481 research outputs found
Quantum bit detector
We propose and analyze an experimental scheme of quantum nondemolition
detection of monophotonic and vacuum states in a superconductive toroidal
cavity by means of Rydberg atoms.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Nanostructure and strain properties of core-shell GaAs/AlGaAs nanowires
GaAs/AlGaAs coreâshell nanowires (NWs) were grown on Si(111) by Ga-assisted molecular beam epitaxy via the vaporâliquidâsolid mechanism. High-resolution and scanning transmission electron microscopy observations showed that NWs were predominantly zinc-blende single crystals of hexagonal shape, grown along the [111] direction. GaAs core NWs emerged from the Si surface and subsequently, the NW growth front advanced by a continuous sequence of (111) rotational twins, while the AlGaAs shell lattice was perfectly aligned with the core lattice. Occasionally, single or multiple stacking faults induced wurtzite structure NW pockets. The AlGaAs shell occupied at least half of the NW's projected diameter, while the average Al content of the shell, estimated by energy dispersive x-ray analysis, was x = 0.35. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations of hexagonal cross-section NW slices, under a new parametrization of the Tersoff interatomic potential for AlAs, showed increased atom relaxation at the hexagon vertices of the shell. This, in conjunction with the compressively strained Al0.35Ga0.65As shell close to the GaAs core, can trigger a kinetic surface mechanism that could drive Al adatoms to accumulate at the relaxed sites of the shell, namely along the diagonals of the shell's hexagon. Moreover, the absence of long-range stresses in the GaAs/Al0.35Ga0.65As coreâshell system may account for a highly stable heterostructure. The latter was consolidated by temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy
Spontaneous emission of an atom in front of a mirror
Motivated by a recent experiment [J. Eschner {\it et al.}, Nature {\bf 413},
495 (2001)], we now present a theoretical study on the fluorescence of an atom
in front of a mirror. On the assumption that the presence of the distant mirror
and a lens imposes boundary conditions on the electric field in a plane close
to the atom, we derive the intensities of the emitted light as a function of an
effective atom-mirror distance. The results obtained are in good agreement with
the experimental findings.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, revised version, references adde
Quantum-inspired interferometry with chirped laser pulses
We introduce and implement an interferometric technique based on chirped
femtosecond laser pulses and nonlinear optics. The interference manifests as a
high-visibility (> 85%) phase-insensitive dip in the intensity of an optical
beam when the two interferometer arms are equal to within the coherence length
of the light. This signature is unique in classical interferometry, but is a
direct analogue to Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum interference. Our technique exhibits
all the metrological advantages of the quantum interferometer, but with signals
at least 10^7 times greater. In particular we demonstrate enhanced resolution,
robustness against loss, and automatic dispersion cancellation. Our
interferometer offers significant advantages over previous technologies, both
quantum and classical, in precision time delay measurements and biomedical
imaging.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Does Global Warming Increase Establishment Rates of Invasive Alien Species? A Centurial Time Series Analysis
BACKGROUND: The establishment rate of invasive alien insect species has been increasing worldwide during the past century. This trend has been widely attributed to increased rates of international trade and associated species introductions, but rarely linked to environmental change. To better understand and manage the bioinvasion process, it is crucial to understand the relationship between global warming and establishment rate of invasive alien species, especially for poikilothermic invaders such as insects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We present data that demonstrate a significant positive relationship between the change in average annual surface air temperature and the establishment rate of invasive alien insects in mainland China during 1900-2005. This relationship was modeled by regression analysis, and indicated that a 1 °C increase in average annual surface temperature in mainland China was associated with an increase in the establishment rate of invasive alien insects of about 0.5 species yearâ»Âč. The relationship between rising surface air temperature and increasing establishment rate remained significant even after accounting for increases in international trade during the period 1950-2005. Moreover, similar relationships were detected using additional data from the United Kingdom and the contiguous United States. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that the perceived increase in establishments of invasive alien insects can be explained only in part by an increase in introduction rate or propagule pressure. Besides increasing propagule pressure, global warming is another driver that could favor worldwide bioinvasions. Our study highlights the need to consider global warming when designing strategies and policies to deal with bioinvasions
Absolute frequency measurement of the In clock transition with a mode-locked laser
The absolute frequency of the In -
clock transition at 237 nm was measured with an accuracy of 1.8 parts in
. Using a phase-coherent frequency chain, we compared the
- transition with a methane-stabilized He-Ne laser at 3.39 m
which was calibrated against an atomic cesium fountain clock. A frequency gap
of 37 THz at the fourth harmonic of the He-Ne standard was bridged by a
frequency comb generated by a mode-locked femtosecond laser. The frequency of
the In clock transition was found to be
kHz, the accuracy being limited by the uncertainty of the He-Ne laser
reference. This represents an improvement in accuracy of more than 2 orders of
magnitude on previous measurements of the line and now stands as the most
accurate measurement of an optical transition in a single ion.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures. accepted for publication in Opt. Let
First measurement of the helicity asymmetry for in the resonance region
The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the photoproduction cross
section of single neutral pions off protons is reported for photon energies
from 600 to 2300\,MeV, covering nearly the full solid angle. The data are
compared to predictions from the SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses.
Strikingly large differences between data and predictions are observed which
are traced to differences in the helicity amplitudes of well known and
established resonances. Precise values for the helicity amplitudes of several
resonances are reported
Experimental constraints on the -nucleus real potential
In a search for mesic states, the production of -mesons in
coincidence with forward going protons has been studied in photon induced
reactions on C for incident photon energies of 1250 - 3100 MeV. The
pairs from decays of bound or quasi-free -mesons have
been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system in coincidence with protons
registered in the MiniTAPS forward array. Structures in the total energy
distribution of the pairs, which would indicate the population
and decay of bound B states, are not observed. The
cross section of 0.3 nb/MeV/sr observed in the bound state energy regime
between -100 and 0 MeV may be accounted for by yield leaking into the bound
state regime because of the large in-medium width of the -meson. A
comparison of the measured total energy distribution with calculations suggests
the real part of the B potential to be small and only
weakly attractive with 35(stat) 20(syst) MeV
in contrast to some theoretical predictions of attractive potentials with a
depth of 100 - 150 MeV.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure
- âŠ