18,578 research outputs found
Effects of self-phase modulation on weak nonlinear optical quantum gates
A possible two-qubit gate for optical quantum computing is the parity gate
based on the weak Kerr effect. Two photonic qubits modulate the phase of a
coherent state, and a quadrature measurement of the coherent state reveals the
parity of the two qubits without destroying the photons. This can be used to
create so-called cluster states, a universal resource for quantum computing.
Here, the effect of self-phase modulation on the parity gate is studied,
introducing generating functions for the Wigner function of a modulated
coherent state. For materials with non-EIT-based Kerr nonlinearities, there is
typically a self-phase modulation that is half the magnitude of the cross-phase
modulation. Therefore, this effect cannot be ignored. It is shown that for a
large class of physical implementations of the phase modulation, the quadrature
measurement cannot distinguish between odd and even parity. Consequently, weak
nonlinear parity gates must be implemented with physical systems where the
self-phase modulation is negligable.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Generation of graph-state streams
We propose a protocol to generate a stream of mobile qubits in a graph state
through a single stationary parent qubit and discuss two types of its physical
implementation, namely, the generation of photonic graph states through an
atom-like qubit and those of flying atoms through a cavity-mode photonic qubit.
The generated graph states fall into an important class that can hugely reduce
the resource requirement of fault-tolerant linear optics quantum computation,
which was previously known to be far from realistic. In regard to the flying
atoms, we also propose a heralded generation scheme, which allows for
high-fidelity graph states even under the photon loss.Comment: Accepted for publication at PRA Rapid Communication
Theory of Combined Photoassociation and Feshbach Resonances in a Bose-Einstein Condensate
We model combined photoassociation and Feshbach resonances in a Bose-Einstein
condensate, where the shared dissociation continuum allows for quantum
interference in losses from the condensate, as well as a dispersive-like shift
of resonance. A simple analytical model, based on the limit of weakly bound
molecules, agrees well with numerical experiments that explicitly include
dissociation to noncondensate modes. For a resonant laser and an off-resonant
magnetic field, constructive interference enables saturation of the
photoassociation rate at user-friendly intensities, at a value set by the
interparticle distance. This rate limit is larger for smaller condensate
densities and, near the Feshbach resonance, approaches the rate limit for
magnetoassociation alone. Also, we find agreement with the unitary limit--set
by the condensate size--only for a limited range of near-resonant magnetic
fields. Finally, for a resonant magnetic field and an off-resonant laser,
magnetoassociation displays similar quantum interference and a dispersive-like
shift. Unlike photoassociation, interference and the fieldshift in resonant
magnetoassociation is tunable with both laser intensity and detuning. Also, the
dispersive-like shift of the Feshbach resonance depends on the size of the
Feshbach molecule, and is a signature of non-universal physics in a strongly
interacting system.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 82 reference
Minimum-error discrimination between three mirror-symmetric states
We present the optimal measurement strategy for distinguishing between three
quantum states exhibiting a mirror symmetry. The three states live in a
two-dimensional Hilbert space, and are thus overcomplete. By mirror symmetry we
understand that the transformation {|+> -> |+>, |-> -> -|->} leaves the set of
states invariant. The obtained measurement strategy minimizes the error
probability. An experimental realization for polarized photons, realizable with
current technology, is suggested.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Universities and Epistemology: From a Dissolution of Knowledge to the Emergence of a New Thinking
This paper examines the relation between epistemology and higher education. We shall start by briefly examining three classical texts on the understanding of knowledge at universities, as well as noting some others, and go on to sketch a version of our own. Our argument is as follows: the world is such that the relationship between the university and knowledge remains fundamental but that it needs to be reconceptualised. In particular, the 21st century is seeing the emergence of digital reason, which could be said to be a form of non-reason. It may appear, therefore, that we are witnessing the dissolution or severing of the relationship between the university, on the one hand, and knowledge and truth on the other hand. To the contrary, we argue for what we term an ecological perspective on knowledge, with the concept of ecology being treated in the most generous way, partly as a way of rethinking the university into the future. The idea of knowledge as a defining concept of the university still has mileage in it
On the Quantum Phase Operator for Coherent States
In papers by Lynch [Phys. Rev. A41, 2841 (1990)] and Gerry and Urbanski
[Phys. Rev. A42, 662 (1990)] it has been argued that the phase-fluctuation
laser experiments of Gerhardt, B\"uchler and Lifkin [Phys. Lett. 49A, 119
(1974)] are in good agreement with the variance of the Pegg-Barnett phase
operator for a coherent state, even for a small number of photons. We argue
that this is not conclusive. In fact, we show that the variance of the phase in
fact depends on the relative phase between the phase of the coherent state and
the off-set phase of the Pegg-Barnett phase operator. This off-set
phase is replaced with the phase of a reference beam in an actual experiment
and we show that several choices of such a relative phase can be fitted to the
experimental data. We also discuss the Noh, Foug\`{e}res and Mandel [Phys.Rev.
A46, 2840 (1992)] relative phase experiment in terms of the Pegg-Barnett phase
taking post-selection conditions into account.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures. Typographical errors and misprints have been
corrected. The outline of the paper has also been changed. Physica Scripta
(in press
Combining real and virtual Higgs boson mass constraints
Within the framework of the standard model we observe that there is a
significant discrepancy between the most precise boson decay asymmetry
measurement and the limit from direct searches for Higgs boson production.
Using methods inspired by the Particle Data Group we explore the possible
effect on fits of the Higgs boson mass. In each case the central value and the
95% confidence level upper limit increase significantly relative to the
conventional fit. The results suggest caution in drawing conclusions about the
Higgs boson mass from the existing data.Comment: 11 pages, Latex. Citations are added and paper is otherwise
reconciled with version to be published in Physical Review Letter
Maximum Confidence Quantum Measurements
We consider the problem of discriminating between states of a specified set
with maximum confidence. For a set of linearly independent states unambiguous
discrimination is possible if we allow for the possibility of an inconclusive
result. For linearly dependent sets an analogous measurement is one which
allows us to be as confident as possible that when a given state is identified
on the basis of the measurement result, it is indeed the correct state.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
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