12 research outputs found
Optomechanical circuits for nanomechanical continuous variable quantum state processing
We propose and analyze a nanomechanical architecture where light is used to
perform linear quantum operations on a set of many vibrational modes. Suitable
amplitude modulation of a single laser beam is shown to generate squeezing,
entanglement, and state-transfer between modes that are selected according to
their mechanical oscillation frequency. Current optomechanical devices based on
photonic crystals may provide a platform for realizing this scheme.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Continuous mode cooling and phonon routers for phononic quantum networks
We study the implementation of quantum state transfer protocols in phonon
networks, where in analogy to optical networks, quantum information is
transmitted through propagating phonons in extended mechanical resonator arrays
or phonon waveguides. We describe how the problem of a non-vanishing thermal
occupation of the phononic quantum channel can be overcome by implementing
optomechanical multi- and continuous mode cooling schemes to create a 'cold'
frequency window for transmitting quantum states. In addition, we discuss the
implementation of phonon circulators and switchable phonon routers, which rely
on strong coherent optomechanical interactions only, and do not require strong
magnetic fields or specific materials. Both techniques can be applied and
adapted to various physical implementations, where phonons coupled to spin or
charge based qubits are used for on-chip networking applications.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figures. Final version, a few minor changes and updated
reference
Distribution Analysis of Hydrogenases in Surface Waters of Marine and Freshwater Environments
Background
Surface waters of aquatic environments have been shown to both evolve and consume hydrogen and the ocean is estimated to be the principal natural source. In some marine habitats, H2 evolution and uptake are clearly due to biological activity, while contributions of abiotic sources must be considered in others. Until now the only known biological process involved in H2 metabolism in marine environments is nitrogen fixation.
Principal Findings
We analyzed marine and freshwater environments for the presence and distribution of genes of all known hydrogenases, the enzymes involved in biological hydrogen turnover. The total genomes and the available marine metagenome datasets were searched for hydrogenase sequences. Furthermore, we isolated DNA from samples from the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and two fresh water lakes and amplified and sequenced part of the gene encoding the bidirectional NAD(P)-linked hydrogenase. In 21% of all marine heterotrophic bacterial genomes from surface waters, one or several hydrogenase genes were found, with the membrane-bound H2 uptake hydrogenase being the most widespread. A clear bias of hydrogenases to environments with terrestrial influence was found. This is exemplified by the cyanobacterial bidirectional NAD(P)-linked hydrogenase that was found in freshwater and coastal areas but not in the open ocean.
Significance
This study shows that hydrogenases are surprisingly abundant in marine environments. Due to its ecological distribution the primary function of the bidirectional NAD(P)-linked hydrogenase seems to be fermentative hydrogen evolution. Moreover, our data suggests that marine surface waters could be an interesting source of oxygen-resistant uptake hydrogenases. The respective genes occur in coastal as well as open ocean habitats and we presume that they are used as additional energy scavenging devices in otherwise nutrient limited environments. The membrane-bound H2-evolving hydrogenases might be useful as marker for bacteria living inside of marine snow particles