Superconducting Qubits Coupled to Nanoelectromechanical Resonators: An Architecture for Solid-State Quantum Information Processing

We describe the design for a scalable, solid-state quantum-information-processing architecture based on the integration of GHz-frequency nanomechanical resonators with Josephson tunnel junctions, which has the potential for demonstrating a variety of single- and multi-qubit operations critical to quantum computation. The computational qubits are eigenstates of large-area, current-biased Josephson junctions, manipulated and measured using strobed external circuitry. Two or more of these phase qubits are capacitively coupled to a high-quality-factor piezoelectric nanoelectromechanical disk resonator, which forms the backbone of our architecture, and which enables coherent coupling of the qubits. The integrated system is analogous to one or more few-level atoms (the Josephson junction qubits) in an electromagnetic cavity (the nanomechanical resonator). However, unlike existing approaches using atoms in electromagnetic cavities, here we can individually tune the level spacing of the ``atoms'' and control their ``electromagnetic'' interaction strength. We show theoretically that quantum states prepared in a Josephson junction can be passed to the nanomechanical resonator and stored there, and then can be passed back to the original junction or transferred to another with high fidelity. The resonator can also be used to produce maximally entangled Bell states between a pair of Josephson junctions. Many such junction-resonator complexes can assembled in a hub-and-spoke layout, resulting in a large-scale quantum circuit. Our proposed architecture combines desirable features of both solid-state and cavity quantum electrodynamics approaches, and could make quantum information processing possible in a scalable, solid-state environment.Comment: 20 pages, 14 separate low-resolution jpeg figure

An American BSE Crisis: Has it affected the Value of Traceability and Country-of-Origin Certifications for US and Canadian Beef?

With a BSE incident in the United States (US) in December of 2003, questions arose about the effect of the incident on consumers in the US. The purpose of this paper is to determine if traceability systems for beef can help preserve consumer demand following the discovery of BSE. Auctions were conducted approximately 3 weeks before and after the December 2003 BSE incident in the U.S It was found that overall there was no effect on the size of the bribes needed by the BSE incidence. However, for some groups there were important changes. The results indicate that information about traceability and country of origin is valuable to consumers. They also suggest that greater uncertainty about certifications and assurances for beef existed among the participants after December 23rd than before December 23rd.BSE, Traceability, Country-of-origin, Beef market, Auctions, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

If You Can't Trust the Farmer, Who Can You Trust? The Effect of Certification Types on Purchases of Organic Produce

An information asymmetry exists in the market for organic produce since consumers cannot determine whether produce is organically or conventionally grown. Various methods may solve this problem including signaling, reputation, and certification. Signaling and reputation may not work well, because signals are noisy, and reputation may be difficult for a producer to establish. Certification of the farm and its growing methods shows the most promise. A survey instrument testing the efficacy of certification is presented along with empirical analysis suggesting that no notable difference existed between independent certification methods, although independent certification had significantly different effects than self-certification.Asymmetric information, Certification, Ordered probit, Organic produce, Agribusiness,

Agribusiness Extension: The Past, Present, and Future?

The IFAMR is publish by (IFAMA) the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. www.ifama.orgagribusiness extension, future, Agribusiness, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q130,

The Potential Impact of a Proposed Ban on the Sale of U.S. Horses for Slaughter and Human Consumption

Both federal and state governments in the United States are being asked to enact laws that would make slaughtering of horses for human consumption illegal. In the past, the United States was one of the principal exporters of horsemeat to Europe. This paper examines the impacts of a proposed ban on the U.S. horse industry and the U.S. export market for horsemeat. Findings indicate a loss of approximately $300 per horse in the United States as a result of such a ban. The supply of U.S. exported horsemeat has declined during the past decade. The results suggest that the most significant factors influencing this decline are lower real prices and competing imports.horse slaughter, horsemeat, meat exports, Agricultural and Food Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

OPTIMAL STRUCTURE OF AN AGRIBUSINESS FIRM CONSIDERING THE ECONOMICS OF MAJOR, LINKED COMPONENTS

An optimization model is used to evaluate the economics of various components of a large agribusiness. The benefits of using interger programming are contrasted to traditional linear programming analysis in conjunction with outside-the-model budgeting analysis.Agribusiness, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

An FBAR Circulator

This letter presents the experimental demonstration of a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) circulator at 2.5 GHz. The circulator is based on spatio-temporal modulation of the series resonant frequency of FBARs using varactors and exhibits a large isolation of 76 dB at 2.5 GHz. The FBAR chip (0.25 mm2) consists of three identical FBARs connected in wye configuration. The FBAR0s quality factor (Q) of 1250 and piezoelectric coupling coefficient kt 2 of 3% relaxes the modulation requirements, achieving non-reciprocity with small modulationto- RF frequency ratio bettter than 1:800 (3 MHz:2.5 GHz)

IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS ROLES AND EVALUATION METHODS OF EXTENSION ECONOMISTS AS VIEWED BY EXTENSION ADMINISTRATORS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND SPECIALISTS

A survey of extension administrators, department heads, and extension specialists was conducted to determine the best methods for evaluating the performance of extension economists. The results demonstrate how different groups view the relative importance of the various roles played by extension economists and how important the specific attributes of extension economists are within each role. In general all three groups agree on the most important roles and attributes. However, important differences among the groups do exist about the relative importance of certain activities.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,