Observing the anisotropic optical response of the heavy-fermion compound UNi2Al3

The optical conductivity of heavy fermions can reveal fundamental properties of the charge carrier dynamics in these strongly correlated electron systems. Here we extend the conventional techniques of infrared optics on heavy fermions by measuring the transmission and phase shift of THz radiation that passes through a thin film of UNi2Al3, a material with hexagonal crystal structure. We deduce the optical conductivity in a previously not accessible frequency range, and furthermore we resolve the anisotropy of the optical response (parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonal planes). At frequencies around 7cm^-1, we find a strongly temperature-dependent and anisotropic optical conductivity that - surprisingly - roughly follows the dc behavior.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, accepted for proceedings of QCnP 200

Accuracy and Racial Biases of Recidivism Prediction Instruments

Algorithms have recently become prevalent in the criminal justice system. Tools known as recidivism prediction instruments (RPIs) are being used all over the country to assess the likelihood that a criminal defendant will reoffend at some point in the future. In June of 2016, researchers at ProPublica published an analysis claiming an RPI called COMPAS was biased against black defendants. This claim sparked a nation-wide debate as to how fairness of an algorithm should be measured, and exposed the many ways that algorithms are not necessarily fair. Algorithms are used in the criminal justice system because they are regarded as more accurate and less biased than human predictions; however, there does not exist a contemporary comparison of the performance of human and algorithmic recidivism predictions. To address this, we set out to determine if COMPAS is more accurate than human prediction, and to identify how the racial biases of human recidivism predictions compare to the racial biases of the COMPAS algorithm. After establishing a baseline performance of human prediction, we explore whether incorporating human judgment into algorithms can enhance prediction accuracy

Gravitational sensing with weak value based optical sensors

Using weak values amplification angular resolution limits, we theoretically investigate the gravitational sensing of objects. By inserting a force-sensing pendulum into a weak values interferometer, the optical response can sense accelerations to a few 10's of $\mathrm{zepto}\text{-}\mathrm{g}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$, with optical powers of $1~\mathrm{mW}$. We convert this precision into range and mass sensitivity, focusing in detail on simple and torsion pendula. Various noise sources present are discussed, as well as the necessary cooling that should be applied to reach the desired levels of precision.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Quantum Stud.: Math. Found. (2018

Practical Advantages of Almost-Balanced-Weak-Values Metrological Techniques

Precision measurements of ultra-small linear velocities of one of the mirrors in a Michelson interferometer are performed using two different weak-values techniques. We show that the technique of Almost-Balanced Weak Values (ABWV) offers practical advantages over the technique of Weak-Value Amplification (WVA), resulting in larger signal-to-noise ratios and the possibility of longer integration times due to robustness to slow drifts. As an example of the performance of the ABWV protocol we report a velocity sensitivity of 60 fm/s after 40 hours of integration time. The sensitivity of the Doppler shift due to the moving mirror is of 150 nHz

Technical advantages for weak value amplification: When less is more

The technical merits of weak value amplification techniques are analyzed. We consider models of several different types of technical noise in an optical context and show that weak value amplification techniques (which only use a small fraction of the photons) compare favorably with standard techniques (which uses all of them). Using the Fisher information metric, we demonstrate that weak value techniques can put all of the Fisher information about the detected parameter into a small portion of the events and show how this fact alone gives technical advantages. We go on to consider a time correlated noise model, and find that a Fisher information analysis indicates that while the standard method can have much larger information about the detected parameter than the postselected technique. However, the estimator needed to gather the information is technically difficult to implement, showing that the inefficient (but practical) signal-to-noise estimation of the parameter is usually superior. We also describe other technical advantages unique to imaginary weak value amplification techniques, focusing on beam deflection measurements. In this case, we discuss combined noise types (such as detector transverse jitter, angular beam jitter before the interferometer and turbulence) for which the interferometric weak value technique gives higher Fisher information over conventional methods. We go on to calculate the Fisher information of the recently proposed photon recycling scheme for beam deflection measurements, and show it further boosts the Fisher information by the inverse postselection probability relative to the standard measurement case