507 research outputs found
Measuring the Density Matrix by Local Addressing
We introduce a procedure to measure the density matrix of a material system.
The density matrix is addressed locally in this scheme by applying a sequence
of delayed light pulses. The procedure is based on the stimulated Raman
adiabatic passage (STIRAP) technique. It is shown that a series of population
measurements on the target state of the population transfer process yields
unambiguous information about the populations and coherences of the addressed
states, which therefore can be determined.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Inverted spectroscopy and interferometry for quantum-state reconstruction of systems with SU(2) symmetry
We consider how the conventional spectroscopic and interferometric schemes
can be rearranged to serve for reconstructing quantum states of physical
systems possessing SU(2) symmetry. The discussed systems include a collection
of two-level atoms, a two-mode quantized radiation field with a fixed total
number of photons, and a single laser-cooled ion in a two-dimensional harmonic
trap with a fixed total number of vibrational quanta. In the proposed
rearrangement, the standard spectroscopic and interferometric experiments are
inverted. Usually one measures an unknown frequency or phase shift using a
system prepared in a known quantum state. Our aim is just the inverse one,
i.e., to use a well-calibrated apparatus with known transformation parameters
to measure unknown quantum states.Comment: 8 pages, REVTeX. More info on
http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~cbrif/science.htm
Green functions and propagation of waves in strongly inhomogeneous media
We show that Green functions of second-order differential operators with
singular or unbounded coefficients can have an anomalous behaviour in
comparison to the well-known properties of Green functions of operators with
bounded coefficients. We discuss some consequences of such an anomalous short
or long distance behaviour for a diffusion and wave propagation in an
inhomogeneous medium
Least-squares inversion for density-matrix reconstruction
We propose a method for reconstruction of the density matrix from measurable
time-dependent (probability) distributions of physical quantities. The
applicability of the method based on least-squares inversion is - compared with
other methods - very universal. It can be used to reconstruct quantum states of
various systems, such as harmonic and and anharmonic oscillators including
molecular vibrations in vibronic transitions and damped motion. It also enables
one to take into account various specific features of experiments, such as
limited sets of data and data smearing owing to limited resolution. To
illustrate the method, we consider a Morse oscillator and give a comparison
with other state-reconstruction methods suggested recently.Comment: 16 pages, REVTeX, 6 PS figures include
Homodyne detection for measuring internal quantum correlations of optical pulses
A new method is described for determining the quantum correlations at
different times in optical pulses by using balanced homodyne detection. The
signal pulse and sequences of ultrashort test pulses are superimposed, where
for chosen distances between the test pulses their relative phases and
intensities are varied from measurement to measurement. The correlation
statistics of the signal pulse is obtained from the time-integrated difference
photocurrents measured.Comment: 7 pages, A4.sty include
Continuous-variable optical quantum state tomography
This review covers latest developments in continuous-variable quantum-state
tomography of optical fields and photons, placing a special accent on its
practical aspects and applications in quantum information technology. Optical
homodyne tomography is reviewed as a method of reconstructing the state of
light in a given optical mode. A range of relevant practical topics are
discussed, such as state-reconstruction algorithms (with emphasis on the
maximum-likelihood technique), the technology of time-domain homodyne
detection, mode matching issues, and engineering of complex quantum states of
light. The paper also surveys quantum-state tomography for the transverse
spatial state (spatial mode) of the field in the special case of fields
containing precisely one photon.Comment: Finally, a revision! Comments to lvov(at)ucalgary.ca and
raymer(at)uoregon.edu are welcom
Quantum Characterization of a Werner-like Mixture
We introduce a Werner-like mixture [R. F. Werner, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 40}, 4277
(1989)] by considering two correlated but different degrees of freedom, one
with discrete variables and the other with continuous variables. We evaluate
the mixedness of this state, and its degree of entanglement establishing its
usefulness for quantum information processing like quantum teleportation. Then,
we provide its tomographic characterization. Finally, we show how such a
mixture can be generated and measured in a trapped system like one electron in
a Penning trap.Comment: 8 pages ReVTeX, 8 eps figure
Measurement of the Spin-Dependence of the pbar-p Interaction at the AD-Ring
We propose to use an internal polarized hydrogen storage cell gas target in
the AD ring to determine for the first time the two total spin-dependent pbar-p
cross sections sigma_1 and sigma_2 at antiproton beam energies in the range
from 50 to 450 MeV. The data obtained are of interest by themselves for the
general theory of pbar-p interactions since they will provide a first
experimental constraint of the spin-spin dependence of the nucleon-antinucleon
potential in the energy range of interest. In addition, measurements of the
polarization buildup of stored antiprotons are required to define the optimum
parameters of a future, dedicated Antiproton Polarizer Ring (APR), intended to
feed a double-polarized asymmetric pbar-p collider with polarized antiprotons.
Such a machine has recently been proposed by the PAX collaboration for the new
Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) at GSI in Darmstadt, Germany.
The availability of an intense stored beam of polarized antiprotons will
provide access to a wealth of single- and double-spin observables, thereby
opening a new window on QCD spin physics.Comment: 51 pages, 23 figures, proposal submitted to the SPS committee of CER
Distinct Binding and Immunogenic Properties of the Gonococcal Homologue of Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein
Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis. The bacterium recruits factor H (fH), a negative regulator of the complement system, to its surface via fH binding protein (fHbp), providing a mechanism to avoid complement-mediated killing. fHbp is an important antigen that elicits protective immunity against the meningococcus and has been divided into three different variant groups, V1, V2 and V3, or families A and B. However, immunisation with fHbp V1 does not result in cross-protection against V2 and V3 and vice versa. Furthermore, high affinity binding of fH could impair immune responses against fHbp. Here, we investigate a homologue of fHbp in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, designated as Gonococcal homologue of fHbp (Ghfp) which we show is a promising vaccine candidate for N. meningitidis. We demonstrate that Gfhp is not expressed on the surface of the gonococcus and, despite its high level of identity with fHbp, does not bind fH. Substitution of only two amino acids in Ghfp is sufficient to confer fH binding, while the corresponding residues in V3 fHbp are essential for high affinity fH binding. Furthermore, immune responses against Ghfp recognise V1, V2 and V3 fHbps expressed by a range of clinical isolates, and have serum bactericidal activity against N. meningitidis expressing fHbps from all variant groups
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