Secure and efficient decoy-state quantum key distribution with inexact pulse intensities

We present a general theorem for the efficient verification of the lower bound of single-photon transmittance. We show how to do decoy-state quantum key distribution efficiently with large random errors in the intensity control. In our protocol, the linear terms of fluctuation disappear and only the quadratic terms take effect. We then show the unconditional security of decoy-state method with whatever error pattern in intensities of decoy pulses and signal pulses provided that the intensity of each decoy pulse is less than $\mu$ and the intensity of each signal pulse is larger than $\mu'$

Phase measurements with weak reference pulses

Quantum state discrimination for two coherent states with opposite phases as measured relative to a reference pulse is analyzed as functions of the intensities of both the signal states and of the reference pulse. This problem is relevant for Quantum Key Distribution with phase encoding. We consider both the optimum measurements and simple measurements that require only beamsplitters and photodetectors.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. I apologize for this boring pape

Seasonal changes of sources and volatility of carbonaceous aerosol at urban, coastal and forest sites in Eastern Europe (Lithuania)

We measured stable carbon isotope ratios of total carbon (TC) and organic carbon (OC) in fine carbonaceous aerosol fraction sampled in August and September 2013 at urban, coastal and forest sites in Lithuania. δ13C values of TC for all three sites over the whole measurement period varied from −29.3 to −26.6‰, which is in the range of particles emitted by fossil fuel combustion in Eastern Europe. The isotopic composition at the forest and coastal site showed a similar variation during two contrasting pollution periods. δ13C values in the clean period were more variable, whereas the polluted period was characterized by a gradual enrichment in δ13C compared to the clean period. In the polluted period air masses originated from southern, southeastern or southwestern direction, indicating long-range transport of pollutants from Eastern Europe and Southern Europe to Lithuania. Oxidative processing during long-range transport or the different source signatures (e.g., enriched 13C signature of gasoline used in Western Europe vs. Eastern Europe) could cause the less negative δ13COC values during the polluted episode. δ13C for OC desorbed from the filter samples was separately measured during three different temperature steps (200 °C, 350 °C and 650 °C). OC desorbed at 200 °C had the most depleted 13C signature of around −29‰ at all three sites. A comparison with previously published data measured during the winter at the same sites showed that both TC and OC had less negative δ13C values in winter than in summer, which can be explained by the contribution of biomass/coal burning sources in winter. At the urban site δ13C of OC did not change much with increasing desorption temperature in winter, which is typical for primary sources, but in the summer δ13C of OC was depleted for lower desorption temperatures, possibly due to the influence of SOA formation. A higher fraction of more refractory OC in summer compared to winter-time suggests active photochemical processing of the primary organic aerosol as an important process at all three sites

Impact of slot/pole combination on inter-turn short-circuit current in fault-tolerant permanent magnet machines

This paper investigates the influence of the slot/pole (S/P) combination on inter-turn short-circuit (SC) current in fault-tolerant permanent magnet (FT-PM) machines. A 2-D sub-domain field computational model with multi-objective genetic algorithm is used for the design and performance prediction of the considered FT-PM machines. The electromagnetic losses of machines, including iron, magnet, and winding losses are systematically computed using analytical tools. During the postprocessing stage, a 1-D analysis is employed for turn-turn fault analysis. The method calculates self-and mutual inductances of both the faulty and healthy turns under an SC fault condition with respect to the fault locations, and thus SC fault current, considering its location. Eight FT-PM machines with different S/P combinations are analyzed. Both the performance of the machine during normal operation and induced currents during a turn-turn SC fault are investigated. To evaluate the thermal impact of each S/P combination under an inter-turn fault condition, a thermal analysis is performed using finite element computation. It is shown that low-rotor-pole-number machines have a better fault tolerance capability, while high-rotor-pole-number machines are lighter and provide higher efficiency. Results show that the influence of the S/P selection on inter-turn fault SC current needs to be considered during the design process to balance the efficiency and power density against fault-tolerant criteria of the application at hand

