46,888 research outputs found
Time- and frequency-domain polariton interference
We present experimental observations of interference between an atomic spin
coherence and an optical field in a {\Lambda}-type gradient echo memory. The
interference is mediated by a strong classical field that couples a weak probe
field to the atomic coherence through a resonant Raman transition. Interference
can be observed between a prepared spin coherence and another propagating
optical field, or between multiple {\Lambda} transitions driving a single spin
coherence. In principle, the interference in each scheme can yield a near unity
visibility.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
High efficiency coherent optical memory with warm rubidium vapour
By harnessing aspects of quantum mechanics, communication and information
processing could be radically transformed. Promising forms of quantum
information technology include optical quantum cryptographic systems and
computing using photons for quantum logic operations. As with current
information processing systems, some form of memory will be required. Quantum
repeaters, which are required for long distance quantum key distribution,
require optical memory as do deterministic logic gates for optical quantum
computing. In this paper we present results from a coherent optical memory
based on warm rubidium vapour and show 87% efficient recall of light pulses,
the highest efficiency measured to date for any coherent optical memory. We
also show storage recall of up to 20 pulses from our system. These results show
that simple warm atomic vapour systems have clear potential as a platform for
quantum memory
Configurable unitary transformations and linear logic gates using quantum memories
We show that a set of optical memories can act as a configurable linear
optical network operating on frequency-multiplexed optical states. Our protocol
is applicable to any quantum memories that employ off-resonant Raman
transitions to store optical information in atomic spins. In addition to the
configurability, the protocol also offers favourable scaling with an increasing
number of modes where N memories can be configured to implement an arbitrary
N-mode unitary operations during storage and readout. We demonstrate the
versatility of this protocol by showing an example where cascaded memories are
used to implement a conditional CZ gate.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Storage and Manipulation of Light Using a Raman Gradient Echo Process
The Gradient Echo Memory (GEM) scheme has potential to be a suitable protocol
for storage and retrieval of optical quantum information. In this paper, we
review the properties of the -GEM method that stores information in
the ground states of three-level atomic ensembles via Raman coupling. The
scheme is versatile in that it can store and re-sequence multiple pulses of
light. To date, this scheme has been implemented using warm rubidium gas cells.
There are different phenomena that can influence the performance of these
atomic systems. We investigate the impact of atomic motion and four-wave mixing
and present experiments that show how parasitic four-wave mixing can be
mitigated. We also use the memory to demonstrate preservation of pulse shape
and the backward retrieval of pulses.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figure
Comparison of the prognostic value of measures of the tumor inflammatory cell infiltrate and tumor-associated stroma in patients with primary operable colorectal cancer
The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical utility of two measures of the
inflammatory cell infiltrate - a H&E-based assessment of the generalised inflammatory cell
infiltrate (the Klintrup-Mäkinen (KM) grade), and an immunohistochemistry-based
assessment of combined CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell density (the “Immunoscore”), in conjunction
with assessment of the tumor stroma percentage (TSP) in patients undergoing resection of
stage I-III colorectal cancer (CRC). 246 patients were identified from a prospectively
maintained database of CRC resections in a single surgical unit. Assessment of KM grade
and TSP was performed using full H&E sections. CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell density was
assessed on full sections and the Immunoscore calculated. KM grade and Immunoscore were
strongly associated (P<0.001). KM grade stratified cancer-specific survival (CSS) from 88%
to 66% (P=0.002) and Immunoscore from 93% to 61% (P<0.001). Immunoscore further
stratified survival of patients independent of KM grade from 94% (high KM, Im4) to 60%
(low KM, Im0/1). Furthermore, TSP stratified survival of patients with a weak inflammatory
cell infiltrate (low KM: from 75% to 47%; Im0/1: from 71% to 38%, both P<0.001) but not
those with a strong inflammatory infiltrate. On multivariate analysis, only Immunoscore (HR
0.44, P<0.001) and TSP (HR 2.04, P<0.001) were independently associated with CSS. These
results suggest that the prognostic value of an immunohistochemistry-based assessment of the
inflammatory cell infiltrate is superior to H&E-based assessment in patients undergoing
resection of stage I-III CRC. Furthermore, assessment of the tumor-associated stroma, using
TSP, further improves prediction of outcome
Shaking a Box of Sand
We present a simple model of a vibrated box of sand, and discuss its dynamics
in terms of two parameters reflecting static and dynamic disorder respectively.
The fluidised, intermediate and frozen (`glassy') dynamical regimes are
extensively probed by analysing the response of the packing fraction to steady,
as well as cyclic, shaking, and indicators of the onset of a `glass transition'
are analysed. In the `glassy' regime, our model is exactly solvable, and allows
for the qualitative description of ageing phenomena in terms of two
characteristic lengths; predictions are also made about the influence of grain
shape anisotropy on ageing behaviour.Comment: Revised version. To appear in Europhysics Letter
The Chemical Evolution of Helium in Globular Clusters: Implications for the Self-Pollution Scenario
We investigate the suggestion that there are stellar populations in some
globular clusters with enhanced helium (Y from 0.28 to 0.40) compared to the
primordial value. We assume that a previous generation of massive Asymptotic
Giant Branch (AGB) stars have polluted the cluster. Two independent sets of AGB
yields are used to follow the evolution of helium and CNO using a Salpeter
initial mass function (IMF) and two top-heavy IMFs. In no case are we able to
produce the postulated large Y ~ 0.35 without violating the observational
constraint that the CNO content is nearly constant.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap
The properties of the gamma-ray blazars in the CJ-F VLBI sample
We present first results from the analysis of multi-epoch VLBI observations of the EGRET detected sources [9] in the CJ-F sample (Caltech Jodrell-Flat-spectrum, [10]). These objects form a subsample of 14 sources within the 293 AGN of the full CJ-F sample. 5 GHz VLBI snapshot observations of the CJ-F sources are continuously being performed in order to create a valid database for thorough statistical tests of pc-scale jet motion in AGN. All gamma-bright CJ-F AGN have been observed at least twice with the VLBA, which enables us to investigate jet component motions and paths. In particular, we concentrate on the analysis of those properties supposed to be essential for gamma-ray production, i.e., superluminal motion and bending. A paper discussing the possible relation between morphological changes and gamma-ray flaring/production is in preparation
- …