122 research outputs found
High intrinsic energy resolution photon number resolving detectors
Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) are characterized by the intrinsic figure of
merit to resolve both the energy and the statistical distribution of the
incident photons. These properties lead TES devices to become the best single
photon detector for quantum technology experiments. For a TES based on titanium
and gold has been reached, at telecommunication wavelength, an unprecedented
intrinsic energy resolution (0.113 eV). The uncertainties analysis of both
energy resolution and photon state assignment has been discussed. The thermal
properties of the superconductive device have been studied by fitting the bias
curve to evaluate theoretical limit of the energy resolution
Single-photon light detection with transition-edge sensors
Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs) are microcalorimeters that measure the energy of incident single photons by the resistance increase of a superconducting film biased within the superconducting-to-normal transition. TES are able to detect single photons from IR to X-ray with an intrinsic energy resolution and photon-number discrimination capability. Metrology, astronomy and quantum
communication are the fields where these properties can be particularly useful. In this work, we report about characterization of different TESs based on Ti films. Single photons have been detected from 200nm to 800 nm working at transition temperature Tc ∼ 100 mK. Using a pulsed laser at 690nm we have demonstrated the capability to resolve up to five photons
Graphene edge method for three-dimensional probing of Raman microscopes focal volumes
In this work, a layer of graphene was used as a standard material for the measurement of the dimensions of Raman microscopes focal volumes of different confocal Raman spectrometers equipped with different objectives and excitation laser wavelengths. This method consists in probing the volume near the focal point of the system by using a flat graphene monolayer sheet with a straight edge. Graphene was selected because of its high Raman cross section and mechanically and chemically stability, allowing fast measurements and easy manipulation. In this paper, a method to employ graphene to accurately and precisely measure the three dimensions of the focal volume of a Raman microscope is presented; scanning along the axial and lateral directions, it is possible to reconstruct the three dimensions of the focal volume. Furthermore, these operations can be combined in a single procedure which allows the measurement of projections of the volume on planes parallel to the optical axis. Knowledge of these parameters enable absolute quantification of Raman-active molecules and support high-resolution Raman imaging
E-beam evaporated ZnO thin films: Fabrication and characterization as UV detector
partially_open5In the present paper, fabrication and structural, optical and electrical characterization of ZnO thin films grown by electron gun technique are reported and the performances of a prototype of UV photodetector based on them are illustrated. ZnO thin films, fabricated on sapphire by e-beam evaporation followed by a two-step ex situ treatment (annealing and oxidation), are polycrystalline, with a smooth surface and show very good visible transparency and an energy gap of 3.2 eV. Preliminary results on fabrication and characterization of an UV detector are reported. The Al interdigitated contacts show a Schottky behavior, which is strongly desired in view of applications since it has many advantages in the aspects of high quantum efficiency, response time, low dark current, high UV/visible contrast and possible zero-bias operation.partially_openPortesi C; Lolli L; Taralli E; Rajteri M; Monticone EPortesi, Chiara; Lolli, L; Taralli, Emanuele; Rajteri, Mauro; Monticone, Eugeni
State-dependent Jastrow correlation functions for 4He nuclei
We calculate the ground-state energy for the nucleus 4He with V4 nucleon
interactions, making use of a Jastrow description of the corresponding
wavefunction with state-dependent correlation factors. The effect related to
the state dependence of the correlation is quite important, lowering the upper
bound for the ground-state energy by some 2 MeV.Comment: 10 pages, REVTeX, to be published in J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phy
Graphene edge method for three-dimensional probing of Raman microscopes focal volumes
In this work, a layer of graphene was used as a standard material for the measurement of the dimensions of Raman microscopes focal volumes of different confocal Raman spectrometers equipped with different objectives and excitation laser wavelengths. This method consists in probing the volume near the focal point of the system by using a flat graphene monolayer sheet with a straight edge. Graphene was selected because of its high Raman cross section and mechanically and chemically stability, allowing fast measurements and easy manipulation. In this paper, a method to employ graphene to accurately and precisely measure the three dimensions of the focal volume of a Raman microscope is presented; scanning along the axial and lateral directions, it is possible to reconstruct the three dimensions of the focal volume. Furthermore, these operations can be combined in a single procedure which allows the measurement of projections of the volume on planes parallel to the optical axis. Knowledge of these parameters enable absolute quantification of Raman-active molecules and support high-resolution Raman imaging
