A lattice of double wells for manipulating pairs of cold atoms

We describe the design and implementation of a 2D optical lattice of double wells suitable for isolating and manipulating an array of individual pairs of atoms in an optical lattice. Atoms in the square lattice can be placed in a double well with any of their four nearest neighbors. The properties of the double well (the barrier height and relative energy offset of the paired sites) can be dynamically controlled. The topology of the lattice is phase stable against phase noise imparted by vibrational noise on mirrors. We demonstrate the dynamic control of the lattice by showing the coherent splitting of atoms from single wells into double wells and observing the resulting double-slit atom diffraction pattern. This lattice can be used to test controlled neutral atom motion among lattice sites and should allow for testing controlled two-qubit gates.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Atom interferometry measurement of the electric polarizability of lithium

Using an atom interferometer, we have measured the static electric polarizability of $^7$Li $\alpha =(24.33 \pm 0.16)\times10^{-30}$ m$^3$ $= 164.19\pm 1.08$ atomic units with a 0.66% uncertainty. Our experiment, which is similar to an experiment done on sodium in 1995 by D. Pritchard and co-workers, consists in applying an electric field on one of the two interfering beams and measuring the resulting phase-shift. With respect to D. Pritchard's experiment, we have made several improvements which are described in detail in this paper: the capacitor design is such that the electric field can be calculated analytically; the phase sensitivity of our interferometer is substantially better, near 16 mrad/$\sqrt{Hz}$; finally our interferometer is species selective it so that impurities present in our atomic beam (other alkali atoms or lithium dimers) do not perturb our measurement. The extreme sensitivity of atom interferometry is well illustrated by our experiment: our measurement amounts to measuring a slight increase $\Delta v$ of the atom velocity $v$ when it enters the electric field region and our present sensitivity is sufficient to detect a variation $\Delta v/v \approx 6 \times 10^{-13}$.Comment: 14 page

On Binary Matroid Minors and Applications to Data Storage over Small Fields

Locally repairable codes for distributed storage systems have gained a lot of interest recently, and various constructions can be found in the literature. However, most of the constructions result in either large field sizes and hence too high computational complexity for practical implementation, or in low rates translating into waste of the available storage space. In this paper we address this issue by developing theory towards code existence and design over a given field. This is done via exploiting recently established connections between linear locally repairable codes and matroids, and using matroid-theoretic characterisations of linearity over small fields. In particular, nonexistence can be shown by finding certain forbidden uniform minors within the lattice of cyclic flats. It is shown that the lattice of cyclic flats of binary matroids have additional structure that significantly restricts the possible locality properties of $\mathbb{F}_{2}$-linear storage codes. Moreover, a collection of criteria for detecting uniform minors from the lattice of cyclic flats of a given matroid is given, which is interesting in its own right.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

OPTIMIZING AND PROMOTING MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL IN ARABLE CROPS

Within an overall strategy of weed flora management, mechanical weed control practices are complementary solutions to agronomic levers (crop rotation, tillage...) in weed control. Acquiring knowledge and communicating on the effectiveness of mechanical practices and tools appear essential. The "Mechanical Weed Control" project in France conducted between 2009 and 2012 made progress in this regard. The project shows that research activities are to be continued (experimentation, analysis of practices) and should be complemented by promotion that focuses on participatory approaches where farmers are involved in the implementation of these new practices

Podolsky Electromagnetism at Finite Temperature: Implications on Stefan-Boltzmann Law

In this work we study Podolsky electromagnetism in thermodynamic equilibrium. We show that a Podolsky mass-dependent modification to the Stefan-Boltzmann law is induced and we use experimental data to limit the possible values for this free parameter.Comment: 13 pages, submitted to Physical Review

THE COST STRUCTURE OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

Microfinance institutions are important, particularly in developing countries, because they expand the frontier of financial intermediation by providing loans to those traditionally excluded from formal financial markets. This paper presents the first systematic statistical examination of the performance of MFIs operating in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. A cost function is estimated for MFIs in the region from 1999-2004. First, the presence of subsidies is found to be associated with higher MFI costs. When output is measured as the number of loans made, we find that MFIs become more efficient over time and that MFIs involved in the provision of group loans and loans to women have lower costs. However, when output is measured as volume of loans rather than their number, this last finding is reversed. This may be due to the fact that such loans are smaller in size; thus for a given volume more loans must be made.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40195/3/wp809.pd

Analyse au microscope électronique à balayage et au rugosimètre d’impacts laser CO2 sur la dentine

