29,805 research outputs found
Optomechanical-like coupling between superconducting resonators
We propose and analyze a circuit that implements a nonlinear coupling between
two superconducting microwave resonators. The resonators are coupled through a
superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) that terminates one of the
resonators. This produces a nonlinear interaction on the standard
optomechanical form, where the quadrature of one resonator couples to the
photon number of the other resonator. The circuit therefore allows for
all-electrical realizations of analogs to optomechanical systems, with coupling
that can be both strong and tunable. We estimate the coupling strengths that
should be attainable with the proposed device, and we find that the device is a
promising candidate for realizing the single-photon strong-coupling regime. As
a potential application, we discuss implementations of networks of
nonlinearly-coupled microwave resonators, which could be used in
microwave-photon based quantum simulation.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
The dynamical Casimir effect in superconducting microwave circuits
We theoretically investigate the dynamical Casimir effect in electrical
circuits based on superconducting microfabricated waveguides with tunable
boundary conditions. We propose to implement a rapid modulation of the boundary
conditions by tuning the applied magnetic flux through superconducting quantum
interference devices (SQUIDs) that are embedded in the waveguide circuits. We
consider two circuits: (i) An open waveguide circuit that corresponds to a
single mirror in free space, and (ii) a resonator coupled to a microfabricated
waveguide, which corresponds to a single-sided cavity in free space. We analyze
the properties of the dynamical Casimir effect in these two setups by
calculating the generated photon-flux density, output-field correlation
functions, and the quadrature squeezing spectra. We show that these properties
of the output field exhibit signatures unique to the radiation due to the
dynamical Casimir effect, and could therefore be used for distinguishing the
dynamical Casimir effect from other types of radiation in these circuits. We
also discuss the similarities and differences between the dynamical Casimir
effect, in the resonator setup, and downconversion of pump photons in
parametric oscillators.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figure
Life support and self-sufficiency in space communities
The development of a controlled ecological life support system (CELSS) is necessary to enable the extended presence of humans in space, as on the Moon or on another planetary body. Over a long period, the provision of oxygen, water, and food, and protection from such inimical agents as radiation and temperature extremes, while maintaining the psychological health of the subjects, becomes prohibitively expensive if all supplies must be brought from Earth. Thus, some kind of a regenerative life support system within an enclosure or habitat must be established, thereby cutting the umbilicus to Mother Earth, but not irreversibly. This protective enclosure will enable the survival and growth of an assemblage of terrestrial species of microorganisms, plants, and animals. It is envisioned that the nonterrestrial ecosystem will evolve through the sequential introduction of terrestrial and local materials, together with the appropriate living forms
Bioprocessing of ores: Application to space resources
The role of microorganisms in the oxidation and leaching of various ores (especially those of copper, iron, and uranium) is well known. This role is increasingly being applied by the mining, metallurgy, and sewage industries in the bioconcentration of metal ions from natural receiving waters and from waste waters. It is concluded that bioprocessing using bacteria in closed reactors may be a variable option for the recovery of metals from the lunar regolith. Obviously, considerable research must be done to define the process, specify the appropriate bacteria, determine the necessary conditions and limitations, and evaluate the overall feasibility
New Fe II energy levels from stellar spectra
The spectra of B-type and early A-type stars show numerous unidentified lines
in the whole optical range, especially in the 5100 - 5400 A interval. Because
Fe II transitions to high energy levels should be observed in this region, we
used semiempirical predicted wavelengths and gf-values of Fe II to identify
unknown lines. Semiempirical line data for Fe II computed by Kurucz are used to
synthesize the spectrum of the slow-rotating, Fe-overabundant CP star HR 6000.
We determined a total of 109 new 4f levels for Fe II with energies ranging from
122324 cm^-1 to 128110 cm^-1. They belong to the Fe II subconfigurations
3d^6(^3P)4f (10 levels), 3d^6(^3H)4f (36 levels), 3d^6(^3F)4f (37 levels), and
3d^6(^3G)4f (26 levels). We also found 14 even levels from 4d (3 levels), 5d (7
levels), and 6d (4 levels) configurations. The new levels have allowed us to
identify more than 50% of the previously unidentified lines of HR 6000 in the
wavelength region 3800-8000 A. Tables listing the new energy levels are given
in the paper; tables listing the spectral lines with loggf>/=-1.5 that are
transitions to the 4f energy levels are given in the Online Material. These new
levels produce 18000 lines throughout the spectrum from the ultraviolet to the
infrared.Comment: Paper accepted by A&A for publicatio
Nonclassical microwave radiation from the dynamical Casimir effect
We investigate quantum correlations in microwave radiation produced by the
dynamical Casimir effect in a superconducting waveguide terminated and
modulated by a superconducting quantum interference device. We apply
nonclassicality tests and evaluate the entanglement for the predicted field
states. For realistic circuit parameters, including thermal background noise,
the results indicate that the produced radiation can be strictly nonclassical
and can have a measurable amount of intermode entanglement. If measured
experimentally, these nonclassicalilty indicators could give further evidence
of the quantum nature of the dynamical Casimir radiation in these circuits.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
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