to overlap with the superconducting phase. The archetypical electron-doped compound Nd{2-x}Ce{x}CuO{4\pm\delta} (NCCO) shows bulk superconductivity above x \approx 0.13 [3, 4], while evidence for antiferromagnetic order has been found up to x \approx 0.17 [2, 5, 6]. Here we report inelastic magnetic neutron-scattering measurements that point to the distinct possibility that genuine long-range antiferromagnetism and superconductivity do not coexist. The data reveal a magnetic quantum critical point where superconductivity first appears, consistent with an exotic quantum phase transition between the two phases [7]. We also demonstrate that the pseudogap phenomenon in the electron-doped materials, which is associated with pronounced charge anomalies [8-11], arises from a build-up of spin correlations, in agreement with recent theoretical proposals [12, 13].Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A Complexity View of Rainfall

We show that rain events are analogous to a variety of nonequilibrium relaxation processes in Nature such as earthquakes and avalanches. Analysis of high-resolution rain data reveals that power laws describe the number of rain events versus size and number of droughts versus duration. In addition, the accumulated water column displays scale-less fluctuations. These statistical properties are the fingerprints of a self-organized critical process and may serve as a benchmark for models of precipitation and atmospheric processes.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Subthreshold K+ production in deuteron and alpha induced nuclear reactions

Double differential cross sections have been measured for pi+ and K+ emitted around midraidity in d+A and He+A collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 1.15 GeV/nucleon. The total pi+ yield increases by a factor of about 2 when using an alpha projectile instead of a deuteron whereas the K+ yield increases by a factor of about 4. According to transport calculations, the K+ enhancement depends both on the number of hadron-hadron collisions and on the energy available in those collisions: their center-of-mass energy increases with increasing number of projectile nucleons

Implementation of quantum gates and preparation of entangled states in cavity QED with cold trapped ions

We propose a scheme to perform basic gates of quantum computing and prepare entangled states in a system with cold trapped ions located in a single mode optical cavity. General quantum computing can be made with both motional state of the trapped ion and cavity state being qubits. We can also generate different kinds of entangled states in such a system without state reduction, and can transfer quantum states from the ion in one trap to the ion in another trap. Experimental requirement for achieving our scheme is discussed.Comment: To appear in J. Opt.

Directing energy transfer in Pt(bodipy)(mercaptopyrene) dyads

We report on the photophysical properties of three dyads that combine a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (bodipy, BDP) and a mercaptopyrene (SPyr) dye ligand at a Pt(PEt3)(2) fragment. sigma-Bonding of the dyes to the Pt ion promotes intersystem crossing (ISC) via the external heavy atom effect. The coupling of efficient ISC with charge-transfer from the electron-rich mercaptopyrene to the electron-accepting BDP ligand (PB-CT) gives rise to a multitude of (potentially) emissive states. This culminates in the presence of four different emissions for the mono- and dinuclear complexes BPtSPyr and BPtSPyrSPtB with an unsubstituted BDP ligand and either a terminal 1-mercaptopyrene or a bridging pyrene-1,6-dithiolate ligand. Thus, in fluid solution, near IR emission at 724 nm from the (PB)-P-3-CT state is observed with a quantum yield of up to 15%. Excitation into the BDP-based (1)pi pi* or the pyrene-based (1)pi pi* band additionally trigger fluorescence and phosphorescence emissions from the BDP-centred (1)pi pi* and (3)pi pi* states. In frozen solution, at 77 K, phosphorescence from the pyrene ligand becomes the prominent emission channel, while PB-CT emission is absent. Alkylation of the BDP ligand in KBPtSPyr funnels all excitation energy into fluorescence and phosphorescence emissions from the KBDP ligand. The assignments of the various excited states and the deactivation cascades were probed by absorption and emission spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical and UV/Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemical measurements, and by quantum chemical calculations. Our conclusions are further corroborated with the aid of suitable reference compounds comprising of just one chromophore. All dyads are triplet sensitizers and are able to generate singlet oxygen

Phase Decomposition and Chemical Inhomogeneity in Nd2-xCexCuO4

Extensive X-ray and neutron scattering experiments and additional transmission electron microscopy results reveal the partial decomposition of Nd2-xCexCuO4 (NCCO) in a low-oxygen-fugacity environment such as that typically realized during the annealing process required to create a superconducting state. Unlike a typical situation in which a disordered secondary phase results in diffuse powder scattering, a serendipitous match between the in-plane lattice constant of NCCO and the lattice constant of one of the decomposition products, (Nd,Ce)2O3, causes the secondary phase to form an oriented, quasi-two-dimensional epitaxial structure. Consequently, diffraction peaks from the secondary phase appear at rational positions (H,K,0) in the reciprocal space of NCCO. Additionally, because of neodymium paramagnetism, the application of a magnetic field increases the low-temperature intensity observed at these positions via neutron scattering. Such effects may mimic the formation of a structural superlattice or the strengthening of antiferromagnetic order of NCCO, but the intrinsic mechanism may be identified through careful and systematic experimentation. For typical reduction conditions, the (Nd,Ce)2O3 volume fraction is ~1%, and the secondary-phase layers exhibit long-range order parallel to the NCCO CuO2 sheets and are 50-100 angstromsthick. The presence of the secondary phase should also be taken into account in the analysis of other experiments on NCCO, such as transport measurements.Comment: 15 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Evidence for a Soft Nuclear Equation-of-State from Kaon Production in Heavy Ion Collisions

The production of pions and kaons has been measured in Au+Au collisions at beam energies from 0.6 to 1.5 AGeV with the Kaon Spectrometer at SIS/GSI. The K+ meson multiplicity per nucleon is enhanced in Au+Au collisions by factors up to 6 relative to C+C reactions whereas the corresponding pion ratio is reduced. The ratio of the K+ meson excitation functions for Au+Au and C+C collisions increases with decreasing beam energy. This behavior is expected for a soft nuclear equation-of-state.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let