A single-mode, high index-contrast, lead silicate glass fibre with high nonlinearity, broadband near-zero dispersion at telecommunication wavelengths

We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of a single-mode W-type lead silicate glass fibre with flattened and near-zero dispersion profile at telecom wavelengths and high nonlinearity of 820 W-1km-1 at 1.55 µm

Higher atmospheric CO2 levels favour C3 plants over C4 plants in utilizing ammonium as a nitrogen source

Photosynthesis of wheat and maize declined when grown with NH4+ as a nitrogen (N) source at ambient CO2 concentration compared to those grown with a mixture of NO3– and NH4+, or NO3– as the sole N source. Interestingly, these N nutritional physiological responses changed when the atmospheric CO2 concentration increases. We studied the photosynthetic responses of wheat and maize growing with various N forms at three levels of growth CO2 levels. Hydroponic experiments were carried out using a C3 plant (wheat, Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chuanmai 58) and a C4 plant (maize, Zea mays L. cv. Zhongdan 808) given three types of N nutrition: sole NO3– (NN), sole NH4+ (AN) and a mixture of both NO3– and NH4+ (Mix-N). The test plants were grown using custom-built chambers where a continuous and desired atmospheric CO2 (Ca) concentration could be maintained: 280 μmol mol–1 (representing the pre-Industrial Revolution CO2 concentration of the 18th century), 400 μmol mol–1 (present level) and 550 μmol mol–1 (representing the anticipated futuristic concentration in 2050). Under AN, the decrease in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was attributed to a reduction in the maximum RuBP-regeneration rate, which then caused reductions in the maximum Rubisco-carboxylation rates for both species. Decreases in electron transport rate, reduction of electron flux to the photosynthetic carbon [Je(PCR)] and electron flux for photorespiratory carbon oxidation [Je(PCO)] were also observed under AN for both species. However, the intercellular (Ci) and chloroplast (Cc) CO2 concentration increased with increasing atmospheric CO2 in C3 wheat but not in C4 maize, leading to a higher Je(PCR)/ Je(PCO) ratio. Interestingly, the reduction of Pn under AN was relieved in wheat through higher CO2 levels, but that was not the case in maize. In conclusion, elevating atmospheric CO2 concentration increased Ci and Cc in wheat, but not in maize, with enhanced electron fluxes towards photosynthesis, rather than photorespiration, thereby relieving the inhibition of photosynthesis under AN. Our results contributed to a better understanding of NH4+ involvement in N nutrition of crops growing under different levels of CO2

A Nonlinear Force-Free Magnetic Field Approximation Suitable for Fast Forward-Fitting to Coronal Loops. II. Numeric Code and Tests

Based on a second-order approximation of nonlinear force-free magnetic field solutions in terms of uniformly twisted field lines derived in Paper I, we develop here a numeric code that is capable to forward-fit such analytical solutions to arbitrary magnetogram (or vector magnetograph) data combined with (stereoscopically triangulated) coronal loop 3D coordinates. We test the code here by forward-fitting to six potential field and six nonpotential field cases simulated with our analytical model, as well as by forward-fitting to an exactly force-free solution of the Low and Lou (1990) model. The forward-fitting tests demonstrate: (i) a satisfactory convergence behavior (with typical misalignment angles of $\mu \approx 1^\circ-10^\circ$), (ii) relatively fast computation times (from seconds to a few minutes), and (iii) the high fidelity of retrieved force-free $\alpha$-parameters ($\alpha_{\rm fit}/\alpha_{\rm model} \approx 0.9-1.0$ for simulations and $\alpha_{\rm fit}/\alpha_{\rm model} \approx 0.7\pm0.3$ for the Low and Lou model). The salient feature of this numeric code is the relatively fast computation of a quasi-forcefree magnetic field, which closely matches the geometry of coronal loops in active regions, and complements the existing {\sl nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF)} codes based on photospheric magnetograms without coronal constraints.Comment: Solar PHysics, (in press), 25 pages, 11 figure

