6,909 research outputs found
Generation of spin-polarized currents via cross-relaxation with dynamically pumped paramagnetic impurities
Key to future spintronics and spin-based information processing technologies
is the generation, manipulation, and detection of spin polarization in a solid
state platform. Here, we theoretically explore an alternative route to spin
injection via the use of dynamically polarized nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in
diamond. We focus on the geometry where carriers and NV centers are confined to
proximate, parallel layers and use a 'trap-and-release' model to calculate the
spin cross-relaxation probabilities between the charge carriers and neighboring
NV centers. We identify near-unity regimes of carrier polarization depending on
the NV spin state, applied magnetic field, and carrier g-factor. In particular,
we find that unlike holes, electron spins are distinctively robust against
spin-lattice relaxation by other, unpolarized paramagnetic centers. Further,
the polarization process is only weakly dependent on the carrier hopping
dynamics, which makes this approach potentially applicable over a broad range
of temperatures.C.A.M. acknowledges support from the National
Science Foundation through Grant No. NSF-1314205.
M.W.D. acknowledges support from the Australian Research
Council through Grant No. DP120102232
Magnetic Trapping of Cold Bromine Atoms
Magnetic trapping of bromine atoms at temperatures in the milliKelvin regime
is demonstrated for the first time. The atoms are produced by photodissociation
of Br molecules in a molecular beam. The lab-frame velocity of Br atoms is
controlled by the wavelength and polarization of the photodissociation laser.
Careful selection of the wavelength results in one of the pair of atoms having
sufficient velocity to exactly cancel that of the parent molecule, and it
remains stationary in the lab frame. A trap is formed at the null point between
two opposing neodymium permanent magnets. Dissociation of molecules at the
field minimum results in the slowest fraction of photofragments remaining
trapped. After the ballistic escape of the fastest atoms, the trapped slow
atoms are only lost by elastic collisions with the chamber background gas. The
measured loss rate is consistent with estimates of the total cross section for
only those collisions transferring sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the
trapping potential
Adaptive homodyne measurement of optical phase
We present an experimental demonstration of the power of real-time feedback
in quantum metrology, confirming a theoretical prediction by Wiseman regarding
the superior performance of an adaptive homodyne technique for single-shot
measurement of optical phase. For phase measurements performed on weak coherent
states with no prior knowledge of the signal phase, we show that the variance
of adaptive homodyne estimation approaches closer to the fundamental quantum
uncertainty limit than any previously demonstrated technique. Our results
underscore the importance of real-time feedback for reaching quantum
performance limits in coherent telecommunication, precision measurement and
information processing.Comment: RevTex4, color PDF figures (separate files), submitted to PR
Study of radiation hazards to man on extended near earth missions
Radiation hazards to man on extended near earth mission
Influence of convective transport on tropospheric ozone and its precursors in a chemistry-climate model
The impact of convection on tropospheric O<sub>3</sub> and its precursors has been examined in a coupled chemistry-climate model. There are two ways that convection affects O<sub>3</sub>. First, convection affects O<sub>3</sub> by vertical mixing of O<sub>3</sub> itself. Convection lifts lower tropospheric air to regions where the O<sub>3</sub> lifetime is longer, whilst mass-balance subsidence mixes O<sub>3</sub>-rich upper tropospheric (UT) air downwards to regions where the O<sub>3</sub> lifetime is shorter. This tends to decrease UT O<sub>3</sub> and the overall tropospheric column of O<sub>3</sub>. Secondly, convection affects O<sub>3</sub> by vertical mixing of O<sub>3</sub> precursors. This affects O<sub>3</sub> chemical production and destruction. Convection transports isoprene and its degradation products to the UT where they interact with lightning NO<sub>x</sub> to produce PAN, at the expense of NO<sub>x</sub>. In our model, we find that convection reduces UT NO<sub>x</sub> through this mechanism; convective down-mixing also flattens our imposed profile of lightning emissions, further reducing UT NO<sub>x</sub>. Over tropical land, which has large lightning NO<sub>x</sub> emissions in the UT, we find convective lofting of NO<sub>x</sub> from surface sources appears relatively unimportant. Despite UT NO<sub>x</sub> decreases, UT O<sub>3</sub> production increases as a result of UT HO<sub>x</sub> increases driven by isoprene oxidation chemistry. However, UT O<sub>3</sub> tends to decrease, as the effect of convective overturning of O<sub>3</sub> itself dominates over changes in O<sub>3</sub> chemistry. Convective transport also reduces UT O<sub>3</sub> in the mid-latitudes resulting in a 13% decrease in the global tropospheric O<sub>3</sub> burden. These results contrast with an earlier study that uses a model of similar chemical complexity. Differences in convection schemes as well as chemistry schemes – in particular isoprene-driven changes are the most likely causes of such discrepancies. Further modelling studies are needed to constrain this uncertainty range
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