2,738 research outputs found
Optimized generation of spatial qudits by using a pure phase spatial light modulator
We present a method for preparing arbitrary pure states of spatial qudits,
namely, D-dimensional (D > 2) quantum systems carrying information in the
transverse momentum and position of single photons. For this purpose, a set of
D slits with complex transmission are displayed on a spatial light modulator
(SLM). In a recent work we have shown a method that requires a single
phase-only SLM to control independently the complex coefficients which define
the quantum state of dimension D. The amplitude information was codified by
introducing phase gratings inside each slit and the phase value of the complex
transmission was added to the phase gratings. After a spatial filtering process
we obtained in the image plane the desired qudit state. Although this method
has proven to be a good alternative to compact the previously reported
architectures, it presents some features that could be improved. In this paper
we present an alternative scheme to codify the required phase values that
minimizes the effects of temporal phase fluctuations associated to the SLM
where the codification is carried on. In this scheme the amplitudes are set by
appropriate phase gratings addressed at the SLM while the relative phases are
obtained by a lateral displacement of these phase gratings. We show that this
method improves the quality of the prepared state and provides very high
fidelities of preparation for any state. An additional advantage of this scheme
is that a complete 2\pi modulation is obtained by shifting the grating by one
period, and hence the encoding is not limited by the phase modulation range
achieved by the SLM. Numerical simulations, that take into account the phase
fluctuations, show high fidelities for thousands of qubit states covering the
whole Bloch sphere surface. Similar analysis are performed for qudits with D =
3 and D = 7.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Exploring the Risk Posed by Animals with An Inconclusive Reaction to the Bovine Tuberculosis Skin Test in England and Wales
The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test is the primary test for ante-mortem diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in England and Wales. When an animal is first classified as an inconclusive reactor (IR) using this test, it is not subject to compulsory slaughter, but it must be isolated from the rest of the herd. To understand the risk posed by these animals, a case-control study was conducted to measure the association between IR status of animals and the odds of them becoming a reactor to the SICCT at a subsequent test. The study included all animals from herds in which only IR animals were found at the first whole herd test in 2012 and used data from subsequent tests up until the end of 2016. Separate mixed-effects logistic regression models were developed to examine the relationship between IR status and subsequent reactor status for each risk area of England and for Wales, adjusting for other explanatory variables. The odds of an animal becoming a subsequent reactor during the study period were greater for IR animals than for negative animals in the high-risk area (odds ratio (OR): 6.85 (5.98–7.86)) and edge area (OR: 8.79 (5.92–13.04)) of England and in Wales (OR: 6.87 (5.75–8.22)). In the low-risk area of England, the odds were 23 times greater, although the confidence interval around this estimate was larger due to the smaller sample size (11–48, p < 0.001). These findings support the need to explore differential controls for IR animals to reduce the spread of TB, and they highlight the importance of area-specific policies
A model of hyphal tip growth involving microtubule-based transport
We propose a simple model for mass transport within a fungal hypha and its
subsequent growth. Inspired by the role of microtubule-transported vesicles, we
embody the internal dynamics of mass inside a hypha with mutually excluding
particles progressing stochastically along a growing one-dimensional lattice.
The connection between long range transport of materials for growth, and the
resulting extension of the hyphal tip has not previously been addressed in the
modelling literature. We derive and analyse mean-field equations for the model
and present a phase diagram of its steady state behaviour, which we compare to
simulations. We discuss our results in the context of the filamentous fungus,
Neurospora crassa.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
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