593 research outputs found
Absorption imaging of a quasi 2D gas: a multiple scattering analysis
Absorption imaging with quasi-resonant laser light is a commonly used
technique to probe ultra-cold atomic gases in various geometries. Here we
investigate some non-trivial aspects of this method when it is applied to in
situ diagnosis of a quasi two-dimensional gas. Using Monte Carlo simulations we
study the modification of the absorption cross-section of a photon when it
undergoes multiple scattering in the gas. We determine the variations of the
optical density with various parameters, such as the detuning of the light from
the atomic resonance and the thickness of the gas. We compare our results to
the known three-dimensional result (Beer-Lambert law) and outline the specific
features of the two-dimensional case.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure
Aging, jamming, and the limits of stability of amorphous solids
Apart from not having crystallized, supercooled liquids can be considered as
being properly equilibrated and thus can be described by a few thermodynamic
control variables. In contrast, glasses and other amorphous solids can be
arbitrarily far away from equilibrium and require a description of the history
of the conditions under which they formed. In this paper we describe how the
locality of interactions intrinsic to finite-dimensional systems affects the
stability of amorphous solids far off equilibrium. Our analysis encompasses
both structural glasses formed by cooling and colloidal assemblies formed by
compression. A diagram outlining regions of marginal stability can be adduced
which bears some resemblance to the quasi-equilibrium replica meanfield theory
phase diagram of hard sphere glasses in high dimensions but is distinct from
that construct in that the diagram describes not true phase transitions but
kinetic transitions that depend on the preparation protocol. The diagram
exhibits two distinct sectors. One sector corresponds to amorphous states with
relatively open structures, the other to high density, more closely-packed
ones. The former transform rapidly owing to there being motions with no free
energy barriers; these motions are string-like locally. In the dense region,
amorphous systems age via compact activated reconfigurations. The two regimes
correspond, in equilibrium, to the collisional or uniform liquid and the so
called landscape regime, respectively. These are separated by a spinodal line
of dynamical crossovers. Owing to the rigidity of the surrounding matrix in the
landscape, high-density part of the diagram, a sufficiently rapid pressure
quench adds compressive energy which also leads to an instability toward
string-like motions with near vanishing barriers. (SEE REST OF ABSTRACT IN THE
ARTICLE.)Comment: submitted to J Phys Chem
Multifocal Aggressive Squamous Cell Carcinomas Induced by Prolonged Voriconazole Therapy: A Case Report
Voriconazole is a treatment for severe fungal infections. Prolonged voriconazole therapy may induce skin reactions, with 1% of severe photosensitivity accidents. Recently the imputability of voriconazole in skin carcinogenesis has been suggested. This report concerns a 55-year-old man suffering from pulmonary aspergillosis who presented a phototoxic reaction a few months after introduction of voriconazole, followed by multiple squamous cell carcinomas of sun-exposed skin areas. After voriconazole discontinuation, no new carcinoma was observed. The detection of EBV and HPV in skin lesions was negative. Exploration of gene mutations involved in skin carcinogenesis showed two variants of the MICR gene. The occurrence of multiple, recurrent, aggressive squamous cell carcinomas is rare with voriconazole, but its imputability is strongly suggested. A plausible hypothesis is that several factors including voriconazole uptake, immunosuppression, and genetic background could explain the phenotype of fast-developing skin carcinomas. Voriconazole therapy should be accompanied by stringent photoprotection and skin monitoring
Scattering of short laser pulses from trapped fermions
We investigate the scattering of intense short laser pulses off trapped cold
fermionic atoms. We discuss the sensitivity of the scattered light to the
quantum statistics of the atoms. The temperature dependence of the scattered
light spectrum is calculated. Comparisons are made with a system of classical
atoms who obey Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. We find the total scattering
increases as the fermions become cooler but eventually tails off at very low
temperatures (far below the Fermi temperature). At these low temperatures the
fermionic degeneracy plays an important role in the scattering as it inhibits
spontaneous emission into occupied energy levels below the Fermi surface. We
demonstrate temperature dependent qualitative changes in the differential and
total spectrum can be utilized to probe quantum degeneracy of trapped Fermi gas
when the total number of atoms are sufficiently large . At smaller
number of atoms, incoherent scattering dominates and it displays weak
temperature dependence.Comment: updated figures and revised content, submitted to Phys.Rev.
