Sediment resuspension and erosion by vortex rings

Particle resuspension and erosion induced by a vortex ringinteracting with a sediment layer was investigated experimentally using flow visualization (particle image velocimetry), high-speed video, and a recently developed light attenuation method for measuring displacements in bed level. Near-spherical sediment particles were used throughout with relative densities of 1.2–7 and diameters (d)(d) ranging between 90 and 1600 μm1600 μm. Attention was focused on initially smooth, horizontal bedforms with the vortex ring aligned to approach the bed vertically. Interaction characteristics were investigated in terms of the dimensionless Shields parameter, defined using the vortex-ring propagation speed. The critical conditions for resuspension (whereby particles are only just resuspended) were determined as a function of particle Reynolds number (based on the particle settling velocity and dd). The effects of viscous damping were found to be significant for d/δ<15d/δ<15, where δδ denotes the viscous sublayer thickness. Measurements of bed deformation were obtained during the interaction period, for a range of impact conditions. The (azimuthal) mean crater profile is shown to be generally self-similar during the interaction period, except for the most energetic impacts and larger sediment types. Loss of similarity occurs when the local bed slope approaches the repose limit, leading to collapse. Erosion, deposition, and resuspension volumes are analyzed as a function interaction time, impact condition, and sediment size

Selection from read-only memory with limited workspace

Given an unordered array of $N$ elements drawn from a totally ordered set and an integer $k$ in the range from $1$ to $N$, in the classic selection problem the task is to find the $k$-th smallest element in the array. We study the complexity of this problem in the space-restricted random-access model: The input array is stored on read-only memory, and the algorithm has access to a limited amount of workspace. We prove that the linear-time prune-and-search algorithm---presented in most textbooks on algorithms---can be modified to use $\Theta(N)$ bits instead of $\Theta(N)$ words of extra space. Prior to our work, the best known algorithm by Frederickson could perform the task with $\Theta(N)$ bits of extra space in $O(N \lg^{*} N)$ time. Our result separates the space-restricted random-access model and the multi-pass streaming model, since we can surpass the $\Omega(N \lg^{*} N)$ lower bound known for the latter model. We also generalize our algorithm for the case when the size of the workspace is $\Theta(S)$ bits, where $\lg^3{N} \leq S \leq N$. The running time of our generalized algorithm is $O(N \lg^{*}(N/S) + N (\lg N) / \lg{} S)$, slightly improving over the $O(N \lg^{*}(N (\lg N)/S) + N (\lg N) / \lg{} S)$ bound of Frederickson's algorithm. To obtain the improvements mentioned above, we developed a new data structure, called the wavelet stack, that we use for repeated pruning. We expect the wavelet stack to be a useful tool in other applications as well.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, Preliminary version appeared in COCOON-201

Single photon quantum non-demolition in the presence of inhomogeneous broadening

Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) has been often proposed for generating nonlinear optical effects at the single photon level; in particular, as a means to effect a quantum non-demolition measurement of a single photon field. Previous treatments have usually considered homogeneously broadened samples, but realisations in any medium will have to contend with inhomogeneous broadening. Here we reappraise an earlier scheme [Munro \textit{et al.} Phys. Rev. A \textbf{71}, 033819 (2005)] with respect to inhomogeneities and show an alternative mode of operation that is preferred in an inhomogeneous environment. We further show the implications of these results on a potential implementation in diamond containing nitrogen-vacancy colour centres. Our modelling shows that single mode waveguide structures of length $200 \mu\mathrm{m}$ in single-crystal diamond containing a dilute ensemble of NV$^-$ of only 200 centres are sufficient for quantum non-demolition measurements using EIT-based weak nonlinear interactions.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures (some in colour) at low resolution for arXiv purpose

Integration of highly probabilistic sources into optical quantum architectures: perpetual quantum computation

In this paper we introduce a design for an optical topological cluster state computer constructed exclusively from a single quantum component. Unlike previous efforts we eliminate the need for on demand, high fidelity photon sources and detectors and replace them with the same device utilised to create photon/photon entanglement. This introduces highly probabilistic elements into the optical architecture while maintaining complete specificity of the structure and operation for a large scale computer. Photons in this system are continually recycled back into the preparation network, allowing for a arbitrarily deep 3D cluster to be prepared using a comparatively small number of photonic qubits and consequently the elimination of high frequency, deterministic photon sources.Comment: 19 pages, 13 Figs (2 Appendices with additional Figs.). Comments welcom

A high-efficiency quantum non-demolition single photon number resolving detector

We discuss a novel approach to the problem of creating a photon number resolving detector using the giant Kerr nonlinearities available in electromagnetically induced transparency. Our scheme can implement a photon number quantum non-demolition measurement with high efficiency ($\sim$99%) using less than 1600 atoms embedded in a dielectric waveguide.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Significantly revised. More discussion on the potential experimental realisatio

Property differences among the four major Candida albicans strain clades

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Threshold criteria for incipient sediment motion on an inclined bedform in the presence of oscillating-grid turbulence

Here, we report laboratory experiments to investigate the threshold criteria for incipient sediment motion in the presence of oscillating-grid turbulence, with the bed slope inclined at angles between the horizontal and the repose limit for the sediment. A set of nine mono-disperse sediment types was used with size ranges normally associated with either the hydraulically-smooth or transitional regimes. Measurements of the (turbulent) fluid velocity field, in the region between the grid and bedform's surface, were obtained using two-dimensional particle imaging velocimetry. Statistical analysis of the velocity data showed that the turbulence had a anisotropic structure, due to the net transfer of energy from the normal to the tangential velocity components in the near-bed region, and that the fluctuations were dominant compared to the secondary mean flow. The sediment threshold criteria for horizontal bedforms were compared with, and found to be in good qualitative agreement with the standard Shields curve. For non-horizontal bedforms, the bed mobility was found to increase with increasing bed slope, and the threshold criteria were compared with previously-reported theoretical models, based on simple force-balance arguments

Ensemble averaged entanglement of two-particle states in Fock space

Recent results, extending the Schmidt decomposition theorem to wavefunctions of identical particles, are reviewed. They are used to give a definition of reduced density operators in the case of two identical particles. Next, a method is discussed to calculate time averaged entanglement. It is applied to a pair of identical electrons in an otherwise empty band of the Hubbard model, and to a pair of bosons in the the Bose-Hubbard model with infinite range hopping. The effect of degeneracy of the spectrum of the Hamiltonian on the average entanglement is emphasised.Comment: 19 pages Latex, changed title, references added in the conclusion