3,811 research outputs found
Stability of continuously pumped atom lasers
A multimode model of a continuously pumped atom laser is shown to be unstable
below a critical value of the scattering length. Above the critical scattering
length, the atom laser reaches a steady state, the stability of which increases
with pumping. Below this limit the laser does not reach a steady state. This
instability results from the competition between gain and loss for the excited
states of the lasing mode. It will determine a fundamental limit for the
linewidth of an atom laser beam.Comment: 4 page
Different forms of the bovine PrP gene have five or six copies of a short, G-C-rich element within the protein-coding exon
Current models of the virus-like agents of scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have to take into account that structural changes in a host-encoded protein (PrP protein) exhibit an effect on the time course of these diseases and the survival time of any man or animal exposed to these pathogens. We report here the sequence of different forms of the bovine PrP gene which contain either five or six copies of a short, G-C-rich element which encodes the octapeptide Pro-His-Gly-Gly-Gly-Trp-Gly-Gln or its longer variants Pro-Gln/His-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Trp-Gly-Gln. Out of 12 cattle, we found eight animals homozygous for genes with six copies of the Gly-rich peptide (6:6), while four were heterozygous (6:5). Two confirmed cases of BSE occurred in (6: 6) homozygous animals. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a transmissible disease (Fraser et al., 1988; Dawson et al., 1990; Barlow & Middleton, 1990) which produces neuropathological lesions in cattle similar to those seen in ovine scrapie (Wells et al., 1987) and the rare human dementias Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and Gerstmann-Str/iussler syndrome (GSS) (Beck & Daniel, 1987). A cellular membrane protein (PrP) has a key role in the transmission and development of these diseases. This protein accumulates in the brain and other tissues during the protracted time course of these diseases and, in a disease-specific, protease-resistant isoform (SAF-PrP), has been purified by subcellular fractionation of scrapie
Multimode quantum limits to the linewidth of an atom laser
The linewidth of an atom laser can be limited by excitation of higher energy
modes in the source Bose-Einstein condensate, energy shifts in that condensate
due to the atomic interactions, or phase diffusion of the lasing mode due to
those interactions. The first two are effects that can be described with a
semiclassical model, and have been studied in detail for both pumped and
unpumped atom lasers. The third is a purely quantum statistical effect, and has
been studied only in zero dimensional models. We examine an unpumped atom laser
in one dimension using a quantum field theory using stochastic methods based on
the truncated Wigner approach. This allows spatial and statistical effects to
be examined simultaneously, and the linewidth limit for unpumped atom lasers is
quantified in various limits.Comment: 8 Figure
Pulsed pumping of a Bose-Einstein condensate
In this work, we examine a system for coherent transfer of atoms into a
Bose-Einstein condensate. We utilize two spatially separate Bose-Einstein
condensates in different hyperfine ground states held in the same dc magnetic
trap. By means of a pulsed transfer of atoms, we are able to show a clear
resonance in the timing of the transfer, both in temperature and number, from
which we draw conclusions about the underlying physical process. The results
are discussed in the context of the recently demonstrated pumped atom laser.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, published in Physical Review
Quantum kinetic theory model of a continuous atom laser
We investigate the feasible limits for realising a continuously evaporated
atom laser with high-temperature sources. A plausible scheme for realising a
truly continuous atom laser is to outcouple atoms from a partially condensed
Bose gas, whilst continuously reloading the system with non-condensed thermal
atoms and performing evaporative cooling. Here we use quantum kinetic theory to
model this system and estimate feasible limits for the operation of such a
scheme. For sufficiently high temperatures, the figure of merit for the source
is shown to be the phase-space flux. The dominant process limiting the usage of
sources with low phase-space flux is the three-body loss of the condensed gas.
We conclude that certain double-magneto-optical trap (MOT) sources may produce
substantial mean condensate numbers through continuous evaporation, and provide
an atom laser source with a narrow linewidth and reasonable flux.Comment: 28 pages, 5 figure
Achieving peak brightness in an atom laser
In this paper we present experimental results and theory on the first
continuous (long pulse) Raman atom laser. The brightness that can be achieved
with this system is three orders of magnitude greater than has been previously
demonstrated in any other continuously outcoupled atom laser. In addition, the
energy linewidth of a continuous atom laser can be made arbitrarily narrow
compared to the mean field energy of a trapped condensate. We analyze the flux
and brightness of the atom laser with an analytic model that shows excellent
agreement with experiment with no adjustable parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 4 black and white figures, submitted to Physical Revie
Modelling the hepatitis B vaccination programme in prisons
A vaccination programme offering hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine at reception into prison has been introduced into selected prisons in England and Wales. Over the coming years it is anticipated this vaccination programme will be extended. A model has been developed to assess the potential impact of the programme on the vaccination coverage of prisoners, ex-prisoners, and injecting drug users (IDUs). Under a range of coverage scenarios, the model predicts the change over time in the vaccination status of new entrants to prison, current prisoners and IDUs in the community. The model predicts that at baseline in 2012 57% of the IDU population will be vaccinated with up to 72% being vaccinated depending on the vaccination scenario implemented. These results are sensitive to the size of the IDU population in England and Wales and the average time served by an IDU during each prison visit. IDUs that do not receive HBV vaccine in the community are at increased risk from HBV infection. The HBV vaccination programme in prisons is an effective way of vaccinating this hard-to-reach population although vaccination coverage on prison reception must be increased to achieve this
Classical noise and flux: the limits of multi-state atom lasers
By direct comparison between experiment and theory, we show how the classical
noise on a multi-state atom laser beam increases with increasing flux. The
trade off between classical noise and flux is an important consideration in
precision interferometric measurement. We use periodic 10 microsecond
radio-frequency pulses to couple atoms out of an F=2 87Rb Bose-Einstein
condensate. The resulting atom laser beam has suprising structure which is
explained using three dimensional simulations of the five state
Gross-Pitaevskii equations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Exploratory study of clinician and patient views regarding the use of a preconception care app for women with diabetes
Background: Women with diabetes are at increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Preconception care can minimise risk of complications and improve outcomes, but current provision is inadequate. Electronic health technology, particularly apps, could improve preconception care provision but research is lacking in this area.
Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore the views and experiences of clinicians and women with diabetes regarding the use of a mobile app for preconception care.
Method: An exploratory study was conducted. Data were collected using focus group and interviews with 19 participants, comprising 10 clinicians and 9 women with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Data were analysed thematically.
Findings: Women with diabetes and clinicians highlighted the inadequacy and challenges of current preconception care service provision and expressed a high level of enthusiasm and interest, towards a preconception care app that could support preconception care delivery for women with diabetes and overcome barriers to preconception care service provision and uptake.
Conclusion: The acceptability of mobile health technology to both women and clinicians creates an important opportunity to overcome existing barriers to service provision, delivery and uptake, and improve both maternal and fetal outcomes for women with diabetes
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