Probing quantum phases of ultracold atoms in optical lattices by transmission spectra in cavity QED
Studies of ultracold atoms in optical lattices link various disciplines,
providing a playground where fundamental quantum many-body concepts, formulated
in condensed-matter physics, can be tested in much better controllable atomic
systems, e.g., strongly correlated phases, quantum information processing.
Standard methods to measure quantum properties of Bose-Einstein condensates
(BECs) are based on matter-wave interference between atoms released from traps
which destroys the system. Here we propose a nondestructive method based on
optical measurements, and prove that atomic statistics can be mapped on
transmission spectra of a high-Q cavity. This can be extremely useful for
studying phase transitions between Mott insulator and superfluid states, since
various phases show qualitatively distinct light scattering. Joining the
paradigms of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) and ultracold gases will
enable conceptually new investigations of both light and matter at ultimate
quantum levels, which only recently became experimentally possible. Here we
predict effects accessible in such novel setups.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Efficient extreme-ultraviolet high-order wave mixing from laser-dressed silica
The emission of high-order harmonics from solids
\cite{ghimire11a,schubert14a,luu15a,golde08a} under intense laser-pulse
irradiation is revolutionizing our understanding of strong-field solid-light
interactions
\cite{ghimire11a,schubert14a,luu15a,vampa15b,yoshikawa17a,hafez18a,jurgens20a},
while simultaneously opening avenues towards novel, all-solid, coherent,
short-wavelength table-top sources with tailored emission profiles and
nanoscale light-field control\cite{franz19a,roscamCLEO21}. To date, broadband
spectra have been generated well into the extreme-ultraviolet (XUV)
\cite{luu15a,luu18b,han19a,uzan20a}, but the comparatively low conversion
efficiency still lags behind gas-based high-harmonic generation (HHG) sources
\cite{luu15a,luu18b}, and have hindered wider-spread applications. Here, we
overcome the low conversion efficiency by two-color wave mixing. A quantum
theory reveals that our experiments follow a novel generation mechanism where
the conventional interband and intraband nonlinear dynamics are boosted by
Floquet-Bloch dressed states, that make solid HHG in the XUV more efficient by
at least one order of magnitude. Emission intensity scalings that follow
perturbative optical wave mixing, combined with the angular separation of the
emitted frequencies, make our approach a decisive step for all-solid coherent
XUV sources and for studying light-engineered materials
Planned peri-extubation fasting in critically ill children: an international survey of practice
Introduction: Cumulative energy/protein deficit is associated with impaired outcomes in pediatric intensive care Units (PICU). Enteral nutrition is the preferred mode, but its delivery may be compromised by periods of feeding interruptions around procedures, with peri-extubation fasting the most common procedure. Currently, there is no evidence to guide the duration of the peri-extubation fasting in PICU. Therefore, we aimed to explore current PICU fasting practices around the time of extubation and the rationales supporting them.
Material and methods: A cross sectional electronic survey was disseminated via the European Paediatric Intensive Care Society (ESPNIC) membership. Experienced senior nurses, dieticians or doctors were invited to complete the survey on behalf of their unit, and to describe their practice on PICU fasting prior to and after extubation.
Results: We received responses from 122 PICUs internationally, mostly from Europe. The survey confirmed that fasting practices are often extrapolated from guidelines for fasting prior to elective anaesthesia. However, there were striking differences in the duration of fasting times, with some units not fasting at all (in patients considered to be low risk), while others withheld feeding for all patients. Fasting following extubation also showed large variations in practice, with some units withholding nutrition for many hours, and others starting oral feeding based on child demand. The risk of vomiting/aspiration and reducing nutritional deficit were the main reasons for fasting children or reducing fasting times respectively.
Discussion: This variability in practices suggests that shorter fasting times might be safe. Shortening the duration of unnecessary fasting, as well as accelerating the extubation process could potentially be achieved by using other methods of assessing gastric emptiness, such as gastric point of care ultrasonography (POCUS). Yet only half of the units were aware of this technique, and very few used it
Slow light propagation in trapped atomic quantum gases
We study semi-classical slow light propagation in trapped two level atomic
quantum gases. The temperature dependent behaviors of both group velocity and
transmissions are compared for low temperature Bose, Fermi, and Boltzman gases
within the local density approximation for their spatial density profile.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure
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