Optimizing landbird surveys for detecting population and spatial dynamics

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017Landbird populations are undergoing concurrent changes in population size, spatial distribution, and phenology. The sensitivity of landbird monitoring programs to detect and distinguish these varied processes is of critical importance. Consequently, these efforts require inference methods that are efficient and fully leverage information about spatial, population, and phenological dynamics. The development of efficient inference methods can be addressed in part through a thorough understanding of how the data are actually generated, the application of sampling methods that attempt to maximize encounter probability, and the tailoring of sampling methods to maximize sensitivity to specific inference objectives. Chapter one of this dissertation is concerned with accommodating temporary emigration in spatial distance sampling models. Model-based distance sampling is commonly used to understand spatial variation in the density of wildlife species. The standard approach is to assume that individuals are distributed uniformly in space and model spatial variation in abundance using plot-level effects. Thinned point process models for surveys of unmarked populations (spatial distance sampling) frame the sampling process in terms of the individual encounter in space and, consequently, are expected to offer greater sensitivity for understanding spatial processes. However, existing spatial distance sampling approaches are conditioned on the assumption that all individuals are present and available for sampling. Temporary emigration of individuals can therefore result in biased estimates of abundance. Herein, I extend spatial distance sampling models to accommodate temporary emigration. A simulation study indicated more precise and less biased estimation under the spatial distance sampling model compared to models that assume a uniform distribution of individuals and assess spatial variation in abundance using plot-level effects. An applied example involving two arctic-breeding passerines indicated considerably stronger inference under the spatial distance sampling model than standard distance sampling models. Chapter two is concerned with the capacity of subarctic passerines to adjust their arrival timing to relatively extreme variation in spring conditions. I assessed interannual variation in passerine arrival timing in Denali National Park, Alaska from 1995-2015, a period that included both the warmest and coldest recorded mean spring temperatures for the park. Neotropical-Nearctic migrants varied in terms of the flexibility of their arrival timing, but generally showed plastic phenologies, suggesting resilience under extreme spring conditions. In comparison, Nearctic-Nearctic migrants showed similar or greater plasticity in arrival timing. A majority of species showed synchronous-asynchronous fluctuation in arrival (i.e., synchronous arrival in some years, asynchronous in others) in combination with various levels of the mean response (i.e., early, average, and late arrival), suggesting the presence of interactions between environmental conditions at multiple scales and inter-individual variation. Overall, these findings suggest that monitoring of the mean-variance relationship may lead to a deeper understanding of the factors shaping phenological responses. Chapter three is concerned with developing efficient inference methods for inventorying and monitoring cliff-nesting raptor populations. In nest occupancy studies of cliff-nesting raptors, the standard approach is to allocate a level of survey effort that is assumed to ensure that the occupancy state is known with certainty. However, allocating effort in this manner is inefficient, particularly at landscape scales, constraining our capacity for effective management of these species. To increase survey efficiency and expand the spatial inference of these studies, I developed two versions of a multi-state, time-removal model, one for long-term monitoring studies and another for population inventories or single-season surveys in which there is no prior knowledge of nest locations. For long-term monitoring of species with alternative nests, I formulated a version of the model that accounts for state uncertainty at the territory-level caused by a failure to observe all nests within a territory. Simulation studies indicated generally low to moderate relative bias under the monitoring and inventory models. In addition, I applied the monitoring model to a long-term study of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in Alaska and demonstrate that the maximum effort spent on any nesting territory could be reduced by up to almost 90% of that recommended by standard protocols

Jaynes Cummings treatment of superconducting resonators with dielectric loss due to two-level systems

We perform a quantum mechanical analysis of superconducting resonators subject to dielectric loss arising from charged two-level systems. We present numerical and analytical descriptions of the dynamics of energy decay from the resonator within the Jaynes-Cummings model. Our analysis allows us to distinguish the strong and weak coupling regimes of the model and to describe within each regime cases where the two-level system is unsaturated or saturated. We find that the quantum theory agrees with the classical model for weak coupling. However, for strong coupling the quantum theory predicts lower loss than the classical theory in the unsaturated regime. Also, in contrast to the classical theory, the photon number at which saturation occurs in the strong coupling quantum theory is independent of the coupling between the resonator and the two-level system.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Crossover of phase qubit dynamics in presence of negative-result weak measurement

Coherent dynamics of a superconducting phase qubit is considered in the presence of both unitary evolution due to microwave driving and continuous non-unitary collapse due to negative-result measurement. In the case of a relatively weak driving, the qubit dynamics is dominated by the non-unitary evolution, and the qubit state tends to an asymptotically stable point on the Bloch sphere. This dynamics can be clearly distinguished from conventional decoherence by tracking the state purity and the measurement invariant (``murity''). When the microwave driving strength exceeds certain critical value, the dynamics changes to non-decaying oscillations: any initial state returns exactly to itself periodically in spite of non-unitary dynamics. The predictions can be verified using a modification of a recent experiment.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figure

Universal computation by multi-particle quantum walk

A quantum walk is a time-homogeneous quantum-mechanical process on a graph defined by analogy to classical random walk. The quantum walker is a particle that moves from a given vertex to adjacent vertices in quantum superposition. Here we consider a generalization of quantum walk to systems with more than one walker. A continuous-time multi-particle quantum walk is generated by a time-independent Hamiltonian with a term corresponding to a single-particle quantum walk for each particle, along with an interaction term. Multi-particle quantum walk includes a broad class of interacting many-body systems such as the Bose-Hubbard model and systems of fermions or distinguishable particles with nearest-neighbor interactions. We show that multi-particle quantum walk is capable of universal quantum computation. Since it is also possible to efficiently simulate a multi-particle quantum walk of the type we consider using a universal quantum computer, this model exactly captures the power of quantum computation. In principle our construction could be used as an architecture for building a scalable quantum computer with no need for time-dependent control

Controlled Flow of Spin-Entangled Electrons via Adiabatic Quantum Pumping

We propose a method to dynamically generate and control the flow of spin-entangled electrons, each belonging to a spin-singlet, by means of adiabatic quantum pumping. The pumping cycle functions by periodic time variation of localized two-body interactions. We develop a generalized approach to adiabatic quantum pumping as traditional methods based on scattering matrix in one dimension cannot be applied here. We specifically compute the flow of spin-entangled electrons within a Hubbard-like model of quantum dots, and discuss possible implementations and identify parameters that can be used to control the singlet flow.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Chemical Properties of Sago Grub (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) Protein Concentrate With Different Initial Drying Method

The sago grub (Rhychophorus ferrugineus) is a kind of edible insect which can be utilized as an substitute source of protein in the form of concentrates. The extraction process of protein concentrate requires a proper drying technique for the starting material. This study was intended to determine the appropriate initial drying method for sago grub to produce protein concentrates with good chemical properties. In this study, cabinet dryer, sun, and oven drying methods were used to extract sago caterpillar protein concentrate with a block randomized design. The variables observed were the moisture, ash, protein, and fat contents of the sago grub protein concentrate. The results demonstrated that cabinet dryers are the most appropriate drying method for producing protein concentrate with the best chemical and functional characteristics. The drying method of the cabinet dryer produces a protein concentrate with a moisture content of 23%, an ash content of 11.26%, a protein content of 55.37%, and a fat content of 7.67%

Decoupling a Cooper-pair box to enhance the lifetime to 0.2 ms

We present a circuit QED experiment in which a separate transmission line is used to address a quasi-lumped element superconducting microwave resonator which is in turn coupled to an Al/AlO$_{x}$/Al Cooper-pair box (CPB) charge qubit. In our measurements we find a strong correlation between the measured lifetime of the CPB and the coupling between the qubit and the transmission line. By monitoring perturbations of the resonator's 5.44 GHz resonant frequency, we have measured the spectrum, lifetime ($T_{1}$), Rabi, and Ramsey oscillations of the CPB at the charge degeneracy point while the CPB was detuned by up to 2.5 GHz . We find a maximum lifetime of the CPB was $T_{1} = 200\ \mu$s for $f = 4$ to 4.5 GHz. Our measured $T_{1}$'s are consistent with loss due to coupling to the transmission line, spurious microwave circuit resonances, and a background decay rate on the order of $5\times 10^{3}$ s$^{-1}$ of unknown origin, implying that the loss tangent in the AlO$_{x}$ junction barrier must be less than about $4\times 10^{-8}$ at 4.5 GHz, about 4 orders of magnitude less than reported in larger area Al/AlO$_{x}$/Al tunnel junctions

Exchange Interaction Between Three and Four Coupled Quantum Dots: Theory and Applications to Quantum Computing

Several prominent proposals have suggested that spins of localized electrons could serve as quantum computer qubits. The exchange interaction has been invoked as a means of implementing two qubit gates. In this paper, we analyze the strength and form of the exchange interaction under relevant conditions. We find that, when several spins are engaged in mutual interactions, the quantitative strengths or even qualitative forms of the interactions can change. It is shown that the changes can be dramatic within a Heitler-London model. Hund-Mulliken calculations are also presented, and support the qualititative conclusions from the Heitler-London model. The effects need to be considered in spin-based quantum computer designs, either as a source of gate error to be overcome or a new interaction to be exploited.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figures. v3: Added Hund-Mulliken calculations in 3-dots case. A few small corrections. This version submitted to PR

Few-body spin couplings and their implications for universal quantum computation

Electron spins in semiconductor quantum dots are promising candidates for the experimental realization of solid-state qubits. We analyze the dynamics of a system of three qubits arranged in a linear geometry and a system of four qubits arranged in a square geometry. Calculations are performed for several quantum dot confining potentials. In the three-qubit case, three-body effects are identified that have an important quantitative influence upon quantum computation. In the four-qubit case, the full Hamiltonian is found to include both three-body and four-body interactions that significantly influence the dynamics in physically relevant parameter regimes. We consider the implications of these results for the encoded universality paradigm applied to the four-electron qubit code; in particular, we consider what is required to circumvent the four-body effects in an encoded system (four spins per encoded qubit) by the appropriate tuning of experimental parameters.Comment: 1st version: 33 pages, 25 figures. Described at APS March Meeting in 2004 (P36.010) and 2005 (B17.00009). Most figures made uglier here to reduce file size. 2nd version: 19 pages, 9 figures. Much mathematical detail chopped away after hearing from journal referee; a few typos correcte

Decoherence induced deformation of the ground state in adiabatic quantum computation

Despite more than a decade of research on adiabatic quantum computation (AQC), its decoherence properties are still poorly understood. Many theoretical works have suggested that AQC is more robust against decoherence, but a quantitative relation between its performance and the qubits' coherence properties, such as decoherence time, is still lacking. While the thermal excitations are known to be important sources of errors, they are predominantly dependent on temperature but rather insensitive to the qubits' coherence. Less understood is the role of virtual excitations, which can also reduce the ground state probability even at zero temperature. Here, we introduce normalized ground state fidelity as a measure of the decoherence-induced deformation of the ground state due to virtual transitions. We calculate the normalized fidelity perturbatively at finite temperatures and discuss its relation to the qubits' relaxation and dephasing times, as well as its projected scaling properties.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure