Semi-device-dependent blind quantum tomography

Extracting tomographic information about quantum states is a crucial task in the quest towards devising high-precision quantum devices. Current schemes typically require measurement devices for tomography that are a priori calibrated to a high precision. Ironically, the accuracy of the measurement calibration is fundamentally limited by the accuracy of state preparation, establishing a vicious cycle. Here, we prove that this cycle can be broken and the fundamental dependence on the measurement devices significantly relaxed. We show that exploiting the natural low-rank structure of quantum states of interest suffices to arrive at a highly scalable blind tomography scheme with a classically efficient post-processing algorithm. We further improve the efficiency of our scheme by making use of the sparse structure of the calibrations. This is achieved by relaxing the blind quantum tomography problem to the task of de-mixing a sparse sum of low-rank quantum states. Building on techniques from model-based compressed sensing, we prove that the proposed algorithm recovers a low-rank quantum state and the calibration provided that the measurement model exhibits a restricted isometry property. For generic measurements, we show that our algorithm requires a close-to-optimal number measurement settings for solving the blind tomography task. Complementing these conceptual and mathematical insights, we numerically demonstrate that blind quantum tomography is possible by exploiting low-rank assumptions in a practical setting inspired by an implementation of trapped ions using constrained alternating optimization.Comment: 22 pages, 8 Figure

Parametrised polyconvex hyperelasticity with physics-augmented neural networks

In the present work, neural networks are applied to formulate parametrised hyperelastic constitutive models. The models fulfill all common mechanical conditions of hyperelasticity by construction. In particular, partially input-convex neural network (pICNN) architectures are applied based on feed-forward neural networks. Receiving two different sets of input arguments, pICNNs are convex in one of them, while for the other, they represent arbitrary relationships which are not necessarily convex. In this way, the model can fulfill convexity conditions stemming from mechanical considerations without being too restrictive on the functional relationship in additional parameters, which may not necessarily be convex. Two different models are introduced, where one can represent arbitrary functional relationships in the additional parameters, while the other is monotonic in the additional parameters. As a first proof of concept, the model is calibrated to data generated with two differently parametrised analytical potentials, whereby three different pICNN architectures are investigated. In all cases, the proposed model shows excellent performance

Facilitating Conflict Resolution of Models for Automated Enterprise Architecture Documentation

Enterprise Architecture (EA) management relies on solid and up-to-date information about the current state of an EA. In current practices the manual collection of information is prevailing resulting in an error-prone, time-consuming, and expensive task. Recent research efforts seek to automate this task by integrating existing information sources in the organization to optimize the EA documentation process. While automation of EA documentation enables many advantages, the transformation of the collected information to an EA model remains an unresolved challenge since it cannot be automated completely. In particular, conflicts resulting from partial transformations require involvement of EA Stakeholders possibly not having a technical background. In this paper we propose an approach for the conflict resolution facilitating our long-term goal of automated EA documentation. We illustrate our approach using a productive Enterprise Service Bus from a leading organization of the fashion industry and evaluate our approach with expert interviews

Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy to Probe Ultrafast Charge Transfer and Electron Dynamics in Solid Surface Systems and at Metal- Molecule Interfaces

Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is a versatile tool, which provides insight into electronic structure and dynamics in condensed matter, surfaces, interfaces and molecules. The history of PES is briefly outlined and illustrated by current developments in the field of time-resolved PES. Our group's research is mostly aimed at studying ultrafast processes and associated lifetimes related to electronic excitation at solid surfaces

Tissue Sodium Content and Arterial Hypertension in Obese Adolescents

Early-onset obesity is known to culminate in type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular disease. The role of sodium (Na+) homeostasis in this process is incompletely understood, yet correlations between Na+ accumulation and hypertension have been observed in adults. We aimed to investigate these associations in adolescents. A cohort of 32 adolescents (13-17 years), comprising 20 obese patients, of whom 11 were hypertensive, as well as 12 age-matched controls, underwent 23Na-MRI of the left lower leg with a standard clinical 3T scanner. Median triceps surae muscle Na+ content in hypertensive obese (11.95 mmol/L [interquartile range 11.62-13.66]) was significantly lower than in normotensive obese (13.63 mmol/L [12.97-17.64]; p = 0.043) or controls (15.37 mmol/L [14.12-16.08]; p = 0.012). No significant differences were found between normotensive obese and controls. Skin Na+ content in hypertensive obese (13.33 mmol/L [11.53-14.22] did not differ to normotensive obese (14.12 mmol/L [13.15-15.83]) or controls (11.48 mmol/L [10.48-12.80]), whereas normotensive obese had higher values compared to controls (p = 0.004). Arterial hypertension in obese adolescents is associated with low muscle Na+ content. These findings suggest an early dysregulation of Na+ homeostasis in cardiometabolic disease. Further research is needed to determine whether this association is causal and how it evolves in the transition to adulthood

Renormalization of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

The renormalization of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. We describe symmetry identities that constitute a framework in which the MSSM is completely characterized and renormalizability can be proven. Furthermore, we discuss applications of this framework for the determination of symmetry-restoring counterterms, the gauge dependence of tan(beta) and the derivation of non-renormalization theorems.Comment: Talk given by D.S. at the RADCOR/Loops and Legs in Quantum Field Theory 2002, September 8--13, Kloster Banz, Germany. 5 pages. Layout improve

Unraveling the Importance of Polyphenols for Microbial Carbon Mineralization in Rewetted Riparian Peatlands

There have been widespread attempts to rewet peatlands in Europe and elsewhere in the world to restore their unique biodiversity as well as their important function as nutrient and carbon sinks. However, changes in hydrological regime and therefore oxygen availability likely alter the abundance of enzyme-inhibiting polyphenolic compounds, which have been suggested as a “latch” preventing large amounts of carbon from being released into the atmosphere by microbial mineralization. In recent years, a variety of factors have been identified that appear to weaken that latch including not only oxygen, but also pH. In minerotrophic fens, it is unknown if long-term peat mineralization during decades of drainage and intense agricultural use causes an enrichment or a decline of enzyme-inhibiting polyphenols. To address this, we collected peat samples and fresh roots of dominating plants (i.e., the peat parent material) from the upper 20 cm peat layer in 5 rewetted and 6 natural fens and quantified total phenolic content as well as hydrolysable and condensed tannins. Polyphenols from less decomposed peat and living roots served partly as an internal standard for polyphenol analysis and to run enzyme inhibition tests. As hypothesized, we found the polyphenol content in highly decomposed peat to be eight times lower than in less decomposed peat, while condensed tannin content was 50 times lower in highly degraded peat. In addition, plant tissue polyphenol contents differed strongly between peat-forming plant species, with the highest amount found in roots of Carex appropinquata at 450 mg g−1 dry mass, and lowest in Sphagnum spp. at 39 mg g−1 dry mass: a 10-fold difference. Despite large and clear differences in peat and porewater chemistry between natural and rewetted sites, enzyme activities determined with Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis and peat degradation were not significantly correlated, indicating no simple linear relationship between polyphenol content and microbial activity. Still, samples with low contents of polyphenols and condensed tannins showed the highest microbial activities as measured with FDA