554 research outputs found
Superconducting microstrip amplifiers with sub-Kelvin noise temperature near 4 GHz
We present measurements of an amplifier operating at 3.8 GHz with 150 MHz of
bandwidth based on the microstrip input-coil resonance of a dc superconducting
quantum interference device (SQUID) with submicron Josephson junctions. The
noise temperature is measured using two methods: comparing the signal-to-noise
ratio of the system with and without the SQUID in the amplifier chain, and
using a modified Y-factor technique where calibrated narrowband noise is mixed
up to the SQUID amplifier operating frequency. With the SQUID cooled to 0.35 K
we observe a minimum system noise temperature of 0.55 K, dominated
by the contribution from the SQUID amplifier
Flux Qubits and Readout Device with Two Independent Flux Lines
We report measurements on two superconducting flux qubits coupled to a readout Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID). Two on-chip flux bias lines allow independent flux control of any two of the three elements, as illustrated by a two-dimensional qubit flux map. The application of microwaves yields a frequency-flux dispersion curve for 1- and 2-photon driving of the single-qubit excited state, and coherent manipulation of the single-qubit state results in Rabi oscillations and Ramsey fringes. This architecture should be scalable to many qubits and SQUIDs on a single chip
Reducing microwave loss in superconducting resonators due to trapped vortices
Microwave resonators with high quality factors have enabled many recent
breakthroughs with superconducting qubits and photon detectors, typically
operated in shielded environments to reduce the ambient magnetic field.
Insufficient shielding or pulsed control fields can introduce vortices, leading
to reduced quality factors, although increased pinning can mitigate this
effect. A narrow slot etched into the resonator surface provides a
straightforward method for pinning enhancement without otherwise affecting the
resonator. Resonators patterned with such a slot exhibited over an order of
magnitude reduction in the excess loss due to vortices compared with identical
resonators from the same film with no slot
Transient dynamics of a superconducting nonlinear oscillator
We investigate the transient dynamics of a lumped-element oscillator based on
a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The SQUID is shunted
with a capacitor forming a nonlinear oscillator with resonance frequency in the
range of several GHz. The resonance frequency is varied by tuning the Josephson
inductance of the SQUID with on-chip flux lines. We report measurements of
decaying oscillations in the time domain following a brief excitation with a
microwave pulse. The nonlinearity of the SQUID oscillator is probed by
observing the ringdown response for different excitation amplitudes while the
SQUID potential is varied by adjusting the flux bias. Simulations are performed
on a model circuit by numerically solving the corresponding Langevin equations
incorporating the SQUID potential at the experimental temperature and using
parameters obtained from separate measurements characterizing the SQUID
oscillator. Simulations are in good agreement with the experimental
observations of the ringdowns as a function of applied magnetic flux and pulse
amplitude. We observe a crossover between the occurrence of ringdowns close to
resonance and adiabatic following at larger detuning from the resonance. We
also discuss the occurrence of phase jumps at large amplitude drive. Finally,
we briefly outline prospects for a readout scheme for superconducting flux
qubits based on the discrimination between ringdown signals for different
levels of magnetic flux coupled to the SQUID.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure
Diagnostic Patterns and Immunohistochemical Stain Usage in Extended Core Prostate Biopsies: Comparisons Between Genitourinary and Non-Genitourinary Pathologists
Background: Ancillary immunohistochemical (IPOX) stains are useful in clarifying diagnostically challenging pathologic specimens. In diagnostic workup of prostate needle biopsies, stains for basal cells and α-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase are routinely used to support or refute the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Although useful, these stains add cost and must be used judiciously. There is a lack of firm guidelines establishing the proper utilization of IPOX studies in prostate pathology. Therefore, differences in patterns of stain use and diagnoses may exist, related to expertise of the pathologist.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare patterns of diagnoses and IPOX stain use in extended core prostate biopsies between genitourinary (GU) and non-genitourinary (NGU) pathologists in the University of Massachusetts Medical Center Pathology department.
Methods: By computer search of medical records, consecutive extended core prostate biopsies (6+ cores) from years 2006-2011 were identified. Using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) billing data, the number of cores and number of IPOX stains were retrieved. Diagnoses were recorded. Pathologists were divided into two groups based on expertise: genitourinary and non-genitourinary. Differences in the patterns of IPOX use and diagnoses between the two groups were analyzed.
Results: GU pathologists diagnose significantly higher rates of prostate cancer (43.8% vs. 35.8%, p
Conclusion: Significant differences exist in patterns of IPOX usage between GU and NGU pathologists in extended core prostate biopsy in this single institution study. This suggests the need for guidelines and continuing education focused on this issue to standardize practice, an intervention likely to improve quality of diagnoses and to reduce unnecessary costs
Vortex dynamics in superconducting channels with periodic constrictions
Vortices confined to superconducting easy flow channels with periodic
constrictions exhibit reversible oscillations in the critical current at which
vortices begin moving as the external magnetic field is varied. This
commensurability scales with the channel shape and arrangement, although
screening effects play an important role. For large magnetic fields, some of
the vortices become pinned outside of the channels, leading to magnetic
hysteresis in the critical current. Some channel configurations also exhibit a
dynamical hysteresis in the flux-flow regime near the matching fields
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