Experimental Generation and Observation of Intrinsic Localized Spin Wave Modes in an Antiferromagnet

By driving with a microwave pulse the lowest frequency antiferromagnetic resonance of the quasi 1-D biaxial antiferromagnet (C_2 H_5 NH_3)_2 CuCl_4 into an unstable region intrinsic localized spin waves have been generated and detected in the spin wave gap. These findings are consistent with the prediction that nonlinearity plus lattice discreteness can lead to localized excitations with dimensions comparable to the lattice constant.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Detecting drift of quantum sources: not the de Finetti theorem

We propose and analyze a method to detect and characterize the drift of a nonstationary quantum source. It generalizes a standard measurement for detecting phase diffusion of laser fields to quantum systems of arbitrary Hilbert space dimension, qubits in particular. We distinguish diffusive and systematic drifts, and examine how quickly one can determine that a source is drifting. We show that for single-photon wavepackets our measurement is implemented by the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Weak Scale Superstrings

Recent developments in string duality suggest that the string scale may not be irrevocably tied to the Planck scale. Two explicit but unrealistic examples are described where the ratio of the string scale to the Planck scale is arbitrarily small. Solutions which are more realistic may exist in the intermediate coupling or ``truly strong coupling'' region of the heterotic string. Weak scale superstrings have dramatic experimental consequences for both collider physics and cosmology.Comment: harvmac, 14 pages. References added, 3 typos fixed, Comments added at beginning of section 4 emphasizing flaws of the toy example

Kaluza-Klein electrically charged black branes in M-theory

We present a class of Kaluza-Klein electrically charged black p-brane solutions of ten-dimensional, type IIA superstring theory. Uplifting to eleven dimensions these solutions are studied in the context of M-theory. They can be interpreted either as a p+1 extended object trapped around the eleventh dimension along which momentum is flowing or as a boost of the following backgrounds: the Schwarzschild black (p+1)-brane or the product of the (10-p)-dimensional Euclidean Schwarzschild manifold with the (p+1)-dimensional Minkowski spacetime.Comment: 16 pages, uses latex and epsf macro, figures include

Fabrication of alignment structures for a fiber resonator by use of deep-ultraviolet lithography

We present a novel method to mount and align an optical-fiber-based resonator on the flat surface of an atom chip with ultrahigh precision. The structures for mounting a pair of fibers, which constitute the fiber resonator, are produced by a spin-coated SU-8 photoresist technique by use of deep-UV lithography. The design and production of the SU-8 structures are discussed. From the measured finesses we calculate the coupling loss of the SU-8 structures acting as a kind of fiber splice to be smaller than 0.013 dB.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

GEMINI: A Generic Multi-Modal Natural Interface Framework for Videogames

In recent years videogame companies have recognized the role of player engagement as a major factor in user experience and enjoyment. This encouraged a greater investment in new types of game controllers such as the WiiMote, Rock Band instruments and the Kinect. However, the native software of these controllers was not originally designed to be used in other game applications. This work addresses this issue by building a middleware framework, which maps body poses or voice commands to actions in any game. This not only warrants a more natural and customized user-experience but it also defines an interoperable virtual controller. In this version of the framework, body poses and voice commands are respectively recognized through the Kinect's built-in cameras and microphones. The acquired data is then translated into the native interaction scheme in real time using a lightweight method based on spatial restrictions. The system is also prepared to use Nintendo's Wiimote as an auxiliary and unobtrusive gamepad for physically or verbally impractical commands. System validation was performed by analyzing the performance of certain tasks and examining user reports. Both confirmed this approach as a practical and alluring alternative to the game's native interaction scheme. In sum, this framework provides a game-controlling tool that is totally customizable and very flexible, thus expanding the market of game consumers.Comment: WorldCIST'13 Internacional Conferenc

Influence of substrate temperature on lattice strain field and phase transition in MeV oxygen ion implanted GaAs crystals

A detailed study of the influence of substrate temperature on the radiation-induced lattice strain field and crystalline-to-amorphous (c-a) phase transition in MeV oxygen ion implanted GaAs crystals has been made using channeling Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and the x-ray rocking curve technique. A comparison has been made between the cases of room temperature (RT) and low temperature (LT) (about 100 K) implantation. A strong in situ dynamic annealing process is found in RT implantation at a moderate beam current, resulting in a uniform positive strain field in the implanted layer. LT implantation introduces a freeze-in effect which impedes the recombination and diffusion of initial radiation-created lattice damage and defects, and in turn drives more efficiently the c-a transition as well as strain saturation and relaxation. The results are interpreted with a spike damage model in which the defect production process is described in terms of the competition between defect generation by nuclear spikes and defects diffusion and recombination stimulated by electronic spikes. It is also suggested that the excess population of vacancies and their complexes is responsible for lattice spacing expansion in ion-implanted GaAs crystals