5,168 research outputs found
Measurement of energy eigenstates by a slow detector
We propose a method for a weak continuous measurement of the energy
eigenstates of a fast quantum system by means of a "slow" detector. Such a
detector is only sensitive to slowly-changing variables, e. g. energy, while
its back-action can be limited solely to decoherence of the eigenstate
superpositions. We apply this scheme to the problem of detection of quantum
jumps between energy eigenstates in a harmonic oscillator.Comment: 4 page
Phonon scattering mechanisms in suspended nanostructures from 4 to 40 K
We have developed specially designed semiconductor devices for the measurement of thermal conductance in suspended nanostructures. By means of a novel subtractive comparison, we are able to deduce the phonon thermal conductance of individual nanoscale beams of different geometry and dopant profiles. The separate roles of important phonon scattering mechanisms are analyzed and a quantitative estimation of their respective scattering rates is obtained using the Callaway model. Diffuse surface scattering proves to be particularly important in the temperature range from 4 to 40 K. The rates of other scattering mechanisms, arising from phonon-phonon, phonon-electron, and phonon-point defect interactions, also appear to be significantly higher in nanostructures than in bulk samples
Nanoscale, Phonon-Coupled Calorimetry with Sub-Attojoule/Kelvin Resolution
We have developed an ultrasensitive nanoscale calorimeter that enables heat capacity measurements upon minute, externally affixed (phonon-coupled) samples at low temperatures. For a 5 s measurement at 2 K, we demonstrate an unprecedented resolution of ΔC ~ 0.5 aJ/K (~36 000 k_B). This sensitivity is sufficient to enable heat capacity measurements upon zeptomole-scale samples or upon adsorbates with sub-monolayer coverage across the minute cross sections of these devices. We describe the fabrication and operation of these devices and demonstrate their sensitivity by measuring an adsorbed ^4He film with optimum resolution of ~3 × 10^(-5) monolayers upon an active surface area of only ~1.2 × 10^(-9) m^2
Ion trap transducers for quantum electromechanical oscillators
An enduring challenge for contemporary physics is to experimentally observe
and control quantum behavior in macroscopic systems. We show that a single
trapped atomic ion could be used to probe the quantum nature of a mesoscopic
mechanical oscillator precooled to 4K, and furthermore, to cool the oscillator
with high efficiency to its quantum ground state. The proposed experiment could
be performed using currently available technology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Kerr nonlinearities and nonclassical states with superconducting qubits and nanomechanical resonators
We propose the use of a superconducting charge qubit capacitively coupled to
two resonant nanomechanical resonators to generate Yurke-Stoler states, i.e.
quantum superpositions of pairs of distinguishable coherent states 180
out of phase with each other. This is achieved by effectively implementing Kerr
nonlinearities induced through application of a strong external driving field
in one of the resonators. A simple study of the effect of dissipation on our
scheme is also presented, and lower bounds of fidelity and purity of the
generated state are calculated. Our procedure to implement a Kerr nonlinearity
in this system may be used for high precision measurements in nanomechanical
resonators.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, fixed typo
Cooling a mechanical resonator via coupling to a tunable double quantum dot
We study the cooling of a mechanical resonator (MR) that is capacitively
coupled to a double quantum dot (DQD). The MR is cooled by the dynamical
backaction induced by the capacitive coupling between the DQD and the MR. The
DQD is excited by a microwave field and afterwards a tunneling event results in
the decay of the excited state of the DQD. An important advantage of this
system is that both the energy level splitting and the decay rate of the DQD
can be well tuned by varying the gate voltage. We find that the steady average
occupancy, below unity, of the MR can be achieved by changing both the decay
rate of the excited state and the detuning between the transition frequency of
the DQD and the microwave frequency, in analogy to the laser sideband cooling
of an atom or trapped ion in atomic physics. Our results show that the cooling
of the MR to the ground state is experimentally implementable.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Local flow management/profile descent algorithm. Fuel-efficient, time-controlled profiles for the NASA TSRV airplane
The Local Flow Management/Profile Descent (LFM/PD) algorithm designed for the NASA Transport System Research Vehicle program is described. The algorithm provides fuel-efficient altitude and airspeed profiles consistent with ATC restrictions in a time-based metering environment over a fixed ground track. The model design constraints include accommodation of both published profile descent procedures and unpublished profile descents, incorporation of fuel efficiency as a flight profile criterion, operation within the performance capabilities of the Boeing 737-100 airplane with JT8D-7 engines, and conformity to standard air traffic navigation and control procedures. Holding and path stretching capabilities are included for long delay situations
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