3,348 research outputs found
Reconstruction of photon statistics using low performance photon counters
The output of a photodetector consists of a current pulse whose charge has
the statistical distribution of the actual photon numbers convolved with a
Bernoulli distribution. Photodetectors are characterized by a nonunit quantum
efficiency, i.e. not all the photons lead to a charge, and by a finite
resolution, i.e. a different number of detected photons leads to a
discriminable values of the charge only up to a maximum value. We present a
detailed comparison, based on Monte Carlo simulated experiments and real data,
among the performances of detectors with different upper limits of counting
capability. In our scheme the inversion of Bernoulli convolution is performed
by maximum-likelihood methods assisted by measurements taken at different
quantum efficiencies. We show that detectors that are only able to discriminate
between zero, one and more than one detected photons are generally enough to
provide a reliable reconstruction of the photon statistics for single-peaked
distributions, while detectors with higher resolution limits do not lead to
further improvements. In addition, we demonstrate that, for semiclassical
states, even on/off detectors are enough to provide a good reconstruction.
Finally, we show that a reliable reconstruction of multi-peaked distributions
requires either higher quantum efficiency or better capability in
discriminating high number of detected photons.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Superpixel Convolutional Networks using Bilateral Inceptions
In this paper we propose a CNN architecture for semantic image segmentation.
We introduce a new 'bilateral inception' module that can be inserted in
existing CNN architectures and performs bilateral filtering, at multiple
feature-scales, between superpixels in an image. The feature spaces for
bilateral filtering and other parameters of the module are learned end-to-end
using standard backpropagation techniques. The bilateral inception module
addresses two issues that arise with general CNN segmentation architectures.
First, this module propagates information between (super) pixels while
respecting image edges, thus using the structured information of the problem
for improved results. Second, the layer recovers a full resolution segmentation
result from the lower resolution solution of a CNN. In the experiments, we
modify several existing CNN architectures by inserting our inception module
between the last CNN (1x1 convolution) layers. Empirical results on three
different datasets show reliable improvements not only in comparison to the
baseline networks, but also in comparison to several dense-pixel prediction
techniques such as CRFs, while being competitive in time.Comment: European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV), 201
A study on PDC drill bits quality
The quality of innovating PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) bits materials needs to be determined with accuracy by measuring cutting efficiency and wear rate, both related to the overall mechanical properties. An original approach is developed to encompass cutting efficiency and wear contribution to the overall sample quality. Therefore, a lathe-type test device was used to abrade specific samples from various manufacturers. Post-experiment analyzes are based on models establishing coupled relationships between cutting and friction stresses related to the drag bits excavation mechanism. These models are implemented in order to evaluate cutting efficiency and to estimate wear of the diamond insert. Phase analysis by XRD and finite element simulations were performed to explain the role of physicochemical parameters on the calculated quality factor values. Four main properties of PDC material were studied to explain quality results obtained in this study: cobalt content in samples that characterizes hardness/fracture toughness compromise, undesired phase as tungsten carbide weakening diamond structure, diamond grains sizes and residual stresses distribution affecting abrasion resistance
Adaptive Quantum Homodyne Tomography
An adaptive optimization technique to improve precision of quantum homodyne
tomography is presented. The method is based on the existence of so-called null
functions, which have zero average for arbitrary state of radiation. Addition
of null functions to the tomographic kernels does not affect their mean values,
but changes statistical errors, which can then be reduced by an optimization
method that "adapts" kernels to homodyne data. Applications to tomography of
the density matrix and other relevant field-observables are studied in detail.Comment: Latex (RevTex class + psfig), 9 Figs, Submitted to PR
Unambiguous quantum state filtering
In this paper, we consider the generalized measurement where one particular
quantum signal is unambiguously extracted from a set of non-commutative quantum
signals and the other signals are filtered out. Simple expressions for the
maximum detection probability and its POVM are derived. We applyl such
unambiguous quantum state filtering to evaluation of the sensing of decoherence
channels. The bounds of the precision limit for a given quantum state of probes
and possible device implementations are discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Binary optical communication in single-mode and entangled quantum noisy channels
We address binary optical communication in single-mode and entangled quantum
noisy channels. For single-mode we present a systematic comparison between
direct photodetection and homodyne detection in realistic conditions, i.e.
