Decoherence, pointer engineering and quantum state protection

We present a proposal for protecting states against decoherence, based on the engineering of pointer states. We apply this procedure to the vibrational motion of a trapped ion, and show how to protect qubits, squeezed states, approximate phase eigenstates and superpositions of coherent states.Comment: 1 figur

Damped and sub-damped Lyman-α absorbers in z > 4 QSOs

We present the results of a survey of damped (DLA, log N(H I) > 20.3) and sub-damped Lyman-α systems (19.5 2.55 along the lines-of-sight to 77 quasars with emission redshifts in the range 4 19.5 were detected of which 40 systems are damped Lyman-α systems for an absorption length of ΔX = 378. About half of the lines of sight of this homogeneous survey have never been investigated for DLAs. We study the evolution with redshift of the cosmological density of the neutral gas and find, consistent with previous studies at similar resolution, that Ω_(DLA,HI) decreases at z > 3.5. The overall cosmological evolution of Ω_(HI) shows a peak around this redshift. The H I column density distribution for log N(H I) ≥ 20.3 is fitted, consistent with previous surveys, with a single power-law of index α ~ −1.8 ± 0.25. This power-law overpredicts data at the high-end and a second, much steeper, power-law (or a gamma function) is needed. There is a flattening of the function at lower H I column densities with an index of α ~ −1.4 for the column density range log N(H I) = 19.5−21. The fraction of H I mass in sub-DLAs is of the order of 30%. The H I column density distribution does not evolve strongly from z ~ 2.5 to z ~ 4.5

Large-Scale Advanced Prop-Fan (LAP) pitch change actuator and control design report

In recent years, considerable attention has been directed toward improving aircraft fuel consumption. Studies have shown that the high inherent efficiency previously demonstrated by low speed turboprop propulsion systems may now be extended to today's higher speed aircraft if advanced high-speed propeller blades having thin airfoils and aerodynamic sweep are utilized. Hamilton Standard has designed a 9-foot diameter single-rotation Large-Scale Advanced Prop-Fan (LAP) which will be tested on a static test stand, in a high speed wind tunnel and on a research aircraft. The major objective of this testing is to establish the structural integrity of large-scale Prop-Fans of advanced construction in addition to the evaluation of aerodynamic performance and aeroacoustic design. This report describes the operation, design features and actual hardware of the (LAP) Prop-Fan pitch control system. The pitch control system which controls blade angle and propeller speed consists of two separate assemblies. The first is the control unit which provides the hydraulic supply, speed governing and feather function for the system. The second unit is the hydro-mechanical pitch change actuator which directly changes blade angle (pitch) as scheduled by the control

Non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann Theory for Swollen Clays

The non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for a circular, uniformly charged platelet, confined together with co- and counter-ions to a cylindrical cell, is solved semi-analytically by transforming it into an integral equation and solving the latter iteratively. This method proves efficient, robust, and can be readily generalized to other problems based on cell models, treated within non-linear Poisson-like theory. The solution to the PB equation is computed over a wide range of physical conditions, and the resulting osmotic equation of state is shown to be in fair agreement with recent experimental data for Laponite clay suspensions, in the concentrated gel phase.Comment: 13 pages, 4 postscript figure