87,291 research outputs found
Diffusion induced decoherence of stored optical vortices
We study the coherence properties of optical vortices stored in atomic
ensembles. In the presence of thermal diffusion, the topological nature of
stored optical vortices is found not to guarantee slow decoherence. Instead the
stored vortex state has decoherence surprisingly larger than the stored
Gaussian mode. Generally, the less phase gradient, the more robust for stored
coherence against diffusion. Furthermore, calculation of coherence factor shows
that the center of stored vortex becomes completely incoherent once diffusion
begins and, when reading laser is applied, the optical intensity at the center
of the vortex becomes nonzero. Its implication for quantum information is
discussed. Comparison of classical diffusion and quantum diffusion is also
presented.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure
Fast moving of a population of robots through a complex scenario
Swarm robotics consists in using a large number of coordinated autonomous robots, or agents, to accomplish one or more tasks, using local and/or global rules. Individual and collective objectives can be designed for each robot of the swarm. Generally, the agents' interactions exhibit a high degree of complexity that makes it impossible to skip nonlinearities in the model. In this paper, is implemented both a collective interaction using a modified Vicsek model where each agent follows a local group velocity and the individual interaction concerning internal and external obstacle avoidance. The proposed strategies are tested for the migration of a unicycle robot swarm in an unknown environment, where the effectiveness and the migration time are analyzed. To this aim, a new optimal control method for nonlinear dynamical systems and cost functions, named Feedback Local Optimality Principle - FLOP, is applied
WxN1–x alloys as diffusion barriers between Al and Si
Reactively sputtered tungsten nitride (WxN1–x) layers are investigated as diffusion barriers between Al overlayers and Si shallow n + -p junctions. Both amorphous W80 N20 and polycrystalline W60 N40 films were found to be very effective in preserving the integrity of the n + -p diodes for 30-min vacuum annealing up to 575 °C. Diode failure at higher temperatures is caused by localized penetration of Al into through the WxN1–x barriers. The effectiveness of the barrier decreases for polycrystalline W90 N10 and is worse for pure W
Data Management Systems (DMS): Complex data types study. Volume 1: Appendices A-B. Volume 2: Appendices C1-C5. Volume 3: Appendices D1-D3 and E
Two categories were chosen for study: the issue of using a preprocessor on Ada code of Application Programs which would interface with the Run-Time Object Data Base Standard Services (RODB STSV), the intent was to catch and correct any mis-registration errors of the program coder between the user declared Objects, their types, their addresses, and the corresponding RODB definitions; and RODB STSV Performance Issues and Identification of Problems with the planned methods for accessing Primitive Object Attributes, this included the study of an alternate storage scheme to the 'store objects by attribute' scheme in the current design of the RODB. The study resulted in essentially three separate documents, an interpretation of the system requirements, an assessment of the preliminary design, and a detailing of the components of a detailed design
High electrical conductance enhancement in Au-nanoparticle decorated sparse single-wall carbon nanotube networks
The authors thank the Engineering and Physical Science
Research Council for funding through the Imperial College
London/Queen Mary Unive
Finding the Origin of the Pioneer Anomaly
Analysis of radio-metric tracking data from the Pioneer 10/11 spacecraft at
distances between 20 - 70 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun has consistently
indicated the presence of an anomalous, small, constant Doppler frequency
drift. The drift can be interpreted as being due to a constant acceleration of
a_P= (8.74 \pm 1.33) x 10^{-8} cm/s^2 directed towards the Sun. Although it is
suspected that there is a systematic origin to the effect, none has been found.
As a result, the nature of this anomaly has become of growing interest. Here we
present a concept for a deep-space experiment that will reveal the origin of
the discovered anomaly and also will characterize its properties to an accuracy
of at least two orders of magnitude below the anomaly's size. The proposed
mission will not only provide a significant accuracy improvement in the search
for small anomalous accelerations, it will also determine if the anomaly is due
to some internal systematic or has an external origin. A number of critical
requirements and design considerations for the mission are outlined and
addressed. If only already existing technologies were used, the mission could
be flown as early as 2010.Comment: 21 SS pages, 4+1 figures. final changes for publicatio
Growth control of GaAs nanowires using pulsed laser deposition with arsenic over pressure
Using pulsed laser ablation with arsenic over pressure, the growth conditions
for GaAs nanowires have been systematically investigated and optimized. Arsenic
over pressure with As molecules was introduced to the system by thermal
decomposition of polycrystalline GaAs to control the stoichiometry and shape of
the nanowires during growth. GaAs nanowires exhibit a variety of geometries
under varying arsenic over pressure, which can be understood by different
growth processes via vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. Single-crystal GaAs
nanowires with uniform diameter, lengths over 20 m, and thin surface oxide
layer were obtained and can potentially be used for further electronic
characterization
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