Quantum frequency conversion and strong coupling of photonic modes using four-wave mixing in integrated microresonators

Single photon-level quantum frequency conversion has recently been demonstrated using silicon nitride microring resonators. The resonance enhancement offered by such systems enables high-efficiency translation of quantum states of light across wide frequency ranges at sub-watt pump powers. Using a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian formalism, we present a detailed theoretical analysis of the conversion dynamics in these systems, and show that they are capable of converting single- and multi-photon quantum states. Analytic formulas for the conversion efficiency, spectral conversion probability density, and pump power requirements are derived which are in good agreement with previous theoretical and experimental results. We show that with only modest improvement to the state of the art, efficiencies exceeding 95% are achievable using less than 100 mW of pump power. At the critical driving strength that yields maximum conversion efficiency, the spectral conversion probability density is shown to exhibit a flat-topped peak, indicating a range of insensitivity to the spectrum of a single photon input. Two alternate theoretical approaches are presented to study the conversion dynamics: a dressed mode approach that yields a better intuitive picture of the conversion process, and a study of the temporal dynamics of the participating modes in the resonator, which uncovers a regime of Rabi-like coherent oscillations of single photons between two different frequency modes. This oscillatory regime arises from the strong coupling of distinct frequency modes mediated by coherent pumps.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Scalable squeezed light source for continuous variable quantum sampling

We propose a novel squeezed light source capable of meeting the stringent requirements of continuous variable quantum sampling. Using the effective $\chi_2$ interaction induced by a strong driving beam in the presence of the $\chi_3$ response in an integrated microresonator, our device is compatible with established nanophotonic fabrication platforms. With typical realistic parameters, squeezed states with a mean photon number of 10 or higher can be generated in a single consistent temporal mode at repetition rates in excess of 100MHz. Over 15dB of squeezing is achievable in existing ultra-low loss platforms

Sensory processing sensitivity, transliminality, and boundary-thinness as predictors of anomalous experiences, beliefs, and abilities

Individual differences are among the most studied correlates of anomalous experiences and beliefs (AEs), but few have focussed on personality measures specifically defined by sensitivity. Of interest in this study is the personality trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), characterised by aesthetic sensitivity, being easily overwhelmed by internal and external stimuli, emotional reactivity and empathy, and deeper processing. An online survey investigated the relationship between SPS, and other personality constructs, in part, defined by sensitivity (transliminality and boundary-thinness) with anomalous experiences, beliefs, and abilities. Two hundred participants (mean age = 32.23; 151 females, 41 males, 6 non-binary and 2 preferred not to say) completed the Revised Transliminality Scale, the Boundary Questionnaire Short-Form, the Highly Sensitive Person Scale - Brief Version (measuring SPS), the Anomalous Experiences Inventory, and open-ended questions on SPS and AEs. There were significant and positive correlations between all four variables. Both transliminality and boundary thinness positively predicted anomalous beliefs with transliminality being the stronger, however, only transliminality predicted anomalous experiences and abilities. The findings suggest a relationship between SPS and anomalous experience and belief, but this is mediated by transliminality and boundary thinness

Testing home dream precognition and exploring links to psychological factors

Precognition refers to the idea that an individual may be able to obtain information about a future event via a non-usual route, prior to the event occurring. Over time various paradigms have been developed to elicit and test for such effects. Here, we focused on dream precognition as dreaming represents a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that may facilitate such anomalous experiences. Using a home-dream paradigm we examined whether participants would be able to dream about and rate a future target image as more similar to their dreams compared to decoy images. We also examined the potential relationship between dream precognition and sensory processing sensitivity, transliminality, boundary thinness and anomalous experiences and belief. One hundred and one participants completed an initial practice trial, to familiarise themselves with the procedure, followed by the main trial. In each trial participants were required to dream of a future target image that they would later be shown. During each trial, after they had completed their dreaming, participants were randomly presented with a set of four images and required to rate them in terms of how much similarity there was between each image and their dream on a scale from 1 to 100. Results of the main trial showed that ratings for the target image were significantly higher than the decoy images. However, no clear relationships were found between precognitive target ratings and sensory processing sensitivity, transliminality, boundary thinness or anomalous experiences and belief. We conclude that the result is not due to any methodological artifacts and as such represents suggestive evidence for dream precognition. Given the logistical simplicity of the home-dream paradigm we would encourage other researchers to replicate our findings and explore what may be a fruitful avenue of research

InP shallow-homojunction solar cells

Indium phosphide solar cells with very thin n-type emitters have been made by both ion implantation and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Air mass zero efficiencies as high as 18.8 percent (NASA measurement) have been achieved. Although calculations show that, as is the case with GaAs, a heterostructure is expected to be required for the highest efficiencies attainable, the material properties of InP give the shallow-homojunction structure a greater potential than in the case of GaAs. The best cells, which were those made by ion implantation, show open-circuit voltage (V sub oc) of 873 mV, short-circuit current of 357 A/sq m (35.7 mA/sq cm), and fill factor of 0.829. Improvements are anticipated in all three of these parameters. Internal quantum efficiency peaks at over 90 percent in the red end of the spectrum, but drops to 54 percent in the blue end. Other cells have achieved 74 percent in the blue end. Detailed modeling of the data indicates that a high front surface recombination velocity is responsible for the low blue response, that the carrier lifetime is high enough to allow good carrier collection from both the base and the emitter, and that the voltage is base-limited

