Entangled photon apparatus for the undergraduate laboratory

We present detailed instructions for constructing and operating an apparatus to produce and detect polarization-entangled photons. The source operates by type-I spontaneous parametric downconversion in a two-crystal geometry. Photons are detected in coincidence by single-photon counting modules and show strong angular and polarization correlations. We observe more than 100 entangled photon pairs per second. A test of a Bell inequality can be performed in an afternoon.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure

On The Relevance Of Fair Sampling Assumption In The Recent Bell Photonic Experiments

In the experimental verification of Bell's inequalities in real photonic experiments, it is generally believed that the so-called fair sampling assumption (which means that a small fraction of results provide a fair statistical sample) has an unavoidable role. Here, we want to show that the interpretation of these experiments could be feasible, if some different alternative assumptions other than the fair sampling were used. For this purpose, we derive an efficient Bell-type inequality which is a CHSH-type inequality in real experiments. Quantum mechanics violates our proposed inequality, independent of the detection-efficiency problems.Comment: 13 pages, no figure, one table. Last versio

Time-resolved noise of adiabatic quantum pumps

We investigate quantum-statistical correlation properties of a periodically driven mesoscopic scatterer on a time-scale shorter than the period of a drive. In this limit the intrinsic quantum fluctuations in the system of fermions are the main source of a noise. Nevertheless the effect of a slow periodic drive is clearly visible in a two-time current-current correlation function as a specific periodic in time modulation. In the limit of a strong drive such a modulation can change the sign of a current correlation function.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Representation of entanglement by negative quasi-probabilities

Any bipartite quantum state has quasi-probability representations in terms of separable states. For entangled states these quasi-probabilities necessarily exhibit negativities. Based on the general structure of composite quantum states, one may reconstruct such quasi-propabilities from experimental data. Because of ambiguity, the quasi-probabilities obtained by the bare reconstruction are insufficient to identify entanglement. An optimization procedure is introduced to derive quasi-probabilities with a minimal amount of negativity. Negativities of optimized quasi-probabilities unambiguously prove entanglement, their positivity proves separability.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; An optimization procedure for the quasi-probabilities has been adde

Improving fertiliser management: redefining the relationship between soil tests and crop responses for wheat in WA

Most soils in Western Australia (WA) are highly weathered with very low levels of phosphorus. WA soils initially contained adequate indigenous soil potassium for cropping but removal of potassium over time in harvested grain has gradually resulted in the some soils becoming potassium-deficient for grain production. Fertiliser costs represent a significant part of the variable costs of growing crops in WA. Chen et al. (2009) identified the need for updated soil test interpretations due to substantial changes in farming systems, fertiliser practices and crop yield potential. The aims of this study were (1) to compile experimental data containing the standard soil test measurements and observed wheat crop yield responses for both nil and fertilised treatments across different soil types and seasons from published or unpublished sources, and (2) to critically analyse soil test-crop response relationships to derive better critical soil test values in soils and environments suitable for wheat grain production in WA

Spectral universality of strong shocks accelerating charged particles

As a rule, the shock compression controls the spectrum of diffusively accelerated particles. We argue that this is not so if the backreaction of these particles on the shock structure is significant. We present a self-similar solution in which the accelerated particles change the flow structure near the shock so strongly that the total shock compression may become arbitrarily large. Despite this, the energy spectrum behind the shock is close to E^{-3/2} independently of anything at all.Comment: Submitted to ApJL, 4 pages, 1 figure, uses revtex and boxedep

Maximal entanglement of two spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

Starting with two weakly-coupled anti-ferromagnetic spinor condensates, we show that by changing the sign of the coefficient of the spin interaction, $U_{2}$, via an optically-induced Feshbach resonance one can create an entangled state consisting of two anti-correlated ferromagnetic condensates. This state is maximally entangled and a generalization of the Bell state from two anti-correlated spin-1/2 particles to two anti-correlated spin$-N/2$ atomic samples, where $N$ is the total number of atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Entangled photons, nonlocality and Bell inequalities in the undergraduate laboratory

We use polarization-entangled photon pairs to demonstrate quantum nonlocality in an experiment suitable for advanced undergraduates. The photons are produced by spontaneous parametric downconversion using a violet diode laser and two nonlinear crystals. The polarization state of the photons is tunable. Using an entangled state analogous to that described in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen ``paradox,'' we demonstrate strong polarization correlations of the entanged photons. Bell's idea of a hidden variable theory is presented by way of an example and compared to the quantum prediction. A test of the Clauser, Horne, Shimony and Holt version of the Bell inequality finds $S = 2.307 \pm 0.035$, in clear contradiciton of hidden variable theories. The experiments described can be performed in an afternoon.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure