Diffraction limited optics for single atom manipulation

We present an optical system designed to capture and observe a single neutral atom in an optical dipole trap, created by focussing a laser beam using a large numerical aperture N.A.=0.5 aspheric lens. We experimentally evaluate the performance of the optical system and show that it is diffraction limited over a broad spectral range (~ 200 nm) with a large transverse field (+/- 25 microns). The optical tweezer created at the focal point of the lens is able to trap single atoms of 87Rb and to detect them individually with a large collection efficiency. We measure the oscillation frequency of the atom in the dipole trap, and use this value as an independent determination of the waist of the optical tweezer. Finally, we produce with the same lens two dipole traps separated by 2.2 microns and show that the imaging system can resolve the two atoms.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures; typos corrected and references adde

REVIEW AND REALIGNMENT OF THE NAVY’S IN-SERVICE, CONVENTIONAL ORDNANCE LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAIN (NAVSUP AMMUNITION LOGISTICS CENTER)

The purpose of the research conducted was to identify the main contributing factor for inaccurate inventory validity within the ordnance community. Our research question addresses the current organizational structure of the ordnance supply chain and its overall effectiveness by evaluating the leading cause for discrepancies of inventory validity throughout the fleet. Our methods included gathering data from 12 months of overaged intransit messages, researching current organizational structures for ordnance stakeholders, and examining instructions governing supply chain processes. Our results produced data which illustrated that on average $34.2M of ordnance was overaged and not accounted for each month. It was determined that the unaccounted ordnance is the number one cause of unfavorable inventory validity. We recommend that by reorganizing the ordnance supply chain under one overarching command, inventory validity can be increased by creating positional authority from a singular source, eliminating competing interests and decreasing ambiguity from separate authorities. Additionally, realigning the command structure enables oversight for standardization of business practices within one streamlined organization.Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Commensurate-Incommensurate Magnetic Phase Transition in Magnetoelectric Single Crystal LiNiPO4_4

Neutron scattering studies of single-crystal LiNiPO$_4$ reveal a spontaneous first-order commensurate-incommensurate magnetic phase transition. Short- and long-range incommensurate phases are intermediate between the high temperature paramagnetic and the low temperature antiferromagnetic phases. The modulated structure has a predominant antiferromagnetic component, giving rise to satellite peaks in the vicinity of the fundamental antiferromagnetic Bragg reflection, and a ferromagnetic component giving rise to peaks at small momentum-transfers around the origin at $(0,\pm Q,0)$. The wavelength of the modulated magnetic structure varies continuously with temperature. It is argued that the incommensurate short- and long-range phases are due to spin-dimensionality crossover from a continuous to the discrete Ising state. These observations explain the anomalous first-order transition seen in the magnetoelectric effect of this system

Photochromism, Electrical Properties, and Structural Investigations of a Series of Hydrated Methylviologen Halobismuthate Hybrids: Influence of the Anionic Oligomer Size and Iodide Doping on the Photoinduced Properties and on the Dehydration Process

Syntheses, X-ray structural analyses, thermal behaviors, photochromism, and electrical properties of a series of methylviologen (MV2+) halobismuthate hybrids, namely, (MV)3[Bi4Cl18](H2O)y (1a, y~1.7), (MV)4[Bi6Cl26](H2O)y (2a, y~1.7), (MV)4[Bi6Cl25.6I0.4](H2O)y (3a, y~1.5), and (MV)4[Bi6Cl24.6I1.4](H2O)y (4a, y~1.3), are reported. Because of the thermal effect of a UV lamp or as a result of being heated up to 100 °C, all of the above compounds undergo a complete (1a, 2a, and 3a) or a partial (4a) dehydration together, in 2a and 3a, with an impressive structural reorganization involving a 90° rotation of methylviologen dimers and, in 3a, a new Cl/I distribution, finally leading to (MV)3[Bi4Cl18] (1b), (MV)4[Bi6Cl26] (2b), (MV)4[Bi6Cl25.6I0.4] (3b), and (MV)4[Bi6Cl24.6I1.4](H2O)x (4a, x ~ 0.65), respectively. In its turn, 4a (x ~ 0.65) undergoes an abrupt structural change at 160 °C when water molecules are completely removed, leading to (MV)4[Bi6Cl24.6I1.4] (4b). Obviously, the two first dehydrated phases can be considered as the n = 2 (1b) and n = 3 (2b) members of the (MV)(2n+2)/2[Bi2nCl8n+2] family, and the ultimate member (n = ∞) with an infinite 1D double-chain inorganic framework, namely, (MV)[Bi2Cl8], has already been reported. According to the results of structural refinements, some positions of the Cl atoms in the [Bi6Cl26]8− anionic cluster of 3a and 4a have been occupied by I atoms, finally leading to iodide-doped materials of the 2a type (percentage of doping: 3a, 1.5%; 4a, 5.4%). Upon UV irradiation, yellow crystals of 2a and 3a (which become 2b and 3b because of the thermal effect of the UV lamp) or yellow crystals of 2b, 3b, and 4a undergo a color change to black crystals (in the case of 2b), as observed in (MV)[Bi2Cl8], or light-brown crystals (in the cases of 3b and 4a). These photochromic properties are probably due to the photoinduced electron transfer from the anionic part to the methylviologen dications. In contrast, no color change is observed when yellow crystals of 1a or 1b and the iodide-doped (MV)[Bi2Cl8−εIε] material are irradiated. Because the relative positions of methylviologen to the host anionic frameworks are comparable in all structures (the N···Cl distances are about 3.4 Å), these results indicate that such kinds of photochemical reactions depend on the dimension of the anionic networks, as well as the iodide doping. The single-crystal electrical conductivity measurements of 2b before and after irradiation were carried out between 150 and 393 K. The results prove that both of them are semiconductors with weak room temperature conductivity and that the band gap of the irradiated crystal (2b, 0.35 eV) is much smaller than that of the original hybrid 2a (1.0 eV)

Real time plasma equilibrium reconstruction in a Tokamak

The problem of equilibrium of a plasma in a Tokamak is a free boundary problemdescribed by the Grad-Shafranov equation in axisymmetric configurations. The right hand side of this equation is a non linear source, which represents the toroidal component of the plasma current density. This paper deals with the real time identification of this non linear source from experimental measurements. The proposed method is based on a fixed point algorithm, a finite element resolution, a reduced basis method and a least-square optimization formulation

Combining visibilities from the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope and the Nancay Radio Heliograph: High dynamic range snapshot images of the solar corona at 327 MHz

We report first results from an ongoing program of combining visibilities from the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Nancay Radio Heliograph (NRH) to produce composite snapshot images of the sun at meter wavelengths. We describe the data processing, including a specific multi-scale CLEAN algorithm. We present results of a) simulations for two models of the sun at 327 MHz, with differing complexity b) observations of a complex noise storm on the sun at 327 MHz on Aug 27 2002. Our results illustrate the capacity of this method to produce high dynamic range snapshot images when the solar corona has structures with scales ranging from the image resolution of 49" to the size of the whole sun. We find that we cannot obtain reliable snapshot images for complex objects when the visibilities are sparsely sampled.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Version with high resolution figures available from ftp://ftp.iucaa.ernet.in/in.coming/gmrtnr

Post-surgical vestibular schwannoma remnant tumors: What to do?

AbstractBackgroundVestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors of the vestibular nerve's myelin sheath. The current trend in VS surgery is to preserve at the facial function, even if it means leaving a small vestibular schwannoma tumor remnant (VSTR) after the surgery. There is no defined therapeutic management VSTR. The aim of this study was to assess the evolution of the VSTR to define the best therapeutic management and identify predictive factors of VSTR progression.MethodsAmong the 256 patients treated surgically for VS in the Department of Neurosurgery at Angers University Hospital, 33 patients with a post-surgical VSTR were included in this retrospective study. For all surgical patients, the data collected were age at diagnosis, the Koos classification, the surgical access, the existence of a type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2), the TR location and size on control MRI-scans. Patients had a bi-annual follow-up with clinical status and VSTR size assessment with MRI-scan. Survival analyzes were performed to determine the time and rate of VSTR progression, and identify factors of progression.ResultsThe mean follow-up of the population was 51 months. All VS remnant progression occurred between 38 and 58 months after surgery. In non-NF2 patients with first follow-up MRI-scan three months after surgery, 43% presented a spontaneous regression, 50% a stability and 7% a progression of the VSTR. In the same population with the 1-year MR-scan after surgery as baseline, 25% presented a spontaneous regression, 62.5% a stability and 12.5% a VSTR progression. These data are consistent with the data reported in the literature. The post-operative facial function impairment and an initial remnant ≥ 1.5cm3 were found to be significant risk factors of VS remnant progression in non-NF2 population in univariate analysis (P=0.048 and 0.031) but not in multivariate analysis.ConclusionIn our experience, the best therapeutic management of the post-surgical VSTP in non-NF2 patients with no risk factor of progression is a simple clinical radiological follow-up otherwise complementary radiosurgery should be considered