Flat, broadband supercontinuum generation at low pulse energies in a dispersion-tailored lead-silicate fibre

We report flat, broadband supercontinuum generation at low pump pulse energies (69pJ 740fs pulses at 1540nm) in a lead-silicate fibre providing a unique combination of high nonlinearity (820W-1km-1) and a flat near-zero dispersion profile

Phase sensitive amplification in a highly nonlinear lead-silicate fibre

We experimentally demonstrate phase-sensitive amplification in a highly nonlinear lead-silicate W-type fibre. A phase-sensitive gain swing of 6dB was observed in a 1.56m sample of the fibre for a total launched power of 33dBm

General impossible operations in quantum information

We prove a general limitation in quantum information that unifies the impossibility principles such as no-cloning and no-anticloning. Further, we show that for an unknown qubit one cannot design a universal Hadamard gate for creating equal superposition of the original and its complement state. Surprisingly, we find that Hadamard transformations exist for an unknown qubit chosen either from the polar or equatorial great circles. Also, we show that for an unknown qubit one cannot design a universal unitary gate for creating unequal superpositions of the original and its complement state. We discuss why it is impossible to design a controlled-NOT gate for two unknown qubits and discuss the implications of these limitations.Comment: 15 pages, no figures, Discussion about personal quantum computer remove

Application of a H 2 + -like model to helium atom. Solution of the wave equation at the ground state

The wave equation of helium atom is solved based on a “H 2 + -like” model. A good agreement between the theoretical and experimental ionization energies is obtained.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43907/1/10053_2005_Article_BF01398893.pd

Properties and Applications of the Electrohydraulic Servosystem of the Hydraulic Excavator

The service of a hydraulic excavator is complicated by poor environment. The safety and stability of the control system are influenced by external factors. The object of the study is the electrohydraulic servosystem of the hydraulic excavator. The mathematical and simulation models using AMESIM for the servosystem are constructed. Then the pressure and flow characteristics are analyzed. The design and optimization of the electrohydraulic servosystem and its application in excavator engineering are described. The operation process is graphically presented by a curve, which steeply slopes up (rising period) and then flattens out (stabilization period), those periods are shortened by 38.0 and 40.5%, respectively, the delay tracking period decreased by 52.6%, and anti-interference is reliable.Эксплуатация гидравлического экскаватора осложняется наличием неблагоприятной рабочей среды. Показано воздействие внешних факторов на надежность и стабильность системы контроля. Исследована электрогидравлическая сервосистема гидравлического экскаватора. Построены математическая и имитационная модели для сервосистемы с использованием программы AMESIM. Выполнен анализ характеристик давления и текучести. Описаны конструкция и оптимизация электрогидравлической сервосистемы, а также ее применение в экскаваторной технике. Процесс функционирования электрогидравлической сервосистемы представлен кривой, которая круто идет вверх (период подъема), а затем выходит на плато (период стабилизации), эти периоды сокращаются на 38,0 и 40,5% соответственно, период слежения за задержкой на 52,6% при эффективной помехоустойчивости

Applications of highly nonlinear dispersion tailored lead silicate fibres for high speed optical communications

Recent advances in optical fibre technology, most notably in the area of microstructured optical fibres (MOFs), offer a host of new opportunities within future high speed communication systems. Herein we review how our recent progress on the implementation of lead silicate fibre designs, allowing both flexible dispersion control and a high effective nonlinearity, can be integrated into various all-optical signal processing devices for high speed optical communication systems. Highly nonlinear lead silicate fibres have already proven to be well suited for achieving efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) due to their high effective nonlinear coefficient, low dispersion profile and short length

Suppressing CMB Quadrupole with a Bounce from Contracting Phase to Inflation

Recent released WMAP data show a low value of quadrupole in the CMB temperature fluctuations, which confirms the early observations by COBE. In this paper, a scenario, in which a contracting phase is followed by an inflationary phase, is constructed. We calculate the perturbation spectrum and show that this scenario can provide a reasonable explanation for lower CMB anisotropies on large angular scales.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure