Indeterminate-length quantum coding

The quantum analogues of classical variable-length codes are indeterminate-length quantum codes, in which codewords may exist in superpositions of different lengths. This paper explores some of their properties. The length observable for such codes is governed by a quantum version of the Kraft-McMillan inequality. Indeterminate-length quantum codes also provide an alternate approach to quantum data compression.Comment: 32 page

Reversible quantum operations and their application to teleportation

Quantum operations provide a general description of the state changes allowed by quantum mechanics. Simple necessary and sufficient conditions for an ideal quantum operation to be reversible by a unitary operation are derived in this paper. These results generalize recent work on reversible measurements by Mabuchi and Zoller [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 76}, 3108 (1996)]. Quantum teleportation can be understood as a special case of the problem of reversing quantum operations. We characterize completely teleportation schemes of the type proposed by Bennett {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 70}, 1895 (1993)].Comment: 10 pages, Revte

The quantum capacity is properly defined without encodings

We show that no source encoding is needed in the definition of the capacity of a quantum channel for carrying quantum information. This allows us to use the coherent information maximized over all sources and and block sizes, but not encodings, to bound the quantum capacity. We perform an explicit calculation of this maximum coherent information for the quantum erasure channel and apply the bound in order find the erasure channel's capacity without relying on an unproven assumption as in an earlier paper.Comment: 19 pages revtex with two eps figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. A. Replaced with revised and simplified version, and improved references, etc. Why can't the last line of the comments field end with a period using this web submission form

Prospects for the Measurement of the Structure of the Coupling of a Higgs Boson to Weak Gauge Bosons in Weak Boson Fusion with the ATLAS Detector

The prospects for the measurement of the tensor structure of the vertex between a standard model Higgs boson and two weak gauge bosons using the distribution of the azimuthal angles between the two tagging jets in the weak boson fusion channel are studied in a Monte Carlo analysis using the fast simulation of the ATLAS detector. The decay channels $H \rightarrow \tau^+\tau^- \rightarrow ll+4\nu$, $H \rightarrow \tau^+\tau^- \rightarrow lh + 3\nu$ at $m_{H} = 120\,$GeV and $H \rightarrow W^+W^- \rightarrow ll\nu\nu$ at $m_H = 160\,$GeV are used in the analysis. For a standard model Higgs boson it is found that purely anomalous couplings are expected to be excluded at a confidence level corresponding to 2\,$\sigma$ or more at $m_H = 120\,$GeV and more than 5\,$\sigma$ at $m_H = 160\,$GeV from $30\,$fb$^{-1}$ of data. With a value of 1 roughly reproducing the standard model cross section for a purely anomalous coupling, the standard deviation in a measurement of a contribution of a CP even anomalous coupling in addition to the standard model coupling is estimated to be 0.20 at $m_H = 120\,$GeV and 0.08 at $m_H = 160\,$GeV

Germline genetic variation in prostate susceptibility does not predict outcomes in the chemoprevention trials PCPT and SELECT

Background The development of prostate cancer can be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Numerous germline SNPs influence prostate cancer susceptibility. The functional pathways in which these SNPs increase prostate cancer susceptibility are unknown. Finasteride is currently not being used routinely as a chemoprevention agent but the long term outcomes of the PCPT trial are awaited. The outcomes of the SELECT trial have not recommended the use of chemoprevention in preventing prostate cancer. This study investigated whether germline risk SNPs could be used to predict outcomes in the PCPT and SELECT trial. Methods Genotyping was performed in European men entered into the PCPT trial (n = 2434) and SELECT (n = 4885). Next generation genotyping was performed using Affymetrix® Eureka™ Genotyping protocols. Logistic regression models were used to test the association of risk scores and the outcomes in the PCPT and SELECT trials. Results Of the 100 SNPs, 98 designed successfully and genotyping was validated for samples genotyped on other platforms. A number of SNPs predicted for aggressive disease in both trials. Men with a higher polygenic score are more likely to develop prostate cancer in both trials, but the score did not predict for other outcomes in the trial. Conclusion Men with a higher polygenic risk score are more likely to develop prostate cancer. There were no interactions of these germline risk SNPs and the chemoprevention agents in the SELECT and PCPT trials

Alternative Buffer-Layers for the Growth of SrBi2Ta2O9 on Silicon

In this work we investigate the influence of the use of YSZ and CeO2/YSZ as insulators for Metal- Ferroelectric-Insulator-Semiconductor (MFIS) structures made with SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT). We show that by using YSZ only the a-axis oriented Pyrochlore phase could be obtained. On the other hand the use of a CeO2/YSZ double-buffer layer gave a c-axis oriented SBT with no amorphous SiO2 inter- diffusion layer. The characteristics of MFIS diodes were greatly improved by the use of the double buffer. Using the same deposition conditions the memory window could be increased from 0.3 V to 0.9 V. From the piezoelectric response, nano-meter scale ferroelectric domains could be clearly identified in SBT thin films.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figures, 13 refernece

Spatially resolved ultrafast precessional magnetization reversal

Spatially resolved measurements of quasi-ballistic precessional magnetic switching in a microstructure are presented. Crossing current wires allow detailed study of the precessional switching induced by coincident longitudinal and transverse magnetic field pulses. Though the response is initially spatially uniform, dephasing occurs leading to nonuniformity and transient demagnetization. This nonuniformity comes in spite of a novel method for suppression of end domains in remanence. The results have implications for the reliability of ballistic precessional switching in magnetic devices.Comment: 17 pages (including 4 figures), submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Simulation study of the effect of the chemical heterogeneity of activated carbon on water adsorption

In this paper we present results from the molecular simulation of water adsorption in slit-shaped activated carbon pores. We calculate adsorption isotherms by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation, Henry's constants by Monte Carlo integration, and vapor-liquid equilibrium data by the gauge-cell Monte Carlo method, to investigate the chemical heterogeneity of activated carbon adsorbents. Several types of polar oxygen-containing sites are placed on the surface of the carbon with different densities and local distributions, in order to determine the individual effects of each of these factors on the adsorption of water. Our results confirm the role of surface sites in the enhancement of water adsorption, Furthermore, we show that the local distribution of these sites has a strong effect on low-pressure adsorption, while the overall site density affects mainly the vapor-liquid phase transition. The type of oxygen-containing group is shown not to be of critical importance, since more complex groups can effectively be represented by simpler sites. This study forms the basis for the development of a model for activated carbon that is able to represent the chemical heterogeneity of this type of material