26,585 research outputs found
Extensions of the space trajectories error analysis programs
A generalized covariance analysis technique which permits the study of the sensitivity of linear estimation algorithms to errors in a priori statistics has been developed and programed. Several sample cases are presented to illustrate the use of this technique. Modifications to the Simulated Trajectories Error Analysis Program (STEAP) to enable targeting a multiprobe mission of the Planetary Explorer type are discussed. The logic for the mini-probe targeting is presented. Finally, the initial phases of the conversion of the Viking mission Lander Trajectory Reconstruction (LTR) program for use on Venus missions is discussed. An integrator instability problem is discussed and a solution proposed
Practical quantum key distribution over a 48-km optical fiber network
The secure distribution of the secret random bit sequences known as "key"
material, is an essential precursor to their use for the encryption and
decryption of confidential communications. Quantum cryptography is a new
technique for secure key distribution with single-photon transmissions:
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle ensures that an adversary can neither
successfully tap the key transmissions, nor evade detection (eavesdropping
raises the key error rate above a threshold value). We have developed
experimental quantum cryptography systems based on the transmission of
non-orthogonal photon states to generate shared key material over
multi-kilometer optical fiber paths and over line-of-sight links. In both
cases, key material is built up using the transmission of a single-photon per
bit of an initial secret random sequence. A quantum-mechanically random subset
of this sequence is identified, becoming the key material after a data
reconciliation stage with the sender. Here we report the most recent results of
our optical fiber experiment in which we have performed quantum key
distribution over a 48-km optical fiber network at Los Alamos using photon
interference states with the B92 and BB84 quantum key distribution protocols.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, .pdf format submitted to Journal of Modern
Optic
Multiple jumps and vacancy diffusion in a face-centered cubic metal
The diffusion of monovacancies in gold has been studied by computer
simulation. Multiple jumps have been found to play a central role in the atomic
dynamics at high temperature, and have been shown to be responsible for an
upward curvature in the Arrhenius plot of the diffusion coefficient.
Appropriate saddle points on the potential energy surface have been found,
supporting the interpretation of vacancy multiple jumps as distinct migration
mechanisms.Comment: 16 page
Hard X-ray imaging facility for space shuttle: A scientific and conceptual engineering study
A shuttle-accommodated instrument for imaging hard X-rays in the study of nonthermal particles and high temperature particles in various solar and cosmic phenomena was defined and its feasibility demonstrated. The imaging system configuration is described as well as the electronics, aspect systems, mechanical and thermal properties and the ground support equipment
A Variational Approach for Minimizing Lennard-Jones Energies
A variational method for computing conformational properties of molecules
with Lennard-Jones potentials for the monomer-monomer interactions is
presented. The approach is tailored to deal with angular degrees of freedom,
{\it rotors}, and consists in the iterative solution of a set of deterministic
equations with annealing in temperature. The singular short-distance behaviour
of the Lennard-Jones potential is adiabatically switched on in order to obtain
stable convergence. As testbeds for the approach two distinct ensembles of
molecules are used, characterized by a roughly dense-packed ore a more
elongated ground state. For the latter, problems are generated from natural
frequencies of occurrence of amino acids and phenomenologically determined
potential parameters; they seem to represent less disorder than was previously
assumed in synthetic protein studies. For the dense-packed problems in
particular, the variational algorithm clearly outperforms a gradient descent
method in terms of minimal energies. Although it cannot compete with a careful
simulating annealing algorithm, the variational approach requires only a tiny
fraction of the computer time. Issues and results when applying the method to
polyelectrolytes at a finite temperature are also briefly discussed.Comment: 14 pages, uuencoded compressed postscript fil
Free-space quantum key distribution
A working free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) system has been developed
and tested over a 205-m indoor optical path at Los Alamos National Laboratory
under fluorescent lighting conditions. Results show that free-space QKD can
provide secure real-time key distribution between parties who have a need to
communicate secretly.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. To be published in Physical review A on
or about 1 April 199
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