Control of bulk superconductivity in a BCS superconductor by surface charge doping via electrochemical gating
The electrochemical gating technique is a powerful tool to tune the surface conduction properties
of various materials by means of pure charge doping, but its efficiency is thought to be hampered in
materials with a good electronic screening. We show that, if applied to a metallic superconductor
(NbN thin films), this approach allows observing reversible enhancements or suppressions of the bulk
superconducting transition temperature, which vary with the thickness of the films. These results
are interpreted in terms of proximity effect, and indicate that the effective screening length depends
on the induced charge density, becoming much larger than that predicted by standard screening
theory at very high electric fields
Self consistent, absolute calibration technique for photon number resolving detectors
Well characterized photon number resolving detectors are a requirement for
many applications ranging from quantum information and quantum metrology to the
foundations of quantum mechanics. This prompts the necessity for reliable
calibration techniques at the single photon level. In this paper we propose an
innovative absolute calibration technique for photon number resolving
detectors, using a pulsed heralded photon source based on parametric down
conversion. The technique, being absolute, does not require reference standards
and is independent upon the performances of the heralding detector. The method
provides the results of quantum efficiency for the heralded detector as a
function of detected photon numbers. Furthermore, we prove its validity by
performing the calibration of a Transition Edge Sensor based detector, a real
photon number resolving detector that has recently demonstrated its
effectiveness in various quantum information protocols.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure
Characterisation of Refined Marc Distillates with Alternative Oak Products Using Different Analytical Approaches
The use of oak barrel alternatives, including oak chips, oak staves and oak powder, is quite common in the production of spirits obtained from the distillation of vegetal fermented products such as grape pomace. This work explored the use of unconventional wood formats such as peeled and sliced wood. The use of poplar wood was also evaluated to verify its technological uses to produce aged spirits. To this aim, GC-MS analyses were carried out to obtain an aromatic characterisation of experimental distillates treated with these products. Moreover, the same spirits were studied for classification purposes using NMR, NIR and e-nose. A significant change in the original composition of grape pomace distillate due to sorption phenomena was observed; the intensity of this effect was greater for poplar wood. The release of aroma compounds from wood depended both on the toasting level and wood assortment. Higher levels of xylovolatiles, namely, whisky lactone, were measured in samples aged using sliced woods. Both the NIR and NMR analyses highlighted similarities among samples refined with oak tablets, differentiating them from the other wood types. Finally, E-nose seemed to be a promising alternative to spectroscopic methods both for the simplicity of sample preparation and method portability
Effective gap at microwave frequencies in MgB2 thin films with strong interband scattering
The microwave properties of polycrystalline MgB2 thin films prepared by the
so-called in-situ method are investigated. The characterization of the films at
microwave frequencies was obtained by a coplanar resonator technique. The
analysis of the experimental data results in the determination of penetration
depth, surface impedance and complex conductivity. The aim of this work is to
set the experimental results in a consistent framework, involving the two-band
model in the presence of impurity scattering. The energy gaps are calculated
and the contribution of intra- and inter-band scattering is considered. From
the comparison between the calculated gap values and the experimental data it
turns out that the temperature dependence of the penetration depth can be
accounted for by an effective mean energy gap, in agreement with the
predictions of Kogan et al. [Phys. Rev. B 69, 132506 (2004)]. On the other
hand, the temperature dependence of the real part of the microwave conductivity
and of the surface resistance is accounted for by the single smaller gap, in
agreement with the work of Jin et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 127006 (2003)].
Since these findings rely on the same calculated gap structure, the required
consistency is fulfilled.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures. Phys. Rev. B, in pres
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