2,886 research outputs found
Large Quantum Superpositions and Interference of Massive Nanometer-Sized Objects
We propose a method to prepare and verify spatial quantum superpositions of a
nanometer-sized object separated by distances of the order of its size. This
method provides unprecedented bounds for objective collapse models of the wave
function by merging techniques and insights from cavity quantum optomechanics
and matter wave interferometry. An analysis and simulation of the experiment is
performed taking into account standard sources of decoherence. We provide an
operational parameter regime using present day and planned technology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in PR
Direct Sampling of Negative Quasiprobabilities of a Squeezed State
Although squeezed states are nonclassical states, so far, their
nonclassicality could not be demonstrated by negative quasiprobabilities. In
this work we derive pattern functions for the direct experimental determination
of so-called nonclassicality quasiprobabilities. The negativities of these
quantities turn out to be necessary and sufficient for the nonclassicality of
an arbitrary quantum state and are therefore suitable for a direct and general
test of nonclassicality. We apply the method to a squeezed vacuum state of
light that was generated by parametric down-conversion in a second-order
nonlinear crystal.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, supplementary material adde
Revisiting the Hanbury Brown-Twiss set-up for fractional statistics
The Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiment has proved to be an effective means of
probing statistics of particles. Here, in a set-up involving edge-state
quasiparticles in a fractional quantum Hall system, we show that a variant of
the experiment composed of two sources and two sinks can be used to unearth
fractional statistics. We find a clear cut signature of the statistics in the
equal-time current-current correlation function for quasiparticle currents
emerging from the two sources and collected at the sinks.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Entangled Qubits in a non-Gaussian Quantum State
We experimentally generate and tomographically characterize a mixed, genuinely non-Gaussian bipartite continuous-variable entangled state. By testing entanglement in 22-dimensional two-qubit subspaces, entangled qubits are localized within the density matrix, which, firstly, proves the distillability of the state and, secondly, is useful to estimate the efficiency and test the applicability of distillation protocols. In our example, the entangled qubits are arranged in the density matrix in an asymmetric way, i.e. entanglement is found between diverse qubits composed of different photon number states, although the entangled state is symmetric under exchanging the modes
Engineering a C-Phase quantum gate: optical design and experimental realization
A two qubit quantum gate, namely the C-Phase, has been realized by exploiting
the longitudinal momentum (i.e. the optical path) degree of freedom of a single
photon. The experimental setup used to engineer this quantum gate represents an
advanced version of the high stability closed-loop interferometric setup
adopted to generate and characterize 2-photon 4-qubit Phased Dicke states. Some
experimental results, dealing with the characterization of multipartite
entanglement of the Phased Dicke states are also discussed in detail.Comment: accepted for publication on EPJ
Experimental test of nonclassicality criteria
We experimentally examine the nonclassical character of a class of
non-Gaussian states known as phase-diffused squeezed states. These states may
show no squeezing effect at all, and therefore provide an interesting example
to test nonclassicality criteria. The characteristic function of the
Glauber-Sudarshan representation (P function) proves to be a powerful tool to
detect nonclassicality. Using this criterion we find that phase-diffused
squeezed states are always nonclassical, even if the squeezing effect vanishes.
Testing other criteria of nonclassicality based on higher-order squeezing and
the positive semidefinitness of special matrices of normally ordered moments,
it is found that these criteria fail to reveal the nonclassicality for some of
the prepared phase-diffused squeezed states.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
Realization of a Knill-Laflamme-Milburn C-NOT gate -a photonic quantum circuit combining effective optical nonlinearities
Quantum information science addresses how uniquely quantum mechanical
phenomena such as superposition and entanglement can enhance communication,
information processing and precision measurement. Photons are appealing for
their low noise, light-speed transmission and ease of manipulation using
conventional optical components. However, the lack of highly efficient optical
Kerr nonlinearities at single photon level was a major obstacle. In a
breakthrough, Knill, Laflamme and Milburn (KLM) showed that such an efficient
nonlinearity can be achieved using only linear optical elements, auxiliary
photons, and measurement. They proposed a heralded controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate
for scalable quantum computation using a photonic quantum circuit to combine
two such nonlinear elements. Here we experimentally demonstrate a KLM CNOT
gate. We developed a stable architecture to realize the required four-photon
network of nested multiple interferometers based on a displaced-Sagnac
interferometer and several partially polarizing beamsplitters. This result
confirms the first step in the KLM `recipe' for all-optical quantum
computation, and should be useful for on-demand entanglement generation and
purification. Optical quantum circuits combining giant optical nonlinearities
may find wide applications across telecommunications and sensing.Comment: 6pages, 3figure
FSH prevents depletion of the resting follicle pool by promoting follicular number and morphology in fresh and cryopreserved primate ovarian tissues following xenografting
Background: Cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue is one option for re-establishing ovarian function, but optimal conditions for graft sustainment and follicular survival are still considered experimental. The present study aims to analyze the effect of FSH treatment on the resting follicle pool in fresh and cryopreserved primate ovarian tissues following xenografting.
Methods: Ovarian tissues from adult marmosets were grafted freshly or following cryopreservation to ovarectomized nude mice treated with FSH 25 IU twice daily post transplantation or left untreated as controls. Grafts were retrieved 2 or 4 weeks after transplantation to evaluate the number and morphological appearance of follicles.
Results: Early start of FSH treatment within 1 week following transplantation partly prevents primordial follicle loss in fresh and frozen-thawed tissues, whereas after a 3 weeks time interval this effect is present only in fresh tissues. A similar positive effect of early, but not later FSH treatment on primary follicles is seen in fresh tissues compared to only marginal effects in frozen-thawed tissues. The percentage of morphologically normal follicles is generally increased in FSH treated tissues, whereas the percentage of primary follicles over all primordial and primary follicles is increased by FSH only in freshly-grafted tissues.
Conclusions: FSH treatment alleviates depletion of the resting follicle pool and promotes normal follicular morphology both in freshly and frozen-thawed grafted tissues. In previously cryopreserved tissues, applying to most of the tissues intended for clinical use in fertility preservation attempts, its positive effect on primordial follicle numbers and potential graft sustainment is dependent on an early start of treatment within one week of transplantation
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