The aim of the study was to compare the morphology of craters produced on the dentinal surface by CO2 laser beams (LASERSATtmCO2) before and after the removal of the carbonized layer, besides with different seetings of the power and duration of the laser beam.Thirty-three recently extracted non carious young third molar teeth were sectionned from vestibular and lingual surfaces, exposing a planed dentinal surface. Twenty impacts were made on each of dentinal surface producing 20 individual craters. The duration and the power of each laser beam were different on each tooth. The duration varied from 0.1 to 0.4 second (0.1 - 0.2 - 0.3 - 0.4 s). The power varied from 1 to 5 watts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 w).Specimens obtained for a power of 3 and 4 watts and a duration of 0.1 and 0.2 second were examined with a JEOL 35CF (25 KV, magnification: x 30, x 110, x 200), before and after the removal of the carbonized layer. The carbonized layer of the craters was removed with an air polisher (HEATCO).Craters obtained for ail duration values as well as for ail power values were analyzed with a profilometer. The chosen profilometer was: TALISURF 10; horizontal amplification Vh = 20; vertical amplification Vv = 200.Samples were observed by a SEM and the craters depth and diameter were measured with a profilometer. Then, the carbonized layer of the craters was removed with an airpolisher and the cleaned dentinal surface was observed again with the SEM and the profilometer. Measurements were entered in a computer (using the SIPHAR programm) in order to calculate the mean values of the depth, the diameter and the area, for ail test conditions.It appears that the carbonized layer is not adherent to the dentine and can be easily removed. From the mean values, we can conclude that the diameter is about four times larger than the depth for the nocleaned craters and is about five to six times larger than the depth for the cleaned craters. The profils of the craters cannot be used for retention pins in the composite adhesion but the adhesion area is increased after a laser beam.Cette étude a pour but d’observer et de quantifier les cratères produits par un tir focalisé discontinu au laser CO2 (Lasersattm), avant et après élimination de la couche carbonisée par un aéropolisseur. Trentetrois molaires, extraites et indemnes de caries, sont coupées en deux dans le sens mésio-distal et leurs faces vestibulaires et linguales sont sectionnées pour donner une surface dentinaire plane. Vingt cratères sont réalisés par un tir focalisé discontinu sur chaque surface dentinaire. Les temps d’application et les puissances du rayonnement utilisés sont respectivement: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 seconde et 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 watts. Ces cratères sont analysés au microscope électronique à balayage et au rugosimètre, avant et après élimination de la couche carbonisée. Les résultats obtenus sont traités à l’aide du logiciel SIPHAR sur PC; nous obtenons un profil moyen du cratère pour chaque puissance et temps d’application utilisés. Les résultats sont les suivants: le diamètre est environ quatre fois plus grand que la profondeur avant élimination de la couche carbonisée et est cinq à six fois plus important après élimination de cette couche. Le diamètre et la profondeur des cratères sont plus importants après élimination de la couche carbonisée. La couche carbonisée a une épaisseur régulière sauf au fond du cratère où elle est plus faible que sur les parois. Avant élimination de la couche carbonisée le profil du cratère est un cône, après élimination de la couche, le profil est un cône tronqué. En conclusion, les cratères obtenus ne peuvent être considérés comme des ancrages efficaces pour d’éventuels collages dentinaires avec des composites; toutefois la surface d’adhésion s’en trouve considérablement accrue

Optical microrheology using rotating laser-trapped particles

We demonstrate an optical system that can apply and accurately measure the torque exerted by the trapping beam on a rotating birefringent probe particle. This allows the viscosity and surface effects within liquid media to be measured quantitatively on a micron-size scale using a trapped rotating spherical probe particle. We use the system to measure the viscosity inside a prototype cellular structure.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. v2: bibliographic details, minor text correction

Strain Effects on Point Defects and Chain-Oxygen Order-Disorder Transition in 123-Structure Cuprate Superconductors

The energetics of Schottky defects in 123 cuprate superconductor series, $\rm REBa_2Cu_3O_7$ (where RE = lanthandies) and $\rm YAE_2Cu_3O_7$ (AE = alkali-earths), were found to have unusual relations if one considers only the volumetric strain. Our calculations reveal the effect of non-uniform changes of interatomic distances within the RE-123 structures, introduced by doping homovalent elements, on the Schottky defect formation energy. The energy of formation of Frenkel Pair defects, which is an elementary disordering event, in 123 compounds can be substantially altered under both stress and chemical doping. Scaling the oxygen-oxygen short-range repulsive parameter using the calculated formation energy of Frenkel pair defects, the transition temperature between orthorhombic and tetragonal phases is computed by quasi-chemical approximations (QCA). The theoretical results illustrate the same trend as the experimental measurements in that the larger the ionic radius of RE, the lower the orthorhombic/tetragonal phase transition temperature. This study provides strong evidence of the strain effects on order-disorder transition due to oxygens in the CuO chain sites.Comment: In print Phys Rev B (2004