Ground Squirrels and How to Control Them

The Richardson ground squirrel, otherwise known as the flickertail or gray gopher, is common over most of North Dakota north and east of the Missouri River, although they were never common in the immediate Red River Valley

Microscopic theory of indistinguishable single-photon emission from a quantum dot coupled to a cavity: The role of non-Markovian phonon-induced decoherence

We study the fundamental limit on single-photon indistinguishability imposed by decoherence due to phonon interactions in semiconductor quantum dot-cavity QED systems. Employing an exact diagonalization approach we find large differences compared to standard methods. An important finding is that short-time non-Markovian effects limit the maximal attainable indistinguishability. The results are explained using a polariton picture that yields valuable insight into the phonon-induced dephasing dynamics.Comment: published version, comments are very welcom

Cull Your Hens

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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

Quenching of phonon-induced processes in quantum dots due to electron-hole asymmetries

Differences in the confinement of electrons and holes in quantum dots are shown to profoundly impact the magnitude of scattering with acoustic phonons in materials where crystal deformation shifts the conduction and valence band in the same direction. Using an extensive model that includes the non-Markovian nature of the phonon reservoir, we show how the effect may be addressed by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy of a single quantum dot. We also investigate the implications for cavity QED, i.e. a coupled quantum dot-cavity system, and demonstrate that the phonon scattering may be strongly quenched. The quenching is explained by a balancing between the deformation potential interaction strengths and the carrier confinement and depends on the quantum dot shape. Numerical examples suggest a route towards engineering the phonon scattering.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted for peer review, comments are welcom

Spatial Structure in Length at Age of Cod in the Barents Sea

Cod "Gadus morhua" population in the Barents Sea was found to be spatially structured with regard to length-at-age. Results were based on data collected doing research surveys in the Barents Sea between 1982 and 1997. The identified spatial structure was most pronounced for age groups 2 to 4 years and decreased for the older age groups with higher potential for migration. A positive linear correlation between mean length-at-age and mean geographical temperature was established for age groups 2 to 4 years. This correlation was shown to be strongest when based on mean temperatures during 3-year periods ending with the year of capture. The spatial structure in length-at-age was shown to follow the temperature gradient of the Barents Sea. A large part of the observed area effects could be explained by temperature variation between areas. Evidence is also presented which indicates that the predictability and sensitivity of the dependence of length-at-age on temperature increases under extreme environmental conditions, i.e. in the northern and eastern areas of the Barents Sea

Digital support interventions for the self-management of low back pain: a systematic review

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability and is ranked as the most burdensome health condition globally. Self-management, including components on increased knowledge, monitoring of symptoms, and physical activity, are consistently recommended in clinical guidelines as cost-effective strategies for LBP management and there is increasing interest in the potential role of digital health. Objective: The study aimed to synthesize and critically appraise published evidence concerning the use of interactive digital interventions to support self-management of LBP. The following specific questions were examined: (1) What are the key components of digital self-management interventions for LBP, including theoretical underpinnings? (2) What outcome measures have been used in randomized trials of digital self-management interventions in LBP and what effect, if any, did the intervention have on these? and (3) What specific characteristics or components, if any, of interventions appear to be associated with beneficial outcomes? Methods: Bibliographic databases searched from 2000 to March 2016 included Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, DoPHER and TRoPHI, Social Science Citation Index, and Science Citation Index. Reference and citation searching was also undertaken. Search strategy combined the following concepts: (1) back pain, (2) digital intervention, and (3) self-management. Only randomized controlled trial (RCT) protocols or completed RCTs involving adults with LBP published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, full-text articles, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane risk of bias tool. An independent third reviewer adjudicated on disagreements. Data were synthesized narratively. Results: Of the total 7014 references identified, 11 were included, describing 9 studies: 6 completed RCTs and 3 protocols for future RCTs. The completed RCTs included a total of 2706 participants (range of 114-1343 participants per study) and varied considerably in the nature and delivery of the interventions, the duration/definition of LBP, the outcomes measured, and the effectiveness of the interventions. Participants were generally white, middle aged, and in 5 of 6 RCT reports, the majority were female and most reported educational level as time at college or higher. Only one study reported between-group differences in favor of the digital intervention. There was considerable variation in the extent of reporting the characteristics, components, and theories underpinning each intervention. None of the studies showed evidence of harm. Conclusions: The literature is extremely heterogeneous, making it difficult to understand what might work best, for whom, and in what circumstances. Participants were predominantly female, white, well educated, and middle aged, and thus the wider applicability of digital self-management interventions remains uncertain. No information on cost-effectiveness was reported. The evidence base for interactive digital interventions to support patient self-management of LBP remains weak

Modal properties of photonic crystal cavities and applications to lasers

Photonic crystal cavities enable strong light–matter interactions, with numerous applica-tions, such as ultra-small and energy-efficient semiconductor lasers, enhanced nonlinearities and single-photon sources. This paper reviews the properties of the modes of photonic crystal cavities, with a special focus on line-defect cavities. In particular, it is shown how the fundamental resonant mode in line-defect cavities gradually turns from Fabry–Perot-like to distributed-feedback-like with increasing cavity size. This peculiar behavior is directly traced back to the properties of the guided Bloch modes. Photonic crystal cavities based on Fano interference are also covered. This type of cavity is realized through coupling of a line-defect waveguide with an adjacent nanocavity, with applications to Fano lasers and optical switches. Finally, emerging cavities for extreme dielectric confinement are covered. These cavities promise extremely strong light–matter interactions by realizing deep sub-wavelength mode size while keeping a high quality factor