Superconducting Resonator-Rydberg Atom Hybrid in the Strong Coupling Regime

We propose a promising hybrid quantum system, where a highly-excited atom strongly interacts with a superconducting LC oscillator via the electric field of capacitor. An external electrostatic field is applied to tune the energy spectrum of atom. The atomic qubit is implemented by two eigenstates near an avoided-level crossing in the DC Stark map of Rydberg atom. Varying the electrostatic field brings the atomic-qubit transition on- or off-resonance to the microwave resonator, leading to a strong atom-resonator coupling with an extremely large cooperativity. Like the nonlinearity induced by Josephson junctions in superconducting circuits, the large atom-resonator interface disturbs the harmonic potential of resonator, resulting in an artificial two-level particle. Different universal two-qubit logic gates can also be performed on our hybrid system within the space where an atomic qubit couples to a single photon with an interaction strength much larger than any relaxation rates, opening the door to the cavity-mediated state transmission.Comment: 4 figure

Roadmap on quantum optical systems

This roadmap bundles fast developing topics in experimental optical quantum sciences, addressing current challenges as well as potential advances in future research. We have focused on three main areas: quantum assisted high precision measurements, quantum information/simulation, and quantum gases. Quantum assisted high precision measurements are discussed in the first three sections, which review optical clocks, atom interferometry, and optical magnetometry. These fields are already successfully utilized in various applied areas. We will discuss approaches to extend this impact even further. In the quantum information/simulation section, we start with the traditionally successful employed systems based on neutral atoms and ions. In addition the marvelous demonstrations of systems suitable for quantum information is not progressing, unsolved challenges remain and will be discussed. We will also review, as an alternative approach, the utilization of hybrid quantum systems based on superconducting quantum devices and ultracold atoms. Novel developments in atomtronics promise unique access in exploring solid-state systems with ultracold gases and are investigated in depth. The sections discussing the continuously fast- developing quantum gases include a review on dipolar heteronuclear diatomic gases, Rydberg gases, and ultracold plasma. Overall, we have accomplished a roadmap of selected areas undergoing rapid progress in quantum optics, highlighting current advances and future challenges. These exciting developments and vast advances will shape the field of quantum optics in the future

ICARUS-Q: A scalable RFSoC-based control system for superconducting quantum computers

We present a control and measurement setup for superconducting qubits based on Xilinx 16-channel radio frequency system on chip (RFSoC) device. The proposed setup consists of four parts: multiple RFSoC boards, a setup to synchronise every digital to analog converter (DAC), and analog to digital converter (ADC) channel across multiple boards, a low-noise direct current (DC) supply for tuning the qubit frequency and cloud access for remotely performing experiments. We also design the setup to be free of physical mixers. The RFSoC boards directly generate microwave pulses using sixteen DAC channels up to the third Nyquist zone which are directly sampled by its eight ADC channels between the fifth and the ninth zonesComment: Main text: 15 pages, 23 figures Appendix: 2 pages, 2 figure

Deep Teaching: Materials for Teaching Machine and Deep Learning

[EN] Machine learning (ML) is considered to be hard because it is relatively complicated in comparison to other topics of computer science. The reason is that machine learning is based heavily on mathematics and abstract concepts. This results in an entry barrier for students: Most students want to avoid such difficult topics in elective courses or self-study. In the project Deep.Teaching we address these issues: We motivate by selected applications and support courses as well as self-study by giving practical exercises for different topics in machine learning. The teaching material, provided as jupyter notebooks, consists of theoretical and programming sections. For didactical reasons, we designed programming exercises such that the students have to deeply understand the concepts and principles before they can start to implement a solution. We provide all necessary boilerplate code such that the students can primarily focus on the educational objectives of the exercises. We used different ways to give feedback for self-study: obscured solutions for mathematical results, software tests with assert statements, and graphical illustrations of sample solutions. All of the material is published under a permissive license. Developing jupyter notebooks collaboratively for educational purposes poses some problems. We address these issues and provide solutions/best practices.The project Deep.Teaching is funded by the German National Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), project number 01IS17056.Herta, C.; Voigt, B.; Baumann, P.; Strohmenger, K.; Jansen, C.; Fischer, O.; Zhang, G.... (2019). Deep Teaching: Materials for Teaching Machine and Deep Learning. En HEAD'19. 5th International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1153-1131. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD19.2019.9177OCS1153113

Comparing the Toxicological Responses of Pulmonary Air–Liquid Interface Models upon Exposure to Differentially Treated Carbon Fibers

In recent years, the use of carbon fibers (CFs) in various sectors of industry has been increasing. Despite the similarity of CF degradation products to other toxicologically relevant materials such as asbestos fibers and carbon nanotubes, a detailed toxicological evaluation of this class of material has yet to be performed. In this work, we exposed advanced air–liquid interface cell culture models of the human lung to CF. To simulate different stresses applied to CF throughout their life cycle, they were either mechanically (mCF) or thermo-mechanically pre-treated (tmCF). Different aspects of inhalation toxicity as well as their possible time-dependency were monitored. mCFs were found to induce a moderate inflammatory response, whereas tmCF elicited stronger inflammatory as well as apoptotic effects. Furthermore, thermal treatment changed the surface properties of the CF resulting in a presumed adhesion of the cells to the fiber fragments and subsequent cell loss. Triple-cultures encompassing epithelial, macrophage, and fibroblast cells stood out with an exceptionally high inflammatory response. Only a weak genotoxic effect was detected in the form of DNA strand breaks in mono- and co-cultures, with triple-cultures presenting a possible secondary genotoxicity. This work establishes CF fragments as a potentially harmful material and emphasizes the necessity of further toxicological assessment of existing and upcoming advanced CF-containing materials

Blockbuster Middle Ages. Proceedings of the Postgraduate Conference Bamberg 2015

Im Mittelpunkt des aus einer im Jahr 2015 in Bamberg abgehaltenen Nachwuchstagung hervorgegangenen Bandes steht die Mittelalterrezeption in filmischen und seriellen Großproduktionen. Der Blockbuster-Begriff spielt dabei insofern eine wichtige Rolle, als er die mediale Ware ‚Mittelalter‘ sowohl von Produktions- als auch Publikumsseite in den Blick nimmt, die beide an der Erzeugung des Phänomens ‚Blockbuster‘ beteiligt sind. Dass seit dem Aufkommen solcher finanziell hochaufwändigen, auf spektakuläre Schauwerte setzenden Produktionen in den 50er- und 60er Jahren kaum ein Jahr vergangen ist, in denen die Major-Studios nicht einen Mittelalterfilm ‚Marke Hollywood‘ veröffentlicht haben, lässt auf ein anhaltendes ökonomisches Potential mittelalterbezogener Produktionen und damit auf eine stabile Beliebtheit auf Seiten der Rezipienten schließen. Den Gesetzen von Angebot und Nachfrage folgend, beeinflusst das globale Kinopublikum damit zwar einerseits den Filmmarkt mit, gleichzeitig prägen, transportieren und perpetuieren die dadurch entstehenden, international mit großer Reichweite verbreiteten Filme das Mittelalterbild ihrer ZuschauerInnen stark. Die 21 Beiträge des Tagungsbandes widmen sich dem Phänomen ‚Mittelalter im Blockbusterkino‘ inhaltlich, beschäftigen sich aber auch mit der Notwendigkeit seiner Reflexion und den Bedingungen seines gewinnbringenden Einsatzes in Lehre und Unterricht