392 research outputs found
Superfluid qubit systems with ring shaped optical lattices
We study an experimentally feasible qubit system employing neutral atomic
currents. Our system is based on bosonic cold atoms trapped in ring-shaped
optical lattice potentials. The lattice makes the system strictly one
dimensional and it provides the infrastructure to realize a tunable ring-ring
interaction. Our implementation combines the low decoherence rates of of
neutral cold atoms systems, overcoming single site addressing, with the
robustness of topologically protected solid state Josephson flux qubits.
Characteristic fluctuations in the magnetic fields affecting Josephson junction
based flux qubits are expected to be minimized employing neutral atoms as flux
carriers. By breaking the Galilean invariance we demonstrate how atomic
currents through the lattice provide a implementation of a qubit. This is
realized either by artificially creating a phase slip in a single ring, or by
tunnel coupling of two homogeneous ring lattices. The single qubit
infrastructure is experimentally investigated with tailored optical potentials.
Indeed, we have experimentally realized scaled ring-lattice potentials that
could host, in principle, of such ring-qubits, arranged in a stack
configuration, along the laser beam propagation axis.
An experimentally viable scheme of the two-ring-qubit is discussed, as well.
Based on our analysis, we provide protocols to initialize, address, and
read-out the qubit.Comment: 14 revtex4-1 pages, 7 figs; to be published in Scientific Report
A golden key can open any door? Public funding and interest groups’ access
Are government funds an opportunity or a threat to interest groups’ participation in policy-making? In answering this question, previous research has raised the question of the interrelatedness between access to policymakers and funding of interest groups’ activities. A popular argument represents funding opportunities as inhibitors of interest group access to policy-making because of the funds’ negative effect on an organization’s autonomy. In opposition to this view, many authors have argued that public funds open access opportunities and contribute to an active involvement of funded organizations in the policy process. This article provides a novel explanation for these contrasting findings. The effect of public funds on access critically depends on the type of contacts organizations have with policymakers. Funding might positively affect access initiated by policymakers (high threshold), but might not affect access initiated by interest groups (low threshold). Using survey data collected from more than 2000 organizations active in four European countries and at the EU level, the article shows that public funds are associated to an organization’s participation in policy-making but this correlation is indeed highly dependent on the type of contacts groups have with policymakers
Conditions for spin squeezing in a cold 87Rb ensemble
We study the conditions for generating spin squeezing via a quantum
non-demolition measurement in an ensemble of cold 87Rb atoms. By considering
the interaction of atoms in the 5S_{1/2}(F=1) ground state with probe light
tuned near the D2 transition, we show that, for large detunings, this system is
equivalent to a spin-1/2 system when suitable Zeeman substates and quantum
operators are used to define a pseudo-spin. The degree of squeezing is derived
for the rubidium system in the presence of scattering causing decoherence and
loss. We describe how the system can decohere and lose atoms, and predict as
much as 75% spin squeezing for atomic densities typical of optical dipole
traps.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, submitted to J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt.
Proceedings of ICSSUR'0
Polarization-based Light-Atom Quantum Interface with an All-optical Trap
We describe the implementation of a system for studying light-matter
interactions using an ensemble of cold rubidium 87 atoms, trapped in a
single-beam optical dipole trap. In this configuration the elongated shape of
the atomic cloud increases the strength of the collective light-atom coupling.
Trapping all-optically allows for long storage times in a low decoherence
environment. We are able to perform several thousands of measurements on one
atomic ensemble with little destruction. We report results on paramagnetic
Faraday rotations from a macroscopically polarized atomic ensemble. Our results
confirm that strong light-atom coupling is achievable in this system which
makes it attractive for single-pass quantum information protocols.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Efficacy of HIV/STI behavioral interventions for heterosexual African American men in the United States: a meta-analysis
This meta-analysis estimates the overall efficacy of HIV prevention interventions to reduce HIV sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among heterosexual African American men. A comprehensive search of the literature published during 1988–2008 yielded 44 relevant studies. Interventions significantly reduced HIV sexual risk behaviors and STIs. The stratified analysis for HIV sexual risk behaviors indicated that interventions were efficacious for studies specifically targeting African American men and men with incarceration history. In addition, interventions that had provision/referral of medical services, male facilitators, shorter follow-up periods, or emphasized the importance of protecting family and significant others were associated with reductions in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Meta-regression analyses indicated that the most robust intervention component is the provision/referral of medical services. Findings indicate that HIV interventions for heterosexual African American men might be more efficacious if they incorporated a range of health care services rather than HIV/STI-related services alone
Mental health: Future challenges [Mental Capital and Wellbeing: Making the most of ourselves in the 21st century]
The aim of the Foresight Project on Mental Capital
and Wellbeing (www.foresight.gov.uk)
is to advise the Government on how to achieve the best possible mental development
and mental wellbeing for everyone in the UK in the future.
