AION: An Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network

We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer experiments, and to probe other frontiers in fundamental physics. AION would complement other planned searches for dark matter, as well as probe mergers involving intermediate mass black holes and explore early universe cosmology. AION would share many technical features with the MAGIS experimental programme in the US, and synergies would flow from operating AION in a network with this experiment, as well as with other atom interferometer experiments such as MIGA, ZAIGA and ELGAR. Operating AION in a network with other gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo and LISA would also offer many synergies

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Centralised Design and Production of the Ultra-High Vacuum and Laser-Stabilisation Systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories

This paper outlines the centralised design and production of the Ultra-High-Vacuum sidearm and Laser-Stabilisation systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilisation, and on the loading rate for the 3D Magneto-Optical Trap are presented. Streamlining the design and production of the sidearm and laser stabilisation systems enabled the AION Collaboration to build and equip in parallel five state-of-the-art Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories within 24 months by leveraging key expertise in the collaboration. This approach could serve as a model for the development and construction of other cold atom experiments, such as atomic clock experiments and neutral atom quantum computing systems, by establishing dedicated design and production units at national laboratories.Comment: 27 pages, 21 figure

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies

Translation Theories in the Slavic Countries

Questa pubblicazione \ue8 il frutto di una ricerca sulla traduttologia nei paesi slavi promossa e finanziata dal Dipartimento di Lingue, Letterature e Culture Moderne (LILEC) dell\u2019Universit\ue0 di Bologna, il cui punto culminante \ue8 stato un convegno internazionale svoltosi il 7-8 maggio 2014, al quale ha partecipato la gran parte degli autori di questo volume. L\u2019assunto iniziale della ricerca, avviata nel 2011, era che, malgrado la loro ricchezza e il loro carattere spesso anticipatore, gli studi sulla traduzione condotti nei paesi slavi scontassero una persistente scarsa conoscenza oltreconfine, dovuta a diversi fattori tra cui, in primis, l\u2019ancoramento a un apparato esemplificativo tratto da lingue e letterature nazionali scarsamente note in Occidente. \uabDie Grenzen meiner Sprache bedeuten die Grenzen meiner Welt\ubb, si potrebbe dire ancora con Wittgenstein. Non \ue8 un mistero che i manuali di teoria della traduzione diffusi nei paesi occidentali fondino il loro apparato argomentativo-esemplificativo su differenti contesti linguistico-culturali; n\ue9 i principali repertori enciclopedici sul tema rendono giustizia dell\u2019ampiezza e profondit\ue0 del dibattito traduttologico nei paesi slavi. Perfino la ricezione delle tradizioni meglio conosciute, come quella russa o cecoslovacca, mostra ancora considerevoli lacune. \uc8 pur vero, d\u2019altra parte, che i teorici slavi autori di libri seminali circolanti nelle principali lingue europee si possono contare sulle dita di una mano, o al massimo di due: R. Jakobson, J. Lev\ufd, A. Popovi\u10d, A. Ljudskanov, E. Tabakowska, P. Torop. Di qui la necessit\ue0 di gettare luce su un contesto di ricerca estremamente ricco e sfaccettato, favorito e alimentato dal fatto che le culture slave sono tutte culture di traduzione, culture nelle quali il circuito della letteratura tradotta ha sempre interagito in modo molto intenso con il circuito della letteratura originale. Dall\u2019inizio della nostra ricerca, nel 2011, l\u2019interesse internazionale sull\u2019argomento \ue8 notevolmente cresciuto, come dimostrano alcune recenti iniziative \u2013 e.g. numeri di rivista, convegni - volte a descrivere singole tradizioni traduttologiche sviluppatesi su un determinato territorio nazionale o seguendo un preciso paradigma di ricerca. Questo volume \ue8 il pi\uf9 ampio contributo complessivo sul tema a vedere la luce in una lingua occidentale. L\u2019intento \ue8 quello di mostrare le peculiarit\ue0 della riflessione scientifica sulla traduzione condotta in ciascun paese slavo, senza dimenticare le reciproche connessioni e gli elementi di dialogo, e senza tralasciare neppure di fornire i necessari riferimenti al periodo prescientifico. Tutte le aree della Slavia sono rappresentate e descritte, in modo certamente non esaustivo, ma tale, si spera, da stimolare l\u2019ulteriore riflessione critica e aprire la strada a descrizioni pi\uf9 specifiche e approfondite

A Long-Baseline Atom Interferometer at CERN: Conceptual Feasibility Study

We present results from exploratory studies, supported by the Physics Beyond Colliders (PBC) Study Group, of the suitability of a CERN site and its infrastructure for hosting a vertical atom interferometer (AI) with a baseline of about 100 m. We first review the scientific motivations for such an experiment to search for ultralight dark matter and measure gravitational waves, and then outline the general technical requirements for such an atom interferometer, using the AION-100 project as an example. We present a possible CERN site in the PX46 access shaft to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), including the motivations for this choice and a description of its infrastructure. We then assess its compliance with the technical requirements of such an experiment and what upgrades may be needed. We analyse issues related to the proximity of the LHC machine and its ancillary hardware and present a preliminary safety analysis and the required mitigation measures and infrastructure modifications. In conclusion, we identify primary cost drivers and describe constraints on the experimental installation and operation schedules arising from LHC operation. We find no technical obstacles: the CERN site is a very promising location for an AI experiment with a vertical baseline of about 100 m

The Wall Teichoic Acid Polymerase TagF Is Non-processive in Vitro and Amenable to Study Using Steady State Kinetic Analysis*

Wall teichoic acids are a chemically diverse group of anionic polymers that constitute up to 50% of the Gram-positive cell wall. These polymers play a pivotal role in virulence and have been implicated in a diverse range of physiological functions. The TagF-like family of enzymes has been shown to be responsible for wall teichoic acid priming and polymerization events. Although many such enzymes are well validated therapeutic targets, a mechanistic understanding of this enzyme family has remained elusive. TagF is the prototypical teichoic acid polymerase and uses CDP-glycerol to catalyze synthesis of the linear (1,3)-linked poly(glycerol phosphate) teichoic acid in Bacillus subtilis 168. Here we used a synthetic soluble analog of the natural substrate of the enzyme, Lipid ϕ, to conduct the first detailed mechanistic investigation of teichoic acid polymerization. Through the use of a new high pressure liquid chromatography-based assay to monitor single glycerol phosphate incorporations into the Lipid ϕ analog, we conducted a detailed analysis of reaction product formation patterns and unequivocally showed TagF to be non-processive in vitro. Furthermore by monitoring the kinetics of polymerization, we showed that Lipid ϕ analog species varying in size have the same Km value of 2.6 μm and validated use of Bi Bi velocity expressions to model the TagF enzyme system. Initial rate analysis showed that TagF catalyzes a sequential Bi Bi mechanism where both substrates are added to the enzyme prior to product release consistent with a single displacement chemical mechanism