166 research outputs found
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Convex Lens-Induced Confinement for Imaging Single Molecules
Fluorescence imaging is used to study the dynamics of a wide variety of single molecules in solution or attached to a surface. Two key challenges in this pursuit are (1) to image immobilized single molecules in the presence of a high level of fluorescent background and (2) to image freely diffusing single molecules for long times. Strategies that perform well by one measure often perform poorly by the other. Here, we present a simple modification to a wide-field fluorescence microscope that addresses both challenges and dramatically improves single-molecule imaging. The technique of convex lens-induced confinement (CLIC) restricts molecules to a wedge-shaped gap of nanoscale depth, formed between a plano-convex lens and a planar coverslip. The shallow depth of the imaging volume leads to 20-fold greater rejection of background fluorescence than is achieved with total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging. Elimination of out-of-plane diffusion leads to an approximately 10 000-fold longer diffusion-limited observation time per molecule than is achieved with confocal fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The CLIC system also provides a new means to determine molecular size. The CLIC system does not require any nanofabrication, nor any custom optics, electronics, or computer control.Chemistry and Chemical BiologyPhysic
Spin squeezing of high-spin, spatially extended quantum fields
Investigations of spin squeezing in ensembles of quantum particles have been
limited primarily to a subspace of spin fluctuations and a single spatial mode
in high-spin and spatially extended ensembles. Here, we show that a wider range
of spin-squeezing is attainable in ensembles of high-spin atoms, characterized
by sub-quantum-limited fluctuations in several independent planes of
spin-fluctuation observables. Further, considering the quantum dynamics of an
ferromagnetic spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, we demonstrate
theoretically that a high degree of spin squeezing is attained in multiple
spatial modes of a spatially extended quantum field, and that such squeezing
can be extracted from spatially resolved measurements of magnetization and
nematicity, i.e.\ the vector and quadrupole magnetic moments, of the quantum
gas. Taking into account several experimental limitations, we predict that the
variance of the atomic magnetization and nematicity may be reduced as far as 20
dB below the standard quantum limits.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
Collimated, single-pass atom source from a pulsed alkali metal dispenser for laser-cooling experiments
We have developed an improved scheme for loading atoms into a magneto-optical
trap (MOT) from a directed alkali metal dispenser in < 10^-10 torr ultra-high
vacuum conditions. A current-driven dispenser was surrounded with a cold
absorbing "shroud" held at < 0 C, pumping rubidium atoms not directed into the
MOT. This nearly eliminates background alkali atoms and reduces the detrimental
rise in pressure normally associated with these devices. The system can be
well-described as a current-controlled, rapidly-switched, two-temperature
thermal beam, and was used to load a MOT with 3 x 10^8 atoms.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Toolkit for Developing Skills and Capacity in Applying Foresight to Climate Resilient Agricultural Development in the SADC Region. Module 1: Introduction to Foresight
The SADC Futures project has developed a range of foresight training materials. The SADC Futures Foresight Training Toolkit forms part of this knowledge series and presents content that was given during the SADC Futures webinar series, a six-part virtual webinar series and facilitated training
Toolkit for Developing Skills and Capacity in Applying Foresight to Climate Resilient Agricultural Development in the SADC Region. Module 5: Scenario Implications and Transformational Change
The SADC Futures project has developed a range of foresight training materials. The SADC Futures Foresight Training Toolkit forms part of this knowledge series and presents content that was given during the SADC Futures webinar series, a six-part virtual webinar series and facilitated training
Toolkit for Developing Skills and Capacity in Applying Foresight to Climate Resilient Agricultural Development in the SADC Region. Module 4: Building Scenarios
The SADC Futures project has developed a range of foresight training materials. The SADC Futures Foresight Training Toolkit forms part of this knowledge series and presents content that was given during the SADC Futures webinar series, a six-part virtual webinar series and facilitated training
Toolkit for Developing Skills and Capacity in Applying Foresight to Climate Resilient Agricultural Development in the SADC Region. Module 2: Understanding Trends and Multi-sectoral and Systems Linkages
The SADC Futures project has developed a range of foresight training materials. The SADC Futures Foresight Training Toolkit forms part of this knowledge series and presents content that was given during the SADC Futures webinar series, a six-part virtual webinar series and facilitated training
Toolkit for Developing Skills and Capacity in Applying Foresight to Climate Resilient Agricultural Development in the SADC Region. Module 3: Visioning and Causal Analysis
The SADC Futures project has developed a range of foresight training materials. The SADC Futures Foresight Training Toolkit forms part of this knowledge series and presents content that was given during the SADC Futures webinar series, a six-part virtual webinar series and facilitated training
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