USCID fourth international conference

Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Includes bibliographical references.Deficit irrigation commonly is used in regions with reduced or limited irrigation capacity to increase water use efficiency (WUE). This research measured winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) water use (ET) and yields so WUE could be determined. Two precision weighing lysimeters were used to accurately measure the crop ET from fully irrigated (FULL) fields and deficit irrigated (DI) fields. The DI wheat was an irrigation cutoff at the jointing growth stage as might be used if available irrigation water was being shifted to summer crops while the sorghum DI used a reduced irrigation rate (~50% FULL irrigation) as might occur with a lower irrigation capacity. Both crops were irrigated by a lateral-move sprinkler system at Bushland, Texas. Wheat ET was decreased by 20% from 849 to 677 mm with a 76% decline in irrigation. Sorghum ET decreased 10% from 621 mm to 560 mm with a 48% decline in irrigation. WUE of sorghum for both grain and dry matter increased slightly with DI but seed mass, and harvest index were unaffected. DI irrigated wheat extracted soil water to a depth of 1.7 m in the Pullman soil with some apparent root extraction to the 2.3-m depth. Sorghum extracted soil water mainly above 1.2 m in the Pullman soil profile if well watered, but DI sorghum extracted soil water to 1.7 m. Sprinkler DI of sorghum beginning with a nearly full soil water content profile permitted the crop to better exploit the soil profile water and minimize soil water deficit effects on crop yield in a year with typical summer rainfall for Bushland (~210 mm) such that yield was not reduced by DI. Cutting off winter wheat irrigation in early spring with a near full soil water profile at jointing, permitted the wheat crop to fully exploit the soil water reservoir when rainfall was normal

Water uptake by biomass burning aerosol at sub- and supersaturated conditions: closure studies and implications for the role of organics

We investigate the CCN activity of freshly emitted biomass burning particles and their hygroscopic growth at a relative humidity (RH) of 85%. The particles were produced in the Mainz combustion laboratory by controlled burning of various wood types. The water uptake at sub- and supersaturations is parameterized by the hygroscopicity parameter, κ (c.f. Petters and Kreidenweis, 2007). For the wood burns, κ is low, generally around 0.06. The main emphasis of this study is a comparison of κ derived from measurements at sub- and supersaturated conditions (κG and κCCN), in order to see whether the water uptake at 85% RH can predict the CCN properties of the biomass burning particles. Differences in κGand κCCN can arise through solution non-idealities, the presence of slightly soluble or surface active compounds, or non-spherical particle shape. We find that κG and κCCN agree within experimental uncertainties (of around 30%) for particle sizes of 100 and 150 nm; only for 50 nm particles is κCCN larger than κG by a factor of 2. The magnitude of this difference and its dependence on particle size is consistent with the presence of surface active organic compounds. These compounds mainly facilitate the CCN activation of small particles, which form the most concentrated solution droplets at the point of activation. The 50 nm particles, however, are only activated at supersaturations higher than 1% and are therefore of minor importance as CCN in ambient clouds. By comparison with the actual chemical composition of the biomass burning particles, we estimate that the hygroscopicity of the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) fraction can be represented by a κWSOC value of approximately 0.2. The effective hygroscopicity of a typical wood burning particle can therefore be represented by a linear mixture of an inorganic component with κ ≅ 0.6, a WSOC component with κ ≅ 0.2, and an insoluble component with κ = 0

MRI phase changes in multiple sclerosis vs neuromyelitis optica lesions at 7T

OBJECTIVE: To characterize paramagnetic MRI phase signal abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) vs multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Ten patients with NMOSD and 10 patients with relapsing-remitting MS underwent 7-tesla brain MRI including supratentorial T2*-weighted imaging and supratentorial susceptibility weighted imaging. Next, we analyzed intra- and perilesional paramagnetic phase changes on susceptibility weighted imaging filtered magnetic resonance phase images. RESULTS: We frequently observed paramagnetic rim-like (75 of 232 lesions, 32%) or nodular (32 of 232 lesions, 14%) phase changes in MS lesions, but only rarely in NMOSD lesions (rim-like phase changes: 2 of 112 lesions, 2%, p < 0.001; nodular phase changes: 2 of 112 lesions, 2%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Rim-like or nodular paramagnetic MRI phase changes are characteristic for MS lesions and not frequently detectable in NMOSD. Future prospective studies should ask whether these imaging findings can be used as a biomarker to distinguish between NMOSD- and MS-related brain lesions