1,818 research outputs found
Quantum phase estimation with lossy interferometers
We give a detailed discussion of optimal quantum states for optical two-mode
interferometry in the presence of photon losses. We derive analytical formulae
for the precision of phase estimation obtainable using quantum states of light
with a definite photon number and prove that maximization of the precision is a
convex optimization problem. The corresponding optimal precision, i.e. the
lowest possible uncertainty, is shown to beat the standard quantum limit thus
outperforming classical interferometry. Furthermore, we discuss more general
inputs: states with indefinite photon number and states with photons
distributed between distinguishable time bins. We prove that neither of these
is helpful in improving phase estimation precision.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Phonon Life-times from first principles self consistent lattice dynamics
Phonon lifetime calculations from first principles usually rely on time
consuming molecular dynamics calculations, or density functional perturbation
theory (DFPT) where the zero temperature crystal structure is assumed to be
dynamically stable. Here a new and effective method for calculating phonon
lifetimes from first principles is presented, not limited to crystal structures
stable at 0 K, and potentially much more effective than most corresponding
molecular dynamics calculations. The method is based on the recently developed
self consistent lattice dynamical method and is here tested by calculating the
bcc phase phonon lifetimes of Li, Na, Ti and Zr, as representative examples.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figur
Quantum frequency estimation with trapped ions and atoms
We discuss strategies for quantum enhanced estimation of atomic transition
frequencies with ions stored in Paul traps or neutral atoms trapped in optical
lattices. We show that only marginal quantum improvements can be achieved using
standard Ramsey interferometry in the presence of collective dephasing, which
is the major source of noise in relevant experimental setups. We therefore
analyze methods based on decoherence free subspaces and prove that quantum
enhancement can readily be achieved even in the case of significantly imperfect
state preparation and faulty detections.Comment: 5 pages + 6 pages appendices; published versio
DETECTING PANIC POTENTIAL IN SOCIAL MEDIA TWEETS
A high degree of real-time interconnectedness can aid information transmission, particularly in disaster situations. However, it can have substantial negative consequences when information is emotionally laden and transmits these emotions, particularly the emotion of panic, to the individual across social media in an already grave situation. Prior research has shown that information laden with emotion spreads through social network faster than otherwise. Hence, we highlight the need to understand and curtail potentially panic-causing information, without compromising on good quality information from being available for effective crisis communication and management. With this research, we present the necessity of detecting the panic potential of social media messages, and aim to address two research questions: What are the features, and metrics necessary, to compute and evaluate the panic potential of a social media message (respectively)? Our planned analysis takes the case of the Munich shooting incident, 2016, based on user tweets immediately after the incident. Different features and evaluation metrics are proposed and discussed. The work aims to detect panic potential of messages in social media networks during disasters
Poxviral/Retroviral Chimeric Vectors Allow Cytoplasmic Production of Transducing Defective Retroviral Particles
AbstractDefective vaccinia viruses were constructed that express functional Moloney murine leukemia virus-based vector genomes, giving rise to substantial titers of transduction-competent retrovirus particles after infection of a retroviral packaging cell line. For this purpose, the proviral retrovirus genome, engineered into the vaccinia virus mutant, was subjected to several modifications, including the replacement of retroviral promoter sequences by vaccinia virus sequences and the precise fusion of the transcription stop signal downstream of and the removal of such signals within the transcription unit, allowing cytoplasmic transcription of distinct full-length retroviral transcripts. Vaccinia-mediated expression of retroviral vector particles could be observed as early as 3 h postinfection and resulted in stable transduction of NIH/3T3 target cells at higher titers than the control performed by conventional plasmid transfections. Thus at least part of the vaccinia life cycle and retroviral assembly can occur concomitantly. Due to the favorable properties of vaccinia vectors, including high coding capacity, stability, and wide host range, defective vaccinia viral/retroviral chimeric vectors are promising tools for gene therapy applications
Selection and Development of Nontoxic Nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum Surrogate Strains for Food Challenge Testing
Clostridium botulinum causes severe foodborne intoxications by producing a potent neurotoxin. Challenge studies with this pathogen are an important tool to ensure the safety of new processing techniques and newly designed or modified foods, but they are hazardous and complicated by the lack of an effective selective counting medium. Therefore, this study aimed to develop selectable nontoxic surrogate strains for group II, or nonproteolytic, C. botulinum, which are psychotropic and hence of particular concern in mildly treated, refrigerated foods. Thirty-one natural nontoxic nonproteolytic strains, 16 of which were isolated in this work, were characterized in detail, revealing that 28 strains were genomically and phenotypically indistinguishable from toxic strains. Five strains, representing the genomic and phenotypic diversity of group II C. botulinum, were selected and successfully equipped with an erythromycin (Em) resistance marker in a defective structural phage gene without altering phenotypic features. Finally, a selective medium containing Em, cycloserine (Cs), gentamicin (Gm), and lysozyme (Ly) was developed, which inhibited the background microbiota of commercial cooked ham, chicken filet, and salami, but supported spore germination and growth of the Em-resistant surrogate strains. The surrogates developed in this work are expected to facilitate food challenge studies with nonproteolytic C. botulinum for the food industry and can also provide a safe alternative for basic C. botulinum research.Peer Reviewe
Dynamics of a Quantum Phase Transition
We present two approaches to the dynamics of a quench-induced phase
transition in quantum Ising model. The first one retraces steps of the standard
approach to thermodynamic second order phase transitions in the quantum
setting. The second one is purely quantum, based on the Landau-Zener formula
for transition probabilities in avoided level crossings. We show that the two
approaches yield compatible results for the scaling of the defect density with
the quench rate. We exhibit similarities between them, and comment on the
insights they give into dynamics of quantum phase transitions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Replaced by revised versio
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