2,516 research outputs found
Analysis of optical properties of strained semiconductor quantum dots for electromagnetically induced transparency
Using multiband k*p theory we study the size and geometry dependence on the
slow light properties of conical semiconductor quantum dots. We find the V-type
scheme for electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to be most favorable,
and identify an optimal height and size for efficient EIT operation. In case of
the ladder scheme, the existence of additional dipole allowed intraband
transitions along with an almost equidistant energy level spacing adds
additional decay pathways, which significantly impairs the EIT effect. We
further study the influence of strain and band mixing comparing four different
k*p band structure models. In addition to the separation of the heavy and light
holes due to the biaxial strain component, we observe a general reduction in
the transition strengths due to energy crossings in the valence bands caused by
strain and band mixing effects. We furthermore find a non-trivial quantum dot
size dependence of the dipole moments directly related to the biaxial strain
component. Due to the separation of the heavy and light holes the optical
transition strengths between the lower conduction and upper most valence-band
states computed using one-band model and eight-band model show general
qualitative agreement, with exceptions relevant for EIT operation.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure
Identification and characterization of a bacterial glutamic peptidase
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glutamic peptidases, from the MEROPS family G1, are a distinct group of peptidases characterized by a catalytic dyad consisting of a glutamate and a glutamine residue, optimal activity at acidic pH and insensitivity towards the microbial derived protease inhibitor, pepstatin. Previously, only glutamic peptidases derived from filamentous fungi have been characterized.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report the first characterization of a bacterial glutamic peptidase (pepG1), derived from the thermoacidophilic bacteria <it>Alicyclobacillus </it><it>sp</it>. DSM 15716. The amino acid sequence identity between pepG1 and known fungal glutamic peptidases is only 24-30% but homology modeling, the presence of the glutamate/glutamine catalytic dyad and a number of highly conserved motifs strongly support the inclusion of pepG1 as a glutamic peptidase. Phylogenetic analysis places pepG1 and other putative bacterial and archaeal glutamic peptidases in a cluster separate from the fungal glutamic peptidases, indicating a divergent and independent evolution of bacterial and fungal glutamic peptidases. Purification of pepG1, heterologously expressed in <it>Bacillus subtilis</it>, was performed using hydrophobic interaction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography. The purified peptidase was characterized with respect to its physical properties. Temperature and pH optimums were found to be 60°C and pH 3-4, in agreement with the values observed for the fungal members of family G1. In addition, pepG1 was found to be pepstatin-insensitive, a characteristic signature of glutamic peptidases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the obtained results, we suggest that pepG1 can be added to the MEROPS family G1 as the first characterized bacterial member.</p
Continuous variable entanglement distillation of Non-Gaussian Mixed States
Many different quantum information communication protocols such as
teleportation, dense coding and entanglement based quantum key distribution are
based on the faithful transmission of entanglement between distant location in
an optical network. The distribution of entanglement in such a network is
however hampered by loss and noise that is inherent in all practical quantum
channels. Thus, to enable faithful transmission one must resort to the protocol
of entanglement distillation. In this paper we present a detailed theoretical
analysis and an experimental realization of continuous variable entanglement
distillation in a channel that is inflicted by different kinds of non-Gaussian
noise. The continuous variable entangled states are generated by exploiting the
third order non-linearity in optical fibers, and the states are sent through a
free-space laboratory channel in which the losses are altered to simulate a
free-space atmospheric channel with varying losses. We use linear optical
components, homodyne measurements and classical communication to distill the
entanglement, and we find that by using this method the entanglement can be
probabilistically increased for some specific non-Gaussian noise channels
The interaction of 11Li with 208Pb
Background: 11Li is one of the most studied halo nuclei. The fusion of 11Li
with 208Pb has been the subject of a number of theoretical studies with widely
differing predictions, ranging over four orders of magnitude, for the fusion
excitation function.
Purpose: To measure the excitation function for the 11Li + 208Pb reaction.
Methods: A stacked foil/degrader assembly of 208Pb targets was irradiated
with a 11Li beam producing center of target beam energies from above barrier to
near barrier energies (40 to 29 MeV). The intensity of the 11Li beam (chopped)
was 1250 p/s and the beam on-target time was 34 hours. The alpha-decay of the
stopped evaporation residues was detected in a alpha-detector array at each
beam energy in the beam-off period (the beam was on for <= 5 ns and then off
for 170 ns).
Results: The 215At evaporation residues were associated with the fusion of
11Li with 208Pb. The 213,214At evaporation residues were formed by the breakup
of 11Li into 9Li + 2n, with the 9Li fusing with 208Pb. The 214At evaporation
residue appears to result from a "quasi-breakup" process.
Conclusions: Most of 11Li + 208Pb interactions lead to breakup with a small
fraction (<= 11%) leading to complete fusion.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figure
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