1,794 research outputs found
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 Li m 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/; 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 of the atom
velocity when it enters the electric field region and our present
sensitivity is sufficient to detect a variation .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 -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 Ă©lectronique Ă balayage et au rugosimĂštre dâimpacts 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 Ă©tude a pour but dâobserver et de quantifier les cratĂšres produits par un tir focalisĂ© discontinu au laser CO2 (Lasersattm), avant et aprĂšs Ă©limination de la couche carbonisĂ©e par un aĂ©ropolisseur. Trentetrois molaires, extraites et indemnes de caries, sont coupĂ©es en deux dans le sens mĂ©sio-distal et leurs faces vestibulaires et linguales sont sectionnĂ©es pour donner une surface dentinaire plane. Vingt cratĂšres sont rĂ©alisĂ©s par un tir focalisĂ© discontinu sur chaque surface dentinaire. Les temps dâapplication et les puissances du rayonnement utilisĂ©s sont respectivement: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 seconde et 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 watts. Ces cratĂšres sont analysĂ©s au microscope Ă©lectronique Ă balayage et au rugosimĂštre, avant et aprĂšs Ă©limination de la couche carbonisĂ©e. Les rĂ©sultats obtenus sont traitĂ©s Ă lâaide du logiciel SIPHAR sur PC; nous obtenons un profil moyen du cratĂšre pour chaque puissance et temps dâapplication utilisĂ©s. Les rĂ©sultats sont les suivants: le diamĂštre est environ quatre fois plus grand que la profondeur avant Ă©limination de la couche carbonisĂ©e et est cinq Ă six fois plus important aprĂšs Ă©limination de cette couche. Le diamĂštre et la profondeur des cratĂšres sont plus importants aprĂšs Ă©limination de la couche carbonisĂ©e. La couche carbonisĂ©e a une Ă©paisseur rĂ©guliĂšre sauf au fond du cratĂšre oĂč elle est plus faible que sur les parois. Avant Ă©limination de la couche carbonisĂ©e le profil du cratĂšre est un cĂŽne, aprĂšs Ă©limination de la couche, le profil est un cĂŽne tronquĂ©. En conclusion, les cratĂšres obtenus ne peuvent ĂȘtre considĂ©rĂ©s comme des ancrages efficaces pour dâĂ©ventuels collages dentinaires avec des composites; toutefois la surface dâadhĂ©sion sâen trouve considĂ©rablement 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, (where RE = lanthandies) and (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
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