Quantum search by parallel eigenvalue adiabatic passage

We propose a strategy to achieve the Grover search algorithm by adiabatic passage in a very efficient way. An adiabatic process can be characterized by the instantaneous eigenvalues of the pertaining Hamiltonian, some of which form a gap. The key to the efficiency is based on the use of parallel eigenvalues. This allows us to obtain non-adiabatic losses which are exponentially small, independently of the number of items in the database in which the search is performed.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Fast and robust population transfer in two-level quantum systems with dephasing noise and/or systematic frequency errors

We design, by invariant-based inverse engineering, driving fields that invert the population of a two-level atom in a given time, robustly with respect to dephasing noise and/or systematic frequency shifts. Without imposing constraints, optimal protocols are insensitive to the perturbations but need an infinite energy. For a constrained value of the Rabi frequency, a flat $\pi$ pulse is the least sensitive protocol to phase noise but not to systematic frequency shifts, for which we describe and optimize a family of protocols.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Atom-photon, atom-atom and photon-photon entanglement preparation via fractional adiabatic passage

We propose a relatively robust scheme to generate maximally entangled states of (i) an atom and a cavity photon, (ii) two atoms in their ground states, and (iii) two photons in two spatially separate high-Q cavities. It is based on the interaction via fractional adiabatic passage of a three-level atom traveling through a cavity mode and a laser beam. The presence of optical phases is emphasized.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures. We have changed the title, the abstract and the text. The references have been updated. (Accepted by Phys. Rev. A

Femmes et microfinance : espoirs et désillusions de l'expérience indienne

National audienc

Added value of bleach sedimentation microscopy for diagnosis of tuberculosis: a cost-effectiveness study.

SETTING: Bleach sedimentation is a method used to increase the diagnostic yield of sputum microscopy for countries with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and limited resources. OBJECTIVES: To compare the relative cost-effectiveness of different microscopy approaches in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in Kenya. METHODS: An analytical decision tree model including cost and effectiveness measures of 10 combinations of direct (D) and overnight bleach (B) sedimentation microscopy was constructed. Data were drawn from the evaluation of the bleach sedimentation method on two specimens (first on the spot [1] and second morning [2]) from 644 TB suspects in a peripheral health clinic. Incremental cost per smear-positive detected case was measured. Costs included human resources and materials using a micro-costing evaluation. RESULTS: All bleach-based microscopy approaches detected significantly more cases (between 23.3% for B1 and 25.9% for B1+B2) than the conventional D1+D2 approach (21.0%). Cost per tested case ranged between respectively euro 2.7 and euro 4.5 for B1 and B1+D2+B2. B1 and B1+B2 were the most cost-effective approaches. D1+B2 and D1+B1 were good alternatives to avoid using approaches exclusively based on bleach sedimentation microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Among several effective microscopy approaches used, including sodium hypochlorite sedimentation, only some resulted in a limited increase in the laboratory workload and would be most suitable for programmatic implementation

Évolutions récentes de la structure des placements des assureurs.

L’analyse des portefeuilles des assureurs en 2009 confirme leur forte diversification géographique, avec une prépondérance des titres d’émetteurs de la zone euro, ainsi que l’allongement de leurs placements obligataires en réponse aux évolutions de la courbe des taux.organismes d’assurance, assureurs vie, assureurs vie-mixte, assureurs non-vie, provisions techniques, contrats en euros, contrats en unités de compte, placements financiers, mise en transparence, épargne des ménages, circuits de financement, titres de créance, obligations, actions.