High efficiency GaAs-Ge tandem solar cells grown by MOCVD

High conversion efficiency and low weight are obviously desirable for solar cells intended for space applications. One promising structure is GaAs on Ge. The advantages of using Ge wafers as substrates include the following: they offer high efficiency by forming a two-junction tandem cell; low weight combined with superior strength allows usage of thin (3 mil) wafers; and they are a good substrate for GaAs, being lattice matched, thermal expansion matched, and available as large-area wafers

The Ursinus Weekly, June 7, 1937

Norman E. McClure is inaugurated as seventh president of Ursinus College • Brumbaugh urges seniors faith in democracy • Meminger offers seniors optimism • Edward Bell to head graduates next year • Board of Directors names new members • Guest heads forum committee under adopted constitution • Third volume of Dr. McClure\u27s Shakespeare edition completed • College physician active in medical circles, writing • Ursinus College yesterday and tomorrow • Editorial comment: The work of President McClure • Fats and Frankie need your support • Gettysburg tops league; 6 Grizzlies graduated • Gridmen start autumn training Labor Day • Brodbeck captures intramural trophy • 1936-37 summaries • Zoll, Bodley, Padden named as spring sports leaders • Netwomen win 7 out of 8; Ware captains new outfit • Tomlinson takes over reins at student council banquet • Degrees in course, Class of 1937 • Ruby out June 3; Trout wins titles • In Springtime pleases large audience Saturday • Thirteen seniors have jobs in education and business • Registrar\u27s office releases open scholarship awards • Alumni Athletic Club is headed by Malcolm Derk • Y leaders attend conclave • Professors in their childhood daze is feature of Class Day exercises • Mrs. Trinna Moser is new Ursinus Women\u27s Club head • Thirty-three hundred witness Class, Curtain Club, and Hedgerow Playershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/3101/thumbnail.jp

Higgs ID at the LHC

We make a complete catalog of extended Higgs sectors involving SU(2)_L doublets and singlets, subject to natural flavor conservation. In each case we present the couplings of a light neutral CP-even Higgs state h in terms of the model parameters, and identify which models are distinguishable in principle based on this information. We also give explicit expressions for the model parameters in terms of h couplings and exhibit the behaviors of the couplings in the limit where the deviations from the Standard Model Higgs couplings are small. Finally we discuss prospects for differentiation of extended Higgs models based on measurements at the LHC and ILC and identify the regions in which these experiments could detect deviations from the SM Higgs predictions.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, PRD versio

Migrating to Cloud-Native Architectures Using Microservices: An Experience Report

Migration to the cloud has been a popular topic in industry and academia in recent years. Despite many benefits that the cloud presents, such as high availability and scalability, most of the on-premise application architectures are not ready to fully exploit the benefits of this environment, and adapting them to this environment is a non-trivial task. Microservices have appeared recently as novel architectural styles that are native to the cloud. These cloud-native architectures can facilitate migrating on-premise architectures to fully benefit from the cloud environments because non-functional attributes, like scalability, are inherent in this style. The existing approaches on cloud migration does not mostly consider cloud-native architectures as their first-class citizens. As a result, the final product may not meet its primary drivers for migration. In this paper, we intend to report our experience and lessons learned in an ongoing project on migrating a monolithic on-premise software architecture to microservices. We concluded that microservices is not a one-fit-all solution as it introduces new complexities to the system, and many factors, such as distribution complexities, should be considered before adopting this style. However, if adopted in a context that needs high flexibility in terms of scalability and availability, it can deliver its promised benefits

LAPAS: A SiGe Front End Prototype for the Upgraded ATLAS LAr Calorimeter

We have designed and fabricated a very low noise preamplifier and shaper to replace the existing ATLAS Liquid Argon readout for use at the Large Hadron Collider upgrade (sLHC). IBM’s 8WL 130nm SiGe process was chosen for it’s radiation tolerance, low noise bipolar NPN devices, wide voltage rand and potential use in other sLHC detector subsystems. Although the requirements for the final design can not be set at this time, the prototype was designed to accommodate a 16 bit dynamic range. This was accomplished by using a single stage, low noise, wide dynamic range preamp followed by a dual range shaper. The low noise of the preamp is made possible by the low base spreading resistance of the Silicon Germanium NPN bipolar transistors. The relatively high voltage rating of the NPN transistors is exploited to allow a gain of 650V/A in the preamplifier which eases the input voltage noise requirement on the shaper. Each shaper stage is designed as a cascaded differential operational amplifier doublet with a common mode operating point regulated by an internal feedback loop. Measurement of the fabricated circuits indicates their performance is consistent with the desig