49 research outputs found
On Properties of Boundaries and Electron Conductivity in Mesoscopic Polycrystalline Silicon Films for Memory Devices
We present the results of molecular dynamics modeling on the structural
properties of grain boundaries (GB) in thin polycrystalline films. The
transition from crystalline boundaries with low mismatch angle to amorphous
boundaries is investigated. It is shown that the structures of the GBs satisfy
a thermodynamical criterion. The potential energy of silicon atoms is closely
related with a geometrical quantity -- tetragonality of their coordination with
their nearest neighbors. A crossover of the length of localization is observed.
To analyze the crossover of the length of localization of the single-electron
states and properties of conductance of the thin polycrystalline film at low
temperature, we use a two-dimensional Anderson localization model, with the
random one-site electron charging energy for a single grain (dot), random
non-diagonal matrix elements, and random number of connections between the
neighboring grains. The results on the crossover behavior of localization
length of the single-electron states and characteristic properties of
conductance are presented in the region of parameters where the transition from
an insulator to a conductor regimes takes place.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Efficient algorithm for optimizing data pattern tomography
We give a detailed account of an efficient search algorithm for the data
pattern tomography proposed by J. Rehacek, D. Mogilevtsev, and Z. Hradil [Phys.
Rev. Lett.~\textbf{105}, 010402 (2010)], where the quantum state of a system is
reconstructed without a priori knowledge about the measuring setup. The method
is especially suited for experiments involving complex detectors, which are
difficult to calibrate and characterize. We illustrate the approach with the
case study of the homodyne detection of a nonclassical photon state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 eps-color figure
Balancing efficiencies by squeezing in realistic eight-port homodyne detection
We address measurements of covariant phase observables (CPOs) by means of
realistic eight-port homodyne detectors. We do not assume equal quantum
efficiencies for the four photodetectors and investigate the conditions under
which the measurement of a CPO may be achieved. We show that balancing the
efficiencies using an additional beam splitter allows us to achieve a CPO at
the price of reducing the overall effective efficiency, and prove that it is
never a smearing of the ideal CPO achievable with unit quantum efficiency. An
alternative strategy based on employing a squeezed vacuum as a parameter field
is also suggested, which allows one to increase the overall efficiency in
comparison to the passive case using only a moderate amount of squeezing. Both
methods are suitable for implementantion with current technology.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, revised versio
Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) acquired in Southwestern Germany
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) was first described in 1997 in a patient in France. The causative agent, <it>Rickettsia slovaca</it>, is transmitted by <it>Dermacentor </it>ticks.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In southwestern Germany we encountered a patient with a tick bite at the dorsal scalp that resulted in an eschar and nuchal lymphadenopathy. Additionally, fever, malaise as well as elevated inflammatory markers and transaminases occurred. The characteristic clinical picture along with positive antibody testing for rickettsiae of the tick-borne spotted fever group strongly suggest the diagnosis TIBOLA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Human rickettsioses are emerging infections. Clinicians should be aware of TIBOLA as a newly described rickettsial disease. As in our case, TIBOLA may be encountered in regions/countries where <it>R. slovaca </it>and <it>Dermacentor </it>ticks are prevalent but autochthonous acquisition was not described before.</p
Towards quantum 3d imaging devices
We review the advancement of the research toward the design and implementation of quantum plenoptic cameras, radically novel 3D imaging devices that exploit both momentum–position entanglement and photon–number correlations to provide the typical refocusing and ultra-fast, scanning-free, 3D imaging capability of plenoptic devices, along with dramatically enhanced performances, unattainable in standard plenoptic cameras: diffraction-limited resolution, large depth of focus, and ultra-low noise. To further increase the volumetric resolution beyond the Rayleigh diffraction limit, and achieve the quantum limit, we are also developing dedicated protocols based on quantum Fisher information. However, for the quantum advantages of the proposed devices to be effective and appealing to end-users, two main challenges need to be tackled. First, due to the large number of frames required for correlation measurements to provide an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, quantum plenoptic imaging (QPI) would require, if implemented with commercially available high-resolution cameras, acquisition times ranging from tens of seconds to a few minutes. Second, the elaboration of this large amount of data, in order to retrieve 3D images or refocusing 2D images, requires high-performance and time-consuming computation. To address these challenges, we are developing high-resolution single-photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) arrays and high-performance low-level programming of ultra-fast electronics, combined with compressive sensing and quantum tomography algorithms, with the aim to reduce both the acquisition and the elaboration time by two orders of magnitude. Routes toward exploitation of the QPI devices will also be discussed
Dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise
Dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. It has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. Dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. It has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. Its high adaptiveness gives an edge to this tick species as shown by new data on the emergence and establishment of D. reticulatus populations throughout Europe. The tick has been the research focus of a growing number of scientists, physicians and veterinarians. Within the Web of Science database, more than a fifth of the over 700 items published on this species between 1897 and 2015 appeared in the last three years (2013–2015). Here we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the systematics, ecology, geographical distribution and recent spread of the species and to highlight the great spectrum of possible veterinary and public health threats it poses. Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is a severe leading canine vector-borne disease in many endemic areas. Although less frequently than Ixodes ricinus, D. reticulatus adults bite humans and transmit several Rickettsia spp., Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus or Tick-borne encephalitis virus. We have not solely collected and reviewed the latest and fundamental scientific papers available in primary databases but also widened our scope to books, theses, conference papers and specialists colleagues’ experience where needed. Besides the dominant literature available in English, we also tried to access scientific literature in German, Russian and eastern European languages as well. We hope to inspire future research projects that are necessary to understand the basic life-cycle and ecology of this vector in order to understand and prevent disease threats. We conclude that although great strides have been made in our knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of this species, several gaps still need to be filled with basic research, targeting possible reservoir and vector roles and the key factors resulting in the observed geographical spread of D. reticulatus. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1599-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Advances in photonic quantum sensing
Quantum sensing has become a mature and broad field. It is generally related
with the idea of using quantum resources to boost the performance of a number
of practical tasks, including the radar-like detection of faint objects, the
readout of information from optical memories or fragile physical systems, and
the optical resolution of extremely close point-like sources. Here we first
focus on the basic tools behind quantum sensing, discussing the most recent and
general formulations for the problems of quantum parameter estimation and
hypothesis testing. With this basic background in our hands, we then review
emerging applications of quantum sensing in the photonic regime both from a
theoretical and experimental point of view. Besides the state-of-the-art, we
also discuss open problems and potential next steps.Comment: Review in press on Nature Photonics. This is a preliminary version to
be updated after publication. Both manuscript and reference list will be
expande