The starting point of the Project was to generate an understanding of the science of
mental capital and wellbeing (MCW) and to develop a vision for how the size and
nature of the challenges exposed by the Project could evolve over the next 20 years.
To make this analysis tractable, the work was divided into five broad areas: Mental capital through life; Learning through life; Mental health; Wellbeing and work; and Learning difficulties.
This report presents the findings for Mental health and draws upon a comprehensive
assessment of the scientific state-of-the art: overall, around 80 reviews have been
commissioned across the five areas
The Effect of Partner Sex: Nondisclosure of HIV Status to Male and Female Partners Among Men who Have Sex with Men and Women (MSMW)
A common concern within HIV prevention is that HIV positive MSMW do not disclose their HIV status to female partners who are thus at increased risk for HIV infection. The present study uses unique data to examine whether MSMW disclose more often to male rather than female partners. Data were collected on most recent male and/or female primary partner and four most recent casual partners from 150 MSMW (50 African American, 50 Latino, 50 White). MSMW reported on 590 partners (31% female; 69% male). Disclosure was coded as disclosure before sex, disclosure after sex, or nondisclosure. A series of multinomial logistic regressions with partners clustered within respondents were conducted to evaluate effects of respondent characteristics and partner characteristics on timing of disclosure. In bivariate and multivariate analyses there were no significant differences in odds of disclosure to male and female partners before or after sex. Although MSMW were substantially less likely to disclose to HIV negative partners before sex compared to HIV positive partners regardless of sex, when we fully interacted the multivariate model by partner sex, the odds of disclosure to HIV negative male partners compared to HIV positive male partners before sex were significantly higher than the odds of disclosure to HIV negative female partners compared to HIV positive female partners. Patterns of mutual nondisclosure and nonreciprocal disclosure were observed with both primary and casual partners. The paper makes additional methodological contributions to the measurement and analysis of disclosure
Grand Challenges: Improving HIV Treatment Outcomes by Integrating Interventions for Co-Morbid Mental Illness.
In the fourth article of a five-part series providing a global perspective on integrating mental health, Sylvia Kaaya and colleagues discuss the importance of integrating mental health interventions into HIV prevention and treatment platforms. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Social cohesion as a real-life phenomenon: assessing the explanatory power of the universalist and particularist perspectives
Willingness to participate in future HIV prevention studies among gay and bisexual men in Scotland, UK: a challenge for intervention trials
This article examines willingness to participate in future HIV prevention research among gay and bisexual men in Scotland, UK. Anonymous, self-complete questionnaires and Orasure Gäó oral fluid samples were collected in commercial gay venues. 1,320 men were eligible for inclusion. 78.2% reported willingness to participate in future HIV prevention research; 64.6% for an HIV vaccine, 57.4% for a behaviour change study, and 53.0% for a rectal microbicide. In multivariate analysis, for HIV vaccine research, greater age, minority ethnicity, and not providing an oral fluid sample were associated with lower willingness; heterosexual orientation and not providing an oral fluid sample were for microbicides; higher education and greater HIV treatment optimism were for behaviour change. STI testing remained associated with being more willing to participate in microbicide research and frequent gay scene use remained associated with being more willing to participate in behaviour change research. Having an STI in the past 12 months remained significantly associated with being willing to participate in all three study types. There were no associations between sexual risk behaviour and willingness. Although most men expressed willingness to participate in future research, recruitment of high-risk men, who have the potential to benefit most, is likely to be more challenging
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