Noise-free high-efficiency photon-number-resolving detectors

High-efficiency optical detectors that can determine the number of photons in a pulse of monochromatic light have applications in a variety of physics studies, including post-selection-based entanglement protocols for linear optics quantum computing and experiments that simultaneously close the detection and communication loopholes of Bell's inequalities. Here we report on our demonstration of fiber-coupled, noise-free, photon-number-resolving transition-edge sensors with 88% efficiency at 1550 nm. The efficiency of these sensors could be made even higher at any wavelength in the visible and near-infrared spectrum without resulting in a higher dark-count rate or degraded photon-number resolution.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures Published in Physical Review A, Rapid Communications, 17 June 200

Implementasi Ketersediaan Beras Dalam Rangka Ketahanan Pangan Di Kabupaten Batang

Availability of good rice is expected to maintain food security. However, riceavailability in Batang Regency decreases although the consumption of rice is always increases. When this occurs continuously, it is feared that there will be deficits that cause weak food security.Location of the research was in Badan Pelaksana Penyuluhan dan KetahananPangan Batang Regency. Selection of informants was done using a purposive sampling.To test the quality of the obtained data, technique of triangulation was employed. As the focus of study, implementation of the policy observed through results and process, based on the policy performance of observable indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, fairness, adequacy, responsiveness and accuracy. Based on theories of Edwards III, and Van Meter & Van Horn\u27s implementation model synthesis, acquired the factors that support and hinder the implementation of the policy, namely communications, disposition, bureaucratic structure and resources.Based on the results of this research, implementation of the policy on theavailability of rice on Batang has yet to pan out. There are still weakness in efficiency, fairness and effectiveness.The recommendations are (1) addition of equitable distribution and infrastructures; (2) equity of efforts increased production; (3) equitable socialization and counseling services; (4) monitoring during the production process; and (5) intensive socialization and counseling

Long distance decoy state quantum key distribution in optical fiber

The theoretical existence of photon-number-splitting attacks creates a security loophole for most quantum key distribution (QKD) demonstrations that use a highly attenuated laser source. Using ultra-low-noise, high-efficiency transition-edge sensor photodetectors, we have implemented the first version of a decoy-state protocol that incorporates finite statistics without the use of Gaussian approximations in a one-way QKD system, enabling the creation of secure keys immune to photon-number-splitting attacks and highly resistant to Trojan horse attacks over 107 km of optical fiber.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A fast ILP-based Heuristic for the robust design of Body Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider the problem of optimally designing a body wireless sensor network, while taking into account the uncertainty of data generation of biosensors. Since the related min-max robustness Integer Linear Programming (ILP) problem can be difficult to solve even for state-of-the-art commercial optimization solvers, we propose an original heuristic for its solution. The heuristic combines deterministic and probabilistic variable fixing strategies, guided by the information coming from strengthened linear relaxations of the ILP robust model, and includes a very large neighborhood search for reparation and improvement of generated solutions, formulated as an ILP problem solved exactly. Computational tests on realistic instances show that our heuristic finds solutions of much higher quality than a state-of-the-art solver and than an effective benchmark heuristic.Comment: This is the authors' final version of the paper published in G. Squillero and K. Sim (Eds.): EvoApplications 2017, Part I, LNCS 10199, pp. 1-17, 2017. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-55849-3\_16. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55849-3_1

Topological Magnon Bands in a Kagome Lattice Ferromagnet

There is great interest in finding materials possessing quasiparticles with topological properties. Such materials may have novel excitations that exist on their boundaries which are protected against disorder. We report experimental evidence that magnons in an insulating kagome ferromagnet can have a topological band structure. Our neutron scattering measurements further reveal that one of the bands is flat due to the unique geometry of the kagome lattice. Spin wave calculations show that the measured band structure follows from a simple Heisenberg Hamiltonian with a Dzyaloshinkii-Moriya interaction. This serves as the first realization of an effectively two-dimensional topological magnon insulator—a new class of magnetic material that should display both a magnon Hall effect and protected chiral edge modes.United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Grant DE-FG02-07ER46134)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant CHE 1041863

Coherent Coupled Qubits for Quantum Annealing

Quantum annealing is an optimization technique which potentially leverages quantum tunneling to enhance computational performance. Existing quantum annealers use superconducting flux qubits with short coherence times limited primarily by the use of large persistent currents I[subscript p]. Here, we examine an alternative approach using qubits with smaller I[subscript p] and longer coherence times. We demonstrate tunable coupling, a basic building block for quantum annealing, between two flux qubits with small (approximately 50-nA) persistent currents. Furthermore, we characterize qubit coherence as a function of coupler setting and investigate the effect of flux noise in the coupler loop on qubit coherence. Our results provide insight into the available design space for next-generation quantum annealers with improved coherence.United States. Office of the Director of National IntelligenceUnited States. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects ActivityUnited States. Dept. of Defense. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (FA8721-05-C-0002

Using TikTok for Political Action: The Willow Project, Global Climate Change, and Health

In the fight against climate change, young people have taken the lead. This was demonstrated in recent efforts to influence the discontinuation of The Willow Project, a large-scale operation to allow drilling in the pristine National Petroleum Reserve which is public land in Alaska. Despite the fact that plans for this project were approved by governmental leaders, it is important to document the online effort that was made to oppose this. This cross-sectional, descriptive study analyzed 100 TikTok videos posted on the popular hashtag #StopTheWillowProject (412,300,000 cumulative views at the time of the study). A content analysis was conducted to identify and delineate the messages that were conveyed in the first 100 English language videos that appeared with the hashtag #StopTheWillowProject.  The most popular content categories related to The Willow Project were advocacy (n=87), animal endangerment (n=81), global climate change (n=70), and a call for action (n=53).  The cumulative number of views in this sample was 110,763,667. The mean number of views were 1,107,636, with likes, comments, and shares averaging 211,987; 4,040; and 13,213 respectively. The mean number of views was significantly higher for videos that mentioned, depicted, and/or insinuated issues related to the ecosystem (p=.01) and animal endangerment (p=.01). Of the 53 videos that included a call to action, nearly all (96%) calls were to sign a petition. While the primary aim of #StopTheWillowProject to halt approval for drilling was not ultimately met, this viral campaign can still positively influence the organization of future campaigns

The Italian Debate about Civil Unions and Same-Sex Parenthood : The Disappearance of Lesbians, Lesbian Mothers, and Mothers

This article presents the political debate about the legal recognition of same-sex couples and same-sex parenthood in Italy, focusing on written sources such as documents and historiography of the Lgbt movement (so called since the time of the World Pride 2000 in Rome), and a press review covering the years 2013-2016. The aim of this reconstruction is to show if and how the sexual difference, quite relevant in matters of procreation, has been talked about within this context. The overwhelming majority of same-sex parents in couples in fact are lesbians, but, as it will be shown, lesbians were seldom mentioned in the debate (main source: a sample of the press). In particular lesbian mothers since an early time disappeared from the debates about same-sex parenthood, until the mothers themselves were canceled with the endorsement by the majority of the Lgbt movement of subrogation of motherhood, where a woman becoming a mother is called and treated like a \u201ccarrier\u201d. The debate started with the first proposal on civil unions (not mentioning parenthood) by Arcigay in 1987, until their introduction with the law 76/2016, also not considering parenthood. The debate is presented more synthetically for most of these 29 years, until it landed in Parliament in 2015 and 2016, highlighting stepchild adoption and surrogacy. Stepchild adoption is still only for heterosexual re-married couples, though tribunals are conferring shared parenthood for both gays and lesbians