An effective method of calculating the non-Markovianity N\mathcal{N} for single channel open systems

We propose an effective method which can simplify the optimization of the increase of the trace distance over all pairs of initial states in calculating the non-Markovianity $\mathcal{N}$ for single channel open systems. For the amplitude damping channel, we can unify the results of Breuer $et$ $al$. [Phys. Rev. Lett. \bf 103\rm, 210401 (2009)] in the large-detuning case and the results of Xu $et$ $al$. [Phys. Rev. A \bf 81\rm, 044105 (2010)] in the resonant case; furthermore, for the general off-resonant cases we can obtain a very tight lower bound of $\mathcal{N}$. As another application of our method, we also discuss $\mathcal{N}$ for the non-Markovian depolarizing channel.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures,to be published in Phys. Rev.

General theory of decoy-state quantum cryptography with source errors

The existing theory of decoy-state quantum cryptography assumes the exact control of each states from Alice's source. Such exact control is impossible in practice. We develop the theory of decoy-state method so that it is unconditionally secure even there are state errors of sources, if the range of a few parameters in the states are known. This theory simplifies the practical implementation of the decoy-state quantum key distribution because the unconditional security can be achieved with a slightly shortened final key, even though the small errors of pulses are not corrected.Comment: Our results can be used securely for any source of diagonal states, including the Plug-&-Play protocol with whatever error pattern, if we know the ranges of errors of a few parameter

On the intrinsic shape of gamma-ray spectrum for Fermi blazars

The curvature of the $\gamma$-ray spectrum in blazars may reflect the intrinsic distribution of the emitting electron distribution, which will further give some information on the possible acceleration and cooling processes in the emitting region. The $\gamma$-ray spectra of Fermi blazars are normally fitted either by a single power-law (PL) or a log-normal (call Logarithmic Parabola, LP) form. The possible reason for this differnece is not unclear. We statistically explore this issue based on the different observational properties of 1419 Fermi blazars in the 3LAC Clean sample. We find that the $\gamma$-ray flux (100 MeV-100 GeV) and variability index follow bimodal distributions for PL and LP blazars, where $\gamma$-ray flux and variability index show {a positive correlation}. However, the distributions of the $\gamma$-ray luminosity and redshift follow a unimodal distribution. Our results suggest that the bimodal distribution of $\gamma$-ray flux for LP and PL blazars may be not intrinsic and all blazars may have an intrinsic curved $\gamma$-ray spectrum and the PL spectrum is just caused by the fitting effect due to the less photons.Comment: Accepted for publication in RAA. 9 pages, 1 figure, 2 tabl

Twinning-like lattice reorientation without a crystallographic twinning plane

Twinning on the {10[bar over 1]2} plane is a common mode of plastic deformation for hexagonal-close-packed metals. Here we report, by monitoring the deformation of submicron-sized single-crystal magnesium compressed normal to its prismatic plane with transmission electron microscopy, the reorientation of the parent lattice to a ‘twin’ lattice, producing an orientational relationship akin to that of the conventional {10[bar over 1]2} twinning, but without a crystallographic mirror plane, and giving plastic strain that is not simple shear. Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that the boundary between the parent lattice and the ‘twin’ lattice is composed predominantly of semicoherent basal/prismatic interfaces instead of the {10[bar over 1]2} twinning plane. The migration of this boundary is dominated by the movement of these interfaces undergoing basal/prismatic transformation via local rearrangements of atoms. This newly discovered deformation mode by boundary motion mimics conventional deformation twinning but is distinct from the latter and, as such, broadens the known mechanisms of plasticity.National Natural Science Foundation (China) (50925104)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (11132006)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (51231005)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (51231003)National Natural Science Foundation (China). 973 Program (2010CB631003)National 111 Project of China (B06025

Impacts of residual aluminum from aluminate flocculant on the morphological and physiological characteristics of Vallisneria natans and Hydrilla verticillata

Aluminate is generally used as a flocculent in water and wastewater treatment processes, but the residual aluminum (Al) may have toxic effects on aquatic organisms when the concentration accumulates beyond a threshold level. The in situ and laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of residual Al on submerged macrophytes in West Lake, Hangzhou, China, which receives Al flocculant-purified water diverted from the Qiantang River. The responses of Vallisneria natans and Hydrilla verticillata were investigated based on their morphological and physiological parameters in pot culture and aquarium simulation experiments. In the pot culture experiments, the biomass, seedling number, plant height, stolon number, stolon length, and root weight were significantly higher at a site located 150 m from the inlet compared with those at a site located 15 m from the inlet (P &lt; 0.05), thereby indicating that the residual Al significantly inhibited the morphological development of V. natans and H. verticillata. The variations in the chlorophyll-a, protein, and malondialdehyde contents of the two species in both the pot culture and aquarium simulation experiments also demonstrated that the two submerged macrophytes were stressed by residual Al. V. natans and H. verticillata accumulated 0.052-0.227 mg of Al per gram of plant biomass (fresh weight, mg/g FW) and 0.045-0.205 mg Al/g FW in the in situ experiments, respectively, where the amounts of Al were significantly higher in the plants in the treatment aquaria during the laboratory experiments than those in the controls. These results may have important implications for the restoration of submerged macrophytes and ecological risk assessments in Al-exposed lakes. It is recommended that the Al salt concentration used for the control of lake eutrophication should be reduced to an appropriate level.</p

Long-Distance Wireless Power Transfer Based on Time Reversal Technique

Wireless power transfer (WPT) using microwave irradiation can set human free from the annoying wires. However, WPT has low energy efficiency due to electromagnetic wave diffraction in the case of indoor non-line-of-sight (NLOS) and causes electromagnetic radiation pollution around the room in the case of indoor line-of-sight (LOS). Time reversal (TR) technique is an inverse operation of time-domain signals and makes full use of the multipath effect. TR technique can improve the efficiency and reduce the pollution due to its unique temporal–spatial focusing effect. We will detail the principles of TR with the finite TR arrays. What’s more, we propose a sequential convex programming (SCP) algorithm based on diode circuit to obtain the optimal frequency point amplitude to further improve energy efficiency. The simulation result shows that the TR-SCP-WPT system model will get the significant energy gain