Digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic nanorods using an electro-optic fluid fiber

We demonstrate the digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic nanorods between 1 and 0 orthogonal aligned states using an electro-optic fluid fiber component. We show by digitally switching the nanorods, that thermal rotational diffusion of the nanorods can be circumvented, demonstrating an approach to achieve submicrosecond switching times. We also show, from an initial unaligned state, that the nanorods can be aligned into the applied electric field direction in 110 nanoseconds. The high-speed digital switching of plasmonic nanorods integrated into an all-fiber optical component may provide novel opportunities for remote sensing and signaling applications

Chile’s market orientated model of public television

The main objective of this dissertation is to provide a comprehensive picture of the evolution and current performance of the market-oriented model of public service television in Chile. The focus is largely on the commercially-funded stateowned television network, Television Nacional de Chile (TVN). This thesis argues that Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is still valid and necessary, yet the means to achieve this ideal have evolved and require some fresh thinking; such as the way forward provided by this case study. This work attempts to describe TVN's main political, economical, and managerial characteristics when delivering PSB according to television law, considering the evolution of the media in Chile and Latin America. For this purpose, the analysis integrates the political economy of the media from a managerial and regulatory perspective. The work is divided into two main parts. The first explains the current situation of PSB in the industrialised world, and also deals with the peculiar development of Chilean broadcasting within Latin America. The second part is the most important because it assesses the Chilean model at its present state. Nowadays TVN is an influential counterweight to authoritarian entrenchments as well as a booster of innovation and growth of the audio-visual sector. Its promarket orientation prevents traditional forms of government manipulation, it is coherent with overall macroeconomic policy, and introduces awareness for the audience's preferences. But this case also has important contradictions that need to be dealt with in order to enhance its contribution to social welfare and democracy. The thesis assumes that PSB -a Western European concept- has been possible in Chile because of a relatively extended republican tradition, and because of the effectiveness and probity of its public institutions. Nevertheless, as a developing country Chile has also suffered poverty, economic instability, and a prolonged military dictatorship (1973-1990) among other problems. These factors explain the differences between Chilean public television and its counterparts in the industrialised world, yet at the same time they reveal a special need for such a service despite all the technological changes that are taking place

Quantum key distribution session with 16-dimensional photonic states

The secure transfer of information is an important problem in modern telecommunications. Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a solution to this problem by using individual quantum systems to generate correlated bits between remote parties, that can be used to extract a secret key. QKD with D-dimensional quantum channels provides security advantages that grow with increasing D. However, the vast majority of QKD implementations has been restricted to two dimensions. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using higher dimensions for real-world quantum cryptography by performing, for the first time, a fully automated QKD session based on the BB84 protocol with 16-dimensional quantum states. Information is encoded in the single-photon transverse momentum and the required states are dynamically generated with programmable spatial light modulators. Our setup paves the way for future developments in the field of experimental high-dimensional QKD.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive solution to the study of glass and its alteration

This paper presents the potential of Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique which can be applied in-situ, for the analyses of glass and their alteration. Recent analytical developments are summarised for different glass composition and practical examples are given. The paper describes how to extract compositional information from the glass, first based on the spectra profile to distinguish rapidly alkali silicate from alkaline-earth alkali silicate and lead alkali silicate glass, then using the spectral decomposition and correlations to extract quantitative data. For alkali silicate glasses, that are most prone to alteration, the spectral characteristics are described to interpret the alteration process (selective leaching or dissolution of the glass) from the Raman spectra of the altered glass. These developments have greatly widened the potential of the technique and supplement well its ability to measure the thickness of the altered layer and identify the crystalline deposits