42,833 research outputs found
Secure thermal infrared communications using engineered blackbody radiation
The thermal (emitted) infrared frequency bands, from 20–40 THz and 60–100 THz, are best known for applications in thermography. This underused and unregulated part of the spectral range offers opportunities for the development of secure communications. The ‘THz Torch' concept was recently presented by the authors. This technology fundamentally exploits engineered blackbody radiation, by partitioning thermally-generated spectral noise power into pre-defined frequency channels; the energy in each channel is then independently pulsed modulated and multiplexing schemes are introduced to create a robust form of short-range secure communications in the far/mid infrared. To date, octave bandwidth (25–50 THz) single-channel links have been demonstrated with 380 bps speeds. Multi-channel ‘THz Torch' frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) schemes have been proposed, but only a slow 40 bps FDM scheme has been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we report a much faster 1,280 bps FDM implementation. In addition, an experimental proof-of-concept FHSS scheme is demonstrated for the first time, having a 320 bps data rate. With both 4-channel multiplexing schemes, measured bit error rates (BERs) of < 10(−6) are achieved over a distance of 2.5 cm. Our approach represents a new paradigm in the way niche secure communications can be established over short links
Dynamics of small trapped one-dimensional Fermi gas under oscillating magnetic fields
Deterministic preparation of an ultracold harmonically trapped
one-dimensional Fermi gas consisting of a few fermions has been realized by the
Heidelberg group. Using Floquet formalism, we study the time dynamics of two-
and three-fermion systems in a harmonic trap under an oscillating magnetic
field. The oscillating magnetic field produces a time-dependent interaction
strength through a Feshbach resonance. We explore the dependence of these
dynamics on the frequency of the oscillating magnetic field for
non-interacting, weakly interacting, and strongly interacting systems. We
identify the regimes where the system can be described by an effective
two-state model and an effective three-state model. We find an unbounded
coupling to all excited states at the infinitely strong interaction limit and
several simple relations that characterize the dynamics. Based on our findings,
we propose a technique for driving transition from the ground state to the
excited states using an oscillating magnetic field.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Transmutation prospect of long-lived nuclear waste induced by high-charge electron beam from laser plasma accelerator
Photo-transmutation of long-lived nuclear waste induced by high-charge
relativistic electron beam (e-beam) from laser plasma accelerator is
demonstrated. Collimated relativistic e-beam with a high charge of
approximately 100 nC is produced from high-intensity laser interaction with
near-critical-density (NCD) plasma. Such e-beam impinges on a high-Z convertor
and then radiates energetic bremsstrahlung photons with flux approaching
10^{11} per laser shot. Taking long-lived radionuclide ^{126}Sn as an example,
the resulting transmutation reaction yield is the order of 10^{9} per laser
shot, which is two orders of magnitude higher than obtained from previous
studies. It is found that at lower densities, tightly focused laser irradiating
relatively longer NCD plasmas can effectively enhance the transmutation
efficiency. Furthermore, the photo-transmutation is generalized by considering
mixed-nuclide waste samples, which suggests that the laser-accelerated
high-charge e-beam could be an efficient tool to transmute long-lived nuclear
waste.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, it has been submitted to Physics of Plasm
Suppressing longitudinal double-layer oscillations by using elliptically polarized laser pulses in the hole-boring radiation pressure acceleration regime
It is shown that well collimated mono-energetic ion beams with a large
particle number can be generated in the hole-boring radiation pressure
acceleration regime by using an elliptically polarized laser pulse with
appropriate theoretically determined laser polarization ratio. Due to the
effect, the double-layer charge separation region is
imbued with hot electrons that prevent ion pileup, thus suppressing the
double-layer oscillations. The proposed mechanism is well confirmed by
Particle-in-Cell simulations, and after suppressing the longitudinal
double-layer oscillations, the ion beams driven by the elliptically polarized
lasers own much better energy spectrum than those by circularly polarized
lasers.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Plasmas (2013) accepte
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