taking into account the noise that occurs both during the propagation and the
detection of the signals. We then consider entangled channels based on
twin-beam state of radiation, and show that with realistic heterodyne detection
the error probability at fixed channel energy is reduced in comparison to the
single-mode cases for a large range of values of quantum efficiency and noise
parameters
Resolving the nature of electronic excitations in resonant inelastic x-ray scattering
The study of elementary bosonic excitations is essential toward a complete
description of quantum electronic solids. In this context, resonant inelastic
X-ray scattering (RIXS) has recently risen to becoming a versatile probe of
electronic excitations in strongly correlated electron systems. The nature of
the radiation-matter interaction endows RIXS with the ability to resolve the
charge, spin and orbital nature of individual excitations. However, this
capability has been only marginally explored to date. Here, we demonstrate a
systematic method for the extraction of the character of excitations as
imprinted in the azimuthal dependence of the RIXS signal. Using this novel
approach, we resolve the charge, spin, and orbital nature of elastic
scattering, (para-)magnon/bimagnon modes, and higher energy dd excitations in
magnetically-ordered and superconducting copper-oxide perovskites (Nd2CuO4 and
YBa2Cu3O6.75). Our method derives from a direct application of scattering
theory, enabling us to deconstruct the complex scattering tensor as a function
of energy loss. In particular, we use the characteristic tensorial nature of
each excitation to precisely and reliably disentangle the charge and spin
contributions to the low energy RIXS spectrum. This procedure enables to
separately track the evolution of spin and charge spectral distributions in
cuprates with doping. Our results demonstrate a new capability that can be
integrated into the RIXS toolset, and that promises to be widely applicable to
materials with intertwined spin, orbital, and charge excitations
Determination of the local structure of SrMIrO (M = K, La) as a function of doping and temperature
The local structure of correlated spin-orbit insulator SrMIrO
(M = K, La) has been investigated by Ir L-edge extended x-ray absorption
fine structure measurements. The measurements were performed as a function of
temperature for different dopings induced by substitution of Sr with La or K.
It is found that Ir-O bonds have strong covalency and they hardly show any
change across the N\'eel temperature. In the studied doping range, neither Ir-O
bonds nor their dynamics, measured by their mean square relative displacements,
show any appreciable change upon carrier doping, indicating possibility of a
nanoscale phase separation in the doped system. On the other hand, there is a
large increase of the static disorder in Ir-Sr correlation, larger for K doping
than La doping. Similarities and differences with respect to the local lattice
displacements in cuprates are briefly discussed.Comment: Main text: 6 pages, 4 figures, Supplemental information: 2 pages, 2
figure
Multiphoton communication in lossy channels with photon-number entangled states
We address binary and quaternary communication channels based on correlated
multiphoton two-mode states of radiation in the presence of losses. The
protocol are based on photon number correlations and realized upon choosing a
shared set of thresholds to convert the outcome of a joint photon number
measurement into a symbol from a discrete alphabet. In particular, we focus on
channels build using feasible photon-number entangled states (PNES) as two-mode
coherently-correlated (TMC) or twin-beam (TWB) states and compare their
performances with that of channels built using feasible classically correlated
(separable) states. We found that PNES provide larger channel capacity in the
presence of loss, and that TWB-based channels may transmit a larger amount of
information than TMC-based ones at fixed energy and overall loss. Optimized bit
discrimination thresholds, as well as the corresponding maximized mutual
information, are explicitly evaluated as a function of the beam intensity and
the loss parameter. The propagation of TMC and TWB in lossy channels is
analyzed and the joint photon number distribution is evaluated, showing that
the beam statistics, either sub-Poissonian for TMC or super-Poissonian for TWB,
is not altered by losses. Although entanglement is not strictly needed to
establish the channels, which are based on photon-number correlations owned
also by separable mixed states, purity of the support state is relevant to
increase security. The joint requirement of correlation and purity individuates
PNES as a suitable choice to build effective channels. The effects of losses on
channel security are briefly discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 19 figure
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