496 research outputs found
Towards a quantum Hall effect for atoms using electric fields
An atomic analogue of Landau quantization based on the Aharonov-Casher (AC)
interaction is developed. The effect provides a first step towards an atomic
quantum Hall system using electric fields, which may be realized in a
Bose-Einstein condensate
Organic Derivatives of Mercury and Tin as Promoters of Membrane Lipid Peroxidation
The toxicity mechanisms of mercury and tin organic derivatives are still under debate. Generally the
presence of organic moieties in their molecules makes these compounds lipophilic and membrane active
species. The recent results suggest that Hg and Sn compounds deplete HS-groups in proteins, glutathione and
glutathione-dependent enzymatic systems; this process also results in the production of reactive oxygen
species (ROS), the enhancement of membrane lipids peroxidation and damage of the antioxidative defence
system. The goal of this review is to present recent results in the studies oriented towards the role of
organomercury and organotin compounds in the xenobiotic-mediated enhancement of radical production and
hence in the promotion of cell damage as a result of enhanced lipids peroxidation. Moreover the conception
of the carbon to metal bond cleavage that leads to the generation of reactive organic radicals is discussed as
one of the mechanisms of mercury and tin organic derivatives toxicity. The possible use of natural and
synthetic antioxidants as detoxification agents is described. The data collected recently and presented here
are fundamentally important to recognizing the difference between the role of metal center and of organic
fragments in the biochemical behavior of organomercury and organotin compounds in their interaction with
primary biological targets when entering a living organism
Effect of time delay on the onset of synchronization of the stochastic Kuramoto model
We consider the Kuramoto model of globally coupled phase oscillators with
time-delayed interactions, that is subject to the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (Gaussian)
colored or the non-Gaussian colored noise. We investigate numerically the
interplay between the influences of the finite correlation time of noise
and the time delay on the onset of the synchronization process. Both
cases for identical and nonidentical oscillators had been considered. Among the
obtained results for identical oscillators is a large increase of the
synchronization threshold as a function of time delay for the colored
non-Gaussian noise compared to the case of the colored Gaussian noise at low
noise correlation time . However, the difference reduces remarkably for
large noise correlation times. For the case of nonidentical oscillators, the
incoherent state may become unstable around the maximum value of the threshold
(as a function of time delay) even at lower coupling strength values in the
presence of colored noise as compared to the noiseless case. We had studied the
dependence of the critical value of the coupling strength (the threshold of
synchronization) on given parameters of the stochastic Kuramoto model in great
details and presented results for possible cases of colored Gaussian and
non-Gaussian noises.Comment: 19 pages with 7 figure
Bose-Einstein condensates in strong electric fields -- effective gauge potentials and rotating states
Magnetically-trapped atoms in Bose-Einstein condensates are spin polarized.
Since the magnetic field is inhomogeneous, the atoms aquire Berry phases of the
Aharonov-Bohm type during adiabatic motion. In the presence of an eletric field
there is an additional Aharonov-Casher effect. Taking into account the
limitations on the strength of the electric fields due to the polarizability of
the atoms, we investigate the extent to which these effects can be used to
induce rotation in a Bose-Einstein condensate.Comment: 5 pages, 2 ps figures, RevTe
Post-ER Stress Biogenesis of Golgi Is Governed by Giantin
Background: The Golgi apparatus undergoes disorganization in response to stress, but it is able to restore compact and perinuclear structure under recovery. This self-organization mechanism is significant for cellular homeostasis, but remains mostly elusive, as does the role of giantin, the largest Golgi matrix dimeric protein. Methods: In HeLa and different prostate cancer cells, we used the model of cellular stress induced by Brefeldin A (BFA). The conformational structure of giantin was assessed by proximity ligation assay and atomic force microscopy. The post-BFA distribution of Golgi resident enzymes was examined by 3D SIM high-resolution microscopy. Results: We detected that giantin is rather flexible than an extended coiled-coil dimer and BFA-induced Golgi disassembly was associated with giantin monomerization. A fusion of the nascent Golgi membranes after BFA washout is forced by giantin re-dimerization via disulfide bond in its luminal domain and assisted by Rab6a GTPase. GM130-GRASP65-dependent enzymes are able to reach the nascent Golgi membranes, while giantin-sensitive enzymes appeared at the Golgi after its complete recovery via direct interaction of their cytoplasmic tail with N-terminus of giantin. Conclusion: Post-stress recovery of Golgi is conducted by giantin dimer and Golgi proteins refill membranes according to their docking affiliation rather than their intra-Golgi location
Topological phases and circulating states of Bose-Einstein condensates
We show that the quantum topological effect predicted by Aharonov and Casher
(AC effect) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 53, 319 (1984)] may be used to create circulating
states of magnetically trapped atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC). A simple
experimental setup is suggested based on a multiply connected geometry such as
a toroidal trap or a magnetic trap pinched by a blue-detuned laser. We give
numerical estimates of such effects within the current atomic BEC experiments,
and point out some interesting properties of the associated quantized
circulating states.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Low-light-level nonlinear optics with slow light
Electromagnetically induced transparency in an optically thick, cold medium
creates a unique system where pulse-propagation velocities may be orders of
magnitude less than and optical nonlinearities become exceedingly large. As
a result, nonlinear processes may be efficient at low-light levels. Using an
atomic system with three, independent channels, we demonstrate a quantum
interference switch where a laser pulse with an energy density of
photons per causes a 1/e absorption of a second pulse.Comment: to be published in PR
Engineered swift equilibration of a Brownian particle
A fundamental and intrinsic property of any device or natural system is its
relaxation time relax, which is the time it takes to return to equilibrium
after the sudden change of a control parameter [1]. Reducing relax , is
frequently necessary, and is often obtained by a complex feedback process. To
overcome the limitations of such an approach, alternative methods based on
driving have been recently demonstrated [2, 3], for isolated quantum and
classical systems [4--9]. Their extension to open systems in contact with a
thermostat is a stumbling block for applications. Here, we design a
protocol,named Engineered Swift Equilibration (ESE), that shortcuts
time-consuming relaxations, and we apply it to a Brownian particle trapped in
an optical potential whose properties can be controlled in time. We implement
the process experimentally, showing that it allows the system to reach
equilibrium times faster than the natural equilibration rate. We also estimate
the increase of the dissipated energy needed to get such a time reduction. The
method paves the way for applications in micro and nano devices, where the
reduction of operation time represents as substantial a challenge as
miniaturization [10]. The concepts of equilibrium and of transformations from
an equilibrium state to another, are cornerstones of thermodynamics. A textbook
illustration is provided by the expansion of a gas, starting at equilibrium and
expanding to reach a new equilibrium in a larger vessel. This operation can be
performed either very slowly by a piston, without dissipating energy into the
environment, or alternatively quickly, letting the piston freely move to reach
the new volume
Bichromatic electromagnetically induced transparency in cold rubidium atoms
In a three-level atomic system coupled by two equal-amplitude laser fields
with a frequency separation 2, a weak probe field exhibits a
multiple-peaked absorption spectrum with a constant peak separation .
The corresponding probe dispersion exhibits steep normal dispersion near the
minimum absorption between the multiple absorption peaks, which leads to
simultaneous slow group velocities for probe photons at multiple frequencies
separated by . We report an experimental study in such a
bichromatically coupled three-level system in cold Rb atoms.
The multiple-peaked probe absorption spectra under various experimental
conditions have been observed and compared with the theoretical calculations.Comment: RevTex, 4 pages, 6 figures, Email address